Would you support Rainbow on Hockey Unis for Sochi?

[Devils'Advocate]

Originally Posted by theoforever

Some people chose to fight for the rights of the oppressed some don’t. Nothing wrong with that.

That in itself is a sad statement about humanity.

[gargamel]

For anyone saying that the Olympics are not the proper place to highlight human rights issues, do you think this was a bad thing?

[theoforever]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

That in itself is a sad statement about humanity.

We all tend to judge the world based on our own perception which may or may not be right.
Those that choose to have world wide awareness aren't any better than those that don't.
Some are interest in making a local contribution. Others contribute to the well being of their family only.

It is our choice to make, no government, no religious institution, nor activists for special causes will dictate how I choose to live my life.
All those are business anyway, yeah, even activism.

It has always been in that order: immediate family, clan, tribe, and nation. Those concepts I can understand.
For some religion becomes a concept that supersedes those above, that I find difficult to understand.

The concept of the world as one it is kind of like religion.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by gargamel

For anyone saying that the Olympics are not the proper place to highlight human rights issues, do you think this was a bad thing?

I wouldn't say it was bad. I am not sure I would say it was good either. I don't think that moment achieved anything more than some some great photos to be quite honest.

I dunno, I am the type that thinks religion and politics should be kept out of sports, just like I think religion should be kept out of schools.

If we want Russia to know what they are doing, make it hurt them on an economic level, have Canada, the US and a few other major countries cut economic ties with Russia and see what happens to them.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

As for "the Russian people are against homosexuality and who are we to legislate morality?". Personally, I don't think human rights *HAVE* any borders. When the Philippines oppressed the East Timorese, I was right there in front of the Philippino embassy protesting with the East Timor Alert network, even though most Philippinos were for the occupation. I have been a long time member of Amnesty International and was heavily involved in their Darfur campaign against the oppression of the non-Arabs even though the actions were supported by the majority Arabs. I believe that not only do I have the right to stand up to foreign countries and tell them that they are abusing human rights, but it is my DUTY to do so.

Were you too busy patting yourself on the back to realize that the Philippines has never oppressed the East Timorese.

[Devils'Advocate]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

Were you too busy patting yourself on the back to realize that the Philippines has never oppressed the East Timorese.

Touché. Brain fart on 2 hours sleep. Obviously I meant General Suharto in Indonesia. But the point stands... I will get involved in human rights issues here and abroad because I think they all deserve attention.

[badger89]

Originally Posted by gargamel

For anyone saying that the Olympics are not the proper place to highlight human rights issues, do you think this was a bad thing?

Would love to see a similar gesture by gay athletes. More likely to see a grass roots movement like this than something sanctioned by a country like patches. What Russia is doing is abhorrent.

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[N-E-B]

I'm all for gay rights and stuff, but come on, a rainbow patch? That would just look absolutely ridiculous. Why is this even a topic?

[badger89]

Great thread by the way. Intelligent debate for the most part. And pretty much what you'd expect... most support the principal of equal rights for LGBT and a few people still against. Luckily those against is quickly becoming fewer and fewer. Heck, it's starting to sound like even the Pope has more progressive views on the issue. http://m.spiegel.de/international/wo...www.google.ca/

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[Gord Wappel]

Its OK but not excited.
Last time Russia held Olympics the west boycotted cause they unapolagistically shot down an airliner... this doesn't compare. There will always be something to complain about.
I don't agree with Putin or his current laws.
But the West tends to overdo pushing their (usually fairly hypocritical and fashionable) morals onto others and that does way more harm than good.
Sure some subtle not overly provocative patches.
From heading, I imagined original Vancouver sweaters with a few more colours.

[jayswin]

Wow, this topic has a noticeably different tone out here in the FOI forum, as opposed to the off topic forum. I can't put my finger on it, a little more testosterone or something. It feels a little more like 1998 out here.

[bucksmasher]

Originally Posted by PlayfulGenius

Personally, I believe that if the Olympics really stood for what they claim... they;d wouldn't go at all... I don't see that happening though, too much money at stake already.

I hope many athletes boycott. That's a REAL tough one for an athlete that does everything to get to the Olympics. For NHLers, perhaps it will happen where players back out due to this issue.

This is the typical knee jerk reaction that I also first felt. Then consider that none of the governments are boycotting Russia eg. Canada still trades on the open market with Russia for wheat etc.

I feel the athletes shouldn't suffer an Olympic drought and pay the price of making a statement, especially the lesser paid athletes like skiers and speed skaters.

Putin's laws are very unpopular world wide and they will fall under scrutiny weather or not athletes attend. Also with social media on everyone's hand, attending athletes may have a better platform to voice opposition than by staying at home.

[Flames Fan in Exile]

"On the morning of 16 October 1968, U.S.A. athlete Tommie Smith won the 200 metre race with a world-record time of 19.83 seconds. Australia's Peter Norman finished second with a time of 20.06 seconds, and the U.S.A's John Carlos won third place with a time of 20.10 seconds. After the race was completed, the three went to the podium for their medals to be presented by David Cecil, 6th Marquess of Exeter. The two U.S. athletes received their medals shoeless, but wearing black socks, to represent black poverty. Smith wore a black scarf around his neck to represent black pride, Carlos had his tracksuit top unzipped to show solidarity with all blue collar workers in the U.S. and wore a necklace of beads which he described "were for those individuals that were lynched, or killed and that no-one said a prayer for, that were hung and tarred. It was for those thrown off the side of the boats in the middle passage." All three athletes wore Olympic Project for Human Rights (OPHR) badges after Norman, a critic of Australia's White Australia Policy, expressed empathy with their ideals. Sociologist Harry Edwards, the founder of the OPHR, had urged black athletes to boycott the games; reportedly, the actions of Smith and Carlos on 16 October 1968 were inspired by Edwards' arguments.
Both U.S. athletes intended on bringing black gloves to the event, but Carlos forgot his, leaving them in the Olympic Village. It was the Australian, Peter Norman, who suggested Carlos wear Smith's left-handed glove. For this reason, Carlos raised his left hand as opposed to his right, differing from the traditional Black Power salute. When "The Star-Spangled Banner" played, Smith and Carlos delivered the salute with heads bowed, a gesture which became front page news around the world. As they left the podium they were booed by the crowd. Smith later said, "If I win, I am American, not a black American. But if I did something bad, then they would say I am a Negro. We are black and we are proud of being black. Black America will understand what we did tonight.""

Oppression is wrong, regardless if it's race, or creed, or sexuality. No one has that right. And ill support whatever protest the athletes decide upon, whether it be a rainbow patch, or some other silent protest.

[FlamingLonghorn]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

My point is that Russia isn't a country being ruled against its wishes by an evil tyrant or a group of radicals that have gained authoritative control through violent, illegal means.

You believe that Putin has kept power by the grace of the people? I look at the amount of dissenters who have been imprisoned/murdered and see a corrupt leader silencing critics by any means necessary.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by badger89

Would love to see a similar gesture by gay athletes. More likely to see a grass roots movement like this than something sanctioned by a country like patches. What Russia is doing is abhorrent.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4

Or any athlete. If I found myself on an olympic podium, I would think seriously about wearing a rainbow glove (and I'm not gay...not that there is anything wrong with that). Of course, it might be a different matter with the possibility of Russian imprisonment.

[dammage79]

Could you imagine if Russia actually stuck to their guns and arrested and prosecuted all the athletes openly supporting gay rights? Political tensions are already high enough between the West and Russia.

I'd support the idea if the athletes were provided protection from the laws of the country they are performing in, but pushing this political agenda at this time may not be the best course of action. Especially since Russian governing body seems pretty gung ho about keeping this law strictly enforced. I support gay rights but you really have to pick your battles at this point. Not like each country is going to have a strong military presence in Russia to protect the people who do choose to put themselves at risk openly protesting the anti gay laws in Russia.

[stignasty]

Originally Posted by Gord Wappel

Its OK but not excited.
Last time Russia held Olympics the west boycotted cause they unapolagistically shot down an airliner...

Many western countries boycotted the Moscow Olympics in 1980 because the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan.

The Eastern bloc retaliated with a boycott of the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

[Żoso]

Originally Posted by stignasty

Many western countries boycotted the Moscow Olympics in 1980 because the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan.

The Eastern bloc retaliated with a boycott of the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Don't forget that in 1976 several African nations staged a boycott of the games in Montreal because the IOC refused to ban New Zealand, who played a series of rugby matches in South Africa unapologetically.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by stignasty

Many western countries boycotted the Moscow Olympics in 1980 because the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan.

The Eastern bloc retaliated with a boycott of the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan also caused the cancellation of the 1979 Canada Cup. It was pushed back one year, then pushed back another when Hockey Canada and the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association squabbled over who actually controlled international
hockey in Canada.

[Haplo]

I'm all for Russian athletes doing this. I don't see "outsiders" doing this kind of thing helping at all though. Especially if the majority of the Russian people is for this law. Then it may actually be counter active. National pride runs high during the Olympics and outsiders critizising their country would not be popular among the Russian people. Opinion for the law might even strengthen.