2004 Summer Olympics

Schraf, Now that depends on what part of europe you come from! Mark

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There are 10 kinds of people in this world; those that understand binary, & those that don't

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The first step towards repairing that damage will hopefully start with the November elections.

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I don't know. I was already in Germany in the 90's when Clinton was still president and there were protests, complaints, and outright hate of the US expressed then to. I think the reasons why specific countries or groups of people hate one another can be complicated and I don't think the US or any other country should guide ALL of its policies by trying to make people like us. Germany was defeated and occupied. Even though it was their own fault that the war occurred, there is still resentment based on having been dominated by the US. The French have different reasons for disliking the US and not all of them are particularly noble.Where the current administration has failed in particular is that it has turned both politicians and normal folk who might have an affinity, bond, or appreciation for the US into adversaries. This is counter productive and completely unecessary. It will probably come back to bite us on the ass in the future when we need support...and it certainly has not made living abroad any easier.

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The first step towards repairing that damage will hopefully start with the November elections. Unfortunately, even a Democratic, liberal president may not ensure unilateral and fair treatment of problems worldwide, but it will at least be a step in the right direction.

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Will it? Bush is not solely responsible for the US's negative reputation; nobody seems to bhavge complained when Bill Clinton started dropping Tomahawks on medicine factories, and Kerry has stated that even knowing what we know now, he would still have gone to war in Iraq. Cliton did nothing to challenge the abusive practiices of American multiu-nationals, and contributed little or nothing to environmental programmes such as the Kyoto treaty.And is it not precisely because Kerry is NOT going to present a radical alternative that he is considered electable? There is no reason to think a Kerry presidency will change the direction of US foreign policy to any meaningful degree. The candidates who present radical proposals such as Nader are then attacked as if they supported Bush!Americans have to realise that if they want things to change they will have to vote for that change. As long as they continue to vote for people who will not rock the boat, and appeal only to the mythical centre, American policy will not change, and America will continue to be the largest human threat to life and liberty in the world.This message has been edited by contracycle, 08-19-2004 04:26 AM

I think Bush himself dispels that notion. Bush ran appealing to moderates, but his administration has been one largely influenced by fringe movements.Nowadays it seems like politicians run from the center but govern from the edge. Kerry's no mega-liberal but I think we can expect a fair bit of liberalism from him. I think presidents have a certain tendancy to want to rock the boat, even if they know they can't get elected that way.

Were going for the gold.

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Ponlo todo en las manos de Dios y que se joda el mundo. El principio de la sabiduria es el temor a Jehova

All messages should somehow be related to the Olympic games.Adminnemooseus

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I'm thinking there must be a better thread than this to re-start/re-bump, but I couldn't find any better via the search tool. Perhaps I should have started a new thread? . . . M'eh.Ok, I am not a fan of the olympics because:1. It promotes nationalism/patriotism, a hateful discriminating tool which helps divide humanity.
2. it promotes consumerism by linking corporations directly to the games.
3. it promotes hypocrisy of the performers who shroud themselves in their country's colours when they are really performing for future marketability
4. The vast costs for buildings, security and ceremony can be much better used for humanitarian causes.
5. They direct the "liberal" media to dutifully hide injustices. China's abuse/repression of Tibet, Vancouver's poor/slums, etc
6. In China, many old Hutongs (neighborhoods/communities), occupied for many many generations were destroyed so new olympic buildings could be built.
7. Unused white elephants (in the shape of billion dollar stadiums and related buildings) sit unused after the games.
8. Security opportunities for elites/authorities to push though laws/regulations that will allow human right violations.I think the above items have been touched upon before in our forum. We can re-hash them again if you really want to, but I'd prefer our British participants commenting about:1. Missiles placed on rooftops throughout the city. Really, are most of you OK with this? Really?
2. Exploited workers: bus drivers who had to strike because of unfair rider increases.
3. "Dispersal Zones," police have power to tell any group of two or more people to move on. Really?
4. Misplaced economic aid as historic and popular Herne Hill stays closed and in disrepair.
5. Although Olympic organizers are bragging about environmentally friendly 'Green Games,' its sponsors include BP who inflicted massive oil spills, and Dow Chemicals, makers of such fine products as napalm and linked to the Bhopal disaster. BTW, BBC was very generous in describing all the wonderful DOW products used in the London Olympics. How nice. Which leads me to my summing question:
6. How well has the British media portrayed ANY of the above negative stories? Or has the British media been nearly all one-sided/pro-olympics/pro-corporate, like the american counterparts?

I guess it might do that in the States, but I don't think I've ever seen that from any one in Britain. No, but a judge said 'tough shit'. I didn't catch that news. I know the bus drivers threatened to strike if they didn't get approx 30/day bonus for working during the Olympics, but I'm guess you're thinking of something else? I haven't seen the details of the law, but I'm under the impression that its meant to be used in tackling antisocial behaviour that doesn't justify arrest. But I suppose it could be worded too broadly. I'm not entirely familiar with this, could you elaborate? To be honest, I've not been paying any attention to it. The thing that seems to be getting most play is criticism of G4S and the notion of using our army to provide additional security.That and in the increased crime from professional 'immigrant' thieves that will take advantage of the European borders, and the huge amount of tourists.

Can you view this movie trailer, "The Best Seat in The World" by Danny McGuinness?:The Best Seat in The World TRAILER by Danny McGuinness on Vimeoorhttp://www.bikelaneliving.com/the-best-seat-in-the-worldor

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Shown second in the series of short films, The Best Seat In The World, a twenty-minute documentary directed by Danny McGuinness, is set on a pale brown, concrete cycling track with a grassy center in an area of South London called Herne Hill. This velodromethe outdoor site where cycling events took place when London hosted the 1948 Olympicshas been near closure since 2010 because of a lack of funds for essential repairs. Via archive footage and an interview with 1948 medal winner Tommy Godwin, McGuinness takes us back to the velodrome’s former glory. Now, the site is run by volunteers who manage the upkeep (we see them shoveling leaves into black waste bags) and, since 2010, have been running a campaign, Save The Velodrome, which aims to stop it from being demolished.

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The Grand Project of the Olympics – GuernicaEdited by dronester, : added info

I'm really looking forward to watching the Softball, Baseball, Lacrosse, Croquet and Golf matches.

Jar tallies events, among them ...really?? wow, I hadn't heard about that. Now I have something to watch.Thanks!

I believe you missed jar's biting sarcasm. I think he's complaining about the fact that baseball and softball have been removed from the Olympics this year.I don't really care about baseball or softball, but I'm a bit disappointed nothing's been added to replace them. They could have added 20/20 cricket, given that the games are in England.

Even as an American who balks at the idea that non-American sports actually matter . . . hehe, I will agree with argument. They should have at least had cricket as an exhibition this year, and I would actually have enjoyed learning the game of cricket through the Olympics this year. That game has always intrigued me, especially as a baseball (i.e rounders) fan for my whole life. But if it is any consolation, you do have tennis, rugby, and football as very well recognized British sports in the Olympics.

I actually wish they'd take football out of the Olympics. You shouldn't have sports in there that are more important than the Olympics themselves - it risks overshadowing everything else. I couldn't watch the archery today (which I bet on) because local TV was only streaming repeats of yesterday's football games.And it clashes with real football. Several European leagues are getting started now, and the qualifiers for European football have begun. Players should be training with their clubs, not prancing about in the Olympics.Things I've discovered today - Koreans kick ass at archery. Not only did they finish top of the men's and women's team event in the qualifying round; they got first and second in the women's singles and first, second and third in the mens. Oh, and Im Dong Yung set a new world record. Quite a start.

I am not sure we are watching the same football. Olympic football has different rules and requirements. Which is why the Spanish are not in the Gold medal match, the really good spanish team of the past couple years cannot qualify for the olympics.(pardon me, I am referring to Mens football here) each team is an under 23 years old team, which may have some of the Pros, and could have 3, though if training with thier clubs is soooo imporatant It would be my guess that these players are doing so.I think it only partially clashes with real football, as 0 European teams have made it to the medal round (BTW its Korea, Japan, Brazil, and Mexico).I dunno maybe I misunderstood your point.