American Haters in the IOC are showing their true colors

[SuperTool]

<< How would you feel if Vietnamese brought in a flag they used during the vietnam war with bulletholes and what not?

so tell me, how many terrorists are competing in the olympics? are they considered a nation even? >>





See, that's what I mean. IOC will spare itself tonnes of decisions and complaints if it just applies a uniform standard to flags. That way they won't have to go in and investigate the historical significance of team's flags.

There are no terrorists competing, but there are countries not on good terms with US, like Iraq, Iran and North Korea. All that hostility and international politics should be left outside the door for the olympics. These are athletes, they don't make political decisions.

 

[gopunk]

There are no terrorists competing, but there are countries not on good terms with US, like Iraq, Iran and North Korea. All that hostility and international politics should be left outside the door for the olympics. These are athletes, they don't make political decisions.

i don't consider this political at all, this is about honoring the people who died in that attack. countries, regardless of where the u.s. stands in their eyes, should recognize this as a tragedy, and allow us to fly the gd flag. if this happened to north korea, do you think the u.s. would get their panties all in a knot over a similar event?

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

That's quite irritating. It's kind of rude to say that we can't display something that means so much to us, especially when we're hosting the damn thing.

Nik

 

[ShallowHal]

<< American Haters? Huh? I'd imagine that the cities that are yet to be awarded the event just once while the U.S. has hosted the game 3 times in the last 20 years might feel that they have been slighted by the IOC. >>



We have the cash to host the Olympics. Have you read the latest info about the progress (or lack of) that Athens is making on their preparation for the 2004 Olympics. The Athens effort has been declared "a shambles."

Back to the subject, the flag should not be considered offensive nor should we be given any "special" privleges to fly it. Each country flies their flag in the opening ceremonies and the US can do the same. If we can carry the WTC flag in our procession, it shouldn't be disallowed. If it's being banned simply because it's the WTC flag then that is wrong.
To hell with anyone who downplays the significance of the WTC flag.

 

[SuperTool]

<< There are no terrorists competing, but there are countries not on good terms with US, like Iraq, Iran and North Korea. All that hostility and international politics should be left outside the door for the olympics. These are athletes, they don't make political decisions.

i don't consider this political at all, this is about honoring the people who died in that attack. countries, regardless of where the u.s. stands in their eyes, should recognize this as a tragedy, and allow us to fly the gd flag. if this happened to north korea, do you think the u.s. would get their panties all in a knot over a similar event? >>



I think most countries wouldn't mind us using that flag. But some might mind. Probably not, but IOC is just playing it safe. Why make things more dramatic than they have to be? I just hope our hockey team doesn't trash the place like they did last time, and be a huge embarassment.

 

[SuperTool]

<< That's quite irritating. It's kind of rude to say that we can't display something that means so much to us, especially when we're hosting the damn thing.

Nik >>



Hosting the Olympics does not give our team any priveledges. Remember, we had to bribe IOC to get the games to SLC, not the other way around.


<< If we can carry the WTC flag in our procession, it shouldn't be disallowed. If it's being banned simply because it's the
WTC flag then that is wrong.
To hell with anyone who downplays the significance of the WTC flag. >>


I also think that if the WTC flag falls within the regulations that IOC previously set, it should be allowed to be used, because it is the American flag after all. However if the regulations call for an unmarked new flag of certain size, then we'll just have to find one of those. I am not sure if the WTC flag has the names of the victims or any marks on it. If there are no regulations on flags, we should be allowed to use whatever flag we want to. I just hope WTC is not making a new rule just for this particular case.

 

[Platypus]

So now because I don't think its a huge fvcking deal that a piece of cloth isn't shown at a ceremony I am an "american hater?"
Get your sh|t together before you make bold statements like that. Your own assumptions about my beliefs are getting way too dangerous.

 

[Platypus]

And just what the hell are you trying to imply with your "Indiana, North Korea" tripe hammer09?
Do you have any idea how ignorant that is?

 

[Ns1]

okay i take it all back

link

SALT LAKE CITY ?? The tattered flag from the World Trade Center will fly over the Winter Olympics, but U.S. athletes won't carry it into the opening ceremony as planned.

The IOC rejected the U.S. Olympic Committee's request to have five athletes and an official carry the flag that was recovered after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Instead, it will be raised next to the Olympic flame during Friday night's opening ceremony at Rice-Eccles Stadium, serving as the official U.S. flag.

The International Olympic Committee's coordination commission told USOC president Sandy Baldwin that many nations had suffered and that allowing the American team to carry the flag would not be proper. Baldwin told the IOC that position was "clearly understandable."

"Every country in the IOC has issues," American IOC member Anita DeFrantz said Tuesday. "As Americans we have to understand it's a world event and also that we are a guest even though we are the host nation.

"This way, with the flag being raised, we serve both goals."

The flag was expected to be lowered after the ceremony because of its delicate condition.

Salt Lake organizing chief Mitt Romney said the flag also would have a prominent role in a nationally televised show before the ceremony begins.



it's being raised next to the olympic torch, come now, things aren't all that bad

 

[Bluga]

The IOC decides which country get to host the olympics, if you don't like it, there're other countries willing to obey the rules.

 

[SgtZulu]

I didn't watch 1 second of the stupidbowl
I won't be watching 1 second of the olympics,so yes there is something you can do

Turn off your tv sets

 

[Shantanu]

<< I don't know what the bid deal with. Both with the IOC denying the request and with people wanting the flag there in the first place... >>



You're from Canada you fscking moron. It's not your flag, dipsh|t.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

<< Hosting the Olympics does not give our team any priveledges. Remember, we had to bribe IOC to get the games to SLC, not the other way around. >>

It's not our team that's hoisting the flag. It's the world standing behind several nations against fear and disbelief -public confession that despite attempts at the contrary, we will spit in the face of fear and we will continue to our lives as usual.

It isn't "too political" at all.

Nik

 

[MacBaine]

While I agree that the olympics should stay away from politics, the fact is that the WTC flag doesn't only represent America... The whole world was effected by the attacks, and the flag is a symbol that the whole world can get behind. It represents freedom in general, and there should not be a problem with flying it. All of you who are happy with the IOC's decision, you obviously haven't learned anything from 9/11. If broke through all the political crap and brought the free world together. The flag is a symbol of our survival, not of only America.

 

[Lars]

<< You're from Canada you fscking moron. It's not your flag, dipsh|t. >>



Shantanu, you should calm down a little.

 

[Martin]

<<

<< I don't know what the bid deal with. Both with the IOC denying the request and with people wanting the flag there in the first place... >>



You're from Canada you fscking moron. It's not your flag, dipsh|t. >>




Listen you little mother f*cker :|, I'm so f*cking sick off you and you kind's constant f*cking whining. Get off your f*cking pedestal and realize that other countries have been through a lot more than your little tradegy. You're NOT special and you won't be treated as such.

You get your flag next to the torch and and the IOC gets to have everyone cary the same sized flag. WHAT IS YOUR F*CKING PROBLEM???


Idiots like you are soooo f*cking annoying, I swear....

 

[Capn]

"Listen you little mother f*cker , I'm so f*cking sick off you and you kind's constant f*cking whining. Get off your f*cking pedestal and realize that other countries have been through a lot more than your little tradegy. You're NOT special and you won't be treated as such."

Kiss your mother with that mouth?

You sir are an idiot of most extreme type. Thank God your politicians have more sense than to belittle the death of 3000 as callously as you did.

 

[Martin]

<< Kiss your mother with that mouth?

You sir are an idiot of most extreme type. Thank God your politicians have more sense than to belittle the death of 3000 as callously as you did. >>




Yes, lets thank our Christian God that Cretin doesn't have any balls.

Millions of people die from starvation and armed conflicts each year. When was the last time a country wanted to cary in a 20 foot flag to commemorate them?


YOU can't realize that bad things happen to other people and that makes ME an idiot? Excuse me for not being so egocentric.

 

[Capn]

"Millions of people die from starvation and armed conflicts each year. When was the last time a country wanted to cary in a 20 foot flag to commemorate them?


YOU can't realize that bad things happen to other people and that makes ME an idiot? Excuse me for not being so egocentric.
"

Too slow to stay on one issue I guess?

Please show exactly where I stated:
other countries don't suffer
there's no starvation in the world
Ours is the only armed conflict


You are an idiot for belittling the merciless death of your "brother" Americans. If it was 3000 Canadians who died I would not return the favor. Go back to whatever hole you climbed out of.

 

[Martin]

<< Too slow to stay on one issue I guess?

Please show exactly where I stated:
other countries don't suffer
there's no starvation in the world
Ours is the only armed conflict


You are an idiot for belittling the merciless death of your "brother" Americans. If it was 3000 Canadians who died I would not return the favor. Go back to whatever hole you climbed out of. >>




All those were implied.

Let's see, 3000 americans died. Now you guys are angry because the IOC won't let you cary a 20' flag to commemorate them, while other countries (who've had worse or just as bad things happen to them) will have to carry a regular flag. This implies that whatever happened the US is WAY WAY more important than what happened to those other counties. Sorry, I don't share your views on that.

Belittle? Not really. When you take into account the kind of sh*t that happens to other countries and their people, its only one tragedy in a great sea of many many tragedies.
Maybe you have problems realizing that the lives of americans are not more important than the lives of other people. I don't. If the same thing happened to 3000 canadians...well, too bad. That's life for you.

 

[Capn]

"All those were implied."

No, they weren't. Don't try too hard to read between the lines when there's nothing there. Being insensitive is being insensitive, it doesn't matter if it is 3000 Americans in a terrorist act or thousands of Africans because of Aids, it still stinks the same.

"Let's see, 3000 americans died. Now you guys are angry because the IOC won't let you cary a 20' flag to commemorate them, "

This is my earlier post:

"At first I thought that this was an issue that they weren't allowing us to fly the flag, but this just concerns the flag they march in with no?

If that's the case than I guess I can't find much fault with their decision, all the flags should be the same size. "

So No, all "us guys" aren't mad that they won't let us walk in with the flag. But I won't stand idly by while someone insults the memory of 3000 innocent civilians of over 88 nations.

 

[gopunk]

marty - if other host countries have some sort of tragedy on the scale of wtc, or even on a smaller scale, i would have absolutely no problem with them flying a special flag at the olympics, when they host it. absolutely no problem, whatsoever. it doesn't even have to be a terrorist attack, if they want a flag for some horrible earthquake, or famine, great, let 'em have the flag. if that flag will help the people of that country feel good about themselves, i don't see why not.

 

[Martin]

<< So No, all "us guys" aren't mad that they won't let us walk in with the flag. But I won't stand idly by while someone insults the memory of 3000 innocent civilians of over 88 nations. >>



I've had a bad day and the last thing I need is some loser calling me a fscking moron and a dipsh1t because I expressed by (at the time) non-offensive opinion. I didn't try to belittle the WTC (you know canadians died there too), but when I am mad, I am rash and so are my posts.





<< marty - if other host countries have some sort of tragedy on the scale of wtc, or even on a smaller scale, i would have absolutely no problem with them flying a special flag at the olympics, >>



And neither do they. The flag will be flown.

 

[gopunk]

<< marty - if other host countries have some sort of tragedy on the scale of wtc, or even on a smaller scale, i would have absolutely no problem with them flying a special flag at the olympics, >>



And neither do they. The flag will be flown.

marty - that comment was in response to your comment that some people don't realize, or care, that there are other tragedies in the world. my point is that i don't think any of us would be against flags being flown.

 

[Shantanu]

Other countries can bring whatever the fsck they want. If the hoser delegation wants to parade a 200 foot long flag of the Canadian Prime Minister humping a moose, then so be it. But you no right to come here and say what Americans can and can't do about their flag, especially within their own country. Dumb@ss.



<< I've had a bad day and the last thing I need is some loser calling me a fscking moron and a dipsh1t because I expressed by (at the time) non-offensive opinion. I didn't try to belittle the WTC (you know canadians died there too), but when I am mad, I am rash and so are my posts. >>



No you're just a dumb Canadian who spends his entire life comparing his sad existence to that of Americans, while all Americans (other than those who post here on Anandtech) are completely oblivious to this pursuit and this just pisses you off even more.

I think the U.S. Olympic delegation should have some b@lls and parade the flag anyways. WTF is the IOC going to do? Start an international incident over this? I don't think so.