standfortruecanada Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 BEIJING–They will not protest openly because of the circumstances they find themselves in. But some members of Canada's Olympic women's soccer team are doing what they can to add to an athlete-led movement drawing attention to China's role in the Darfur region of Sudan. Midfielders Rhian Wilkinson and Amy Walsh are not exactly reluctant protesters, but they are not leaders of the movement known as Team Darfur, either. "I just think it's a good way to bring attention to what's going on in the region," Walsh said of a decision to support the group led by American speed skater Joey Cheek, whose visa to China was revoked yesterday. Neither woman is identified on the list of athletes on the Team Darfur website, but both acknowledged their support in interviews after Canada beat Argentina 2-1 yesterday evening in the first live competition of the Beijing Olympics. "I think it's a very legitimate organization," said Wilkinson, 26. "I don't want to say it was a mistake (to offer support, even anonymously) because these are things that I believe in, but right now China is hosting this magnificent event that I'm so fortunate to be a part of and I can't forget about that right now." Cheek, an American Olympic gold medallist, had planned to urge China to help bring about peace in war-torn Darfur, where it's estimated more than 200,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million displaced in fighting since ethnic African tribesmen bore arms in 2003. Walsh, 30, realizes the issue is one that could cause controversy at the Games, where the Chinese government is trying to crack down on protests against its policies. "But I think as athletes we have a responsibility to stand up for what we believe in and if it's something we don't believe is right, I think as athletes you have a clear delineation between what's right and wrong," Walsh said. Wilkinson expressed caution. "Even though I believe strongly in political issues, it's hard not to think that maybe as an Olympian you can be used as a pawn politically." But Walsh says athletes can play a special role. "It's important to look at things beyond our little bubble. It's very easy to get caught up in the day-to-day living of an athlete." OMG. They're starting to talk like the world is waiting on their every word. I'm all for supporting a women's soccer team but this kind of pretentiousness is way out of their league. Just play hard and make us proud. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest speedmonk42 Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 Sure, stand up for something. No problem with that. Go for it and hit them hard. But please.....please.... at least apply the same standards to...say OTHER countries? Good thing no western countries have ever been responsible for screwing up African countries.... Don't get me wrong, I will tear China a new a$$hole if you like... Was it China launching cruise missles at Sudan on August 20, 1998? Of course who could forget Chinese troops invading Somalia infront of CNN cameras...oh wait... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest speedmonk42 Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 If you are going to be an "American Olympic Gold Medalist" and wank off with numbers about some terrible atrocity (which it is) AT LEAST try to make sure those numbers are LESS than the atrocity committed by your OWN GOVERNMENT in a place that shall not be named. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VPjr Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 quote:Originally posted by speedmonk42 If you are going to be an "American Olympic Gold Medalist" and wank off with numbers about some terrible atrocity (which it is) AT LEAST try to make sure those numbers are LESS than the atrocity committed by your OWN GOVERNMENT in a place that shall not be named. sad but very true. I'll have more respect for these types of protests the minute they include the United States on a short list of criminal countries who have committed unspeakable acts against innocent people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jeffery S. Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 My personal opinion is that things like being at war or sustaining the death penalty should be reasons for a country to be prohibited from hosting a major sporting event. The US, Chinese or Iranian records are disgraceful, as is Russia's. I am also in favour of reducing the ridiculous number of swimming medals, which only favour the rich nations and are essentially an ethno-centric bias of the IOC. If we are going to give medals for swimming slowly (breast stroke), lets give medals for doing basic human physical tasks that every kid needs to know to play sport (running backwards). Only that would give the Africans too many chances at medals, wouldn't it. The medly, what a hilarious event; run really fast, hop really fast, run backwards really fast, run spinning in circles really fast: great event. They don't even have cross country running, it is mind blowing how racially motivated the IOC is, not surprising since it is still dominated by crusty members of European or Gulf state royal families and the like. All this is to suggest concern for Africa and its humanitarian problems could also translate into concern for supporting opportunities for African athletes to succeed at the Olympics, giving their countrymen the pleasure of sharing in that success and the role models every nation's youth looks for. Something the IOC and the industrial nations of the world systematically deny them by minimizing the role of almost all sports where they may excel. Whatever you say about FIFA the ethic is far superior and the sport we all love much more egalitarian--economically, socially, physically, gender-related--in its very nature. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VPjr Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 ^ you know, I never gave alot of your points much thought before but you are definitely onto something. Its not really surprising that the IOC has a strong Western bias. when they decide to do away with sports like Softball and Baseball, it makes you think that they are coming around but they'll probably replace it with Ballroom Dancing and BMX racing or something like that. I too have always wondered why cross country running was not part of the Olympics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soju Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 This thread hits some nails on the head for sure. Who are Americans to protest war mongering or funding wars is that a joke? Canada's hands are certainly not clean either, let's take on things in our own backyard before we throw stones at China at the risk of being hypocrites. If our women are quietly protesting China's involvement have they also spoken out on Iraq or America's involvement in Central and South America? We're playing the US on Friday, I'm all ears ladies. Good points about the swimming medals. Also how many medals for equestrian events? I'd like to reduce the gun shooting medals too. Or how about we introduce some AK-47 shooting events and give impoverished countries a chance? I could name a few countries who've gotten pretty good at that one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terpfan68 Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 And while we are at it let's scrap the Winter Olympics that pretty much excludes African and South American nations and with global warming will soon be moot anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 Phelps wins 8 gold medals. The winning soccer team gets 1. Riiiiiiight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terpfan68 Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 8 different individual events besides each member of the soccer team gets a medal though it only counts one in the medal total. Maybe all track events could be combined into one. If Phelps was Canadian we wouldn't hear a peep. Seems to me we've had a speed skater or two win multiple medals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Ref Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 I think these two women soccer players have been bitten by the communism bug. Communism and socialism have a way to indoctrinate people and these have fallen prey of it. Sad, really sad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Beaver Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 Though I fully agreed that the West has plenty of blood on its hands--Canada ain't innnocent either, especially in the Congo where our companies are behaving very badly indeed--but let's keep in mind that just because the West isn't innocent does not mean that China--or anyone else for that matter--should get off scott free. Cheek's protest is valid, even if he comes from a country that has an egregious record in world affairs. Are you fully certain that Cheek approves of--even absolves--his own country from the atrocities for which it has been responsible? Are we assuming he's just some dumb American? Hey, I am damned proud to be Canadian, but that doesn't mean I am not critical of how we behave domestically or globally. All this to say that Cheek's protest is one issue and the matter of his country's international record is a totally different one. Are you telling me that the only way that Cheek can protest with credibility is for him to revoke his US citizenship? I am not going to revoke my Canadian citizenship just because the Harper goverment has their heads up their asses. In fact, I want to stick around so that I can get those numbnuts out of office. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Beaver Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 quote:Originally posted by The Ref I think these two women soccer players have been bitten by the communism bug. Communism and socialism have a way to indoctrinate people and these have fallen prey of it. Sad, really sad. Are you being ironic? Many things indoctrinate people, not just socialism and communism. Yours is a very broad, naive and perverse statement, I'm afraid. Guess what, captitalism also indoctrinates. As does Feminism. As does Libertarianism and Christianity and Islam etc etc. Don't marginalize these young women cheaply, and don't write off their concern for the people of Darfur so cheaply either. This is a matter of basic human rights. Whether or not athletes should use their celebrity to bring awareness to such issues is another question, but don't be so lazy with your pronouncements. [|)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soju Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 The Ref you're kidding right? You know they're communist because they don't like what's happening in Darfur? Guys I've finally decided. It's taken me a long long time and it's been a very difficult decision...but...I've decided that I'm anti-genocide. Because of this rather controversial stance I feel I must join the Communist Party of Canada. Stalin loves you very much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Beaver Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 quote:Originally posted by Soju The Ref you're kidding right? You know they're communist because they don't like what's happening in Darfur? Guys I've finally decided. It's taken me a long long time and it's been a very difficult decision...but...I've decided that I'm anti-genocide. Because of this rather controversial stance I feel I must join the Communist Party of Canada. Stalin loves you very much. Da, komrade! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Beaver Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 quote:Originally posted by Soju The Ref you're kidding right? You know they're communist because they don't like what's happening in Darfur? Guys I've finally decided. It's taken me a long long time and it's been a very difficult decision...but...I've decided that I'm anti-genocide. Because of this rather controversial stance I feel I must join the Communist Party of Canada. Stalin loves you very much. Da, komrade! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piltdownman Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 quote:Originally posted by Jeffrey S. I am also in favour of reducing the ridiculous number of swimming medals, I couldn't agree more. There are 16 Pool based Mens Events, plus the marathon 10km event. Is there really a need to test 4 different types of swimming at 3 different distances plus the relay? If football was like that they would have gold metals for Freekicks(20m, 30m and 40m), Pks, corner kicks(left, right and combined), and juggling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terpfan68 Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 Then Track is just as bad, maybe worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CG Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 "My personal opinion is that things like being at war or sustaining the death penalty should be reasons for a country to be prohibited from hosting a major sporting event." According to your plan, the death penalty alone would exclude 1/2 to world from competing - 51 countries from the games, mostly muslim plus Japan, USA, huge India, huge China, Thailand etc. Discriminating in one stroke against both freedom of choice on how to deal with really bad criminals and a religion which commands it! "Who are Americans to protest war mongering or funding wars is that a joke? " Temporarily blinded by your hatred of the USA again heh. Did you forget the UN Security Council passed 14 resolutions against Iraq? Did you forget the USA spent a year-and-a-half jawboning with the French and others to try to get some assistance to go in and enforce the UN resolutions that Saddam Hussein had broken? How does that compare with Russia murderously crossing the Georgian border this past week. Hmmmm. Wars all over the planet and you leap to blame-America for trying to enact UN resolutions before they attempted to depose an evil murderous dictator compared to the Russians who didn't even ask before they rolled their tanks. Russia whose country systemically starved and murdered millions of its own citizens. Whose the bad country Soju, the USA or Russia? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Beaver Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 quote:Originally posted by CG "My personal opinion is that things like being at war or sustaining the death penalty should be reasons for a country to be prohibited from hosting a major sporting event." According to your plan, the death penalty alone would exclude 1/2 to world from competing - 51 countries from the games, mostly muslim plus Japan, USA, huge India, huge China, Thailand etc. Discriminating in one stroke against both freedom of choice on how to deal with really bad criminals and a religion which commands it! "Who are Americans to protest war mongering or funding wars is that a joke? " Temporarily blinded by your hatred of the USA again heh. Did you forget the UN Security Council passed 14 resolutions against Iraq? Did you forget the USA spent a year-and-a-half jawboning with the French and others to try to get some assistance to go in and enforce the UN resolutions that Saddam Hussein had broken? How does that compare with Russia murderously crossing the Georgian border this past week. Hmmmm. Wars all over the planet and you leap to blame-America for trying to enact UN resolutions before they attempted to depose an evil murderous dictator compared to the Russians who didn't even ask before they rolled their tanks. Russia whose country systemically starved and murdered millions of its own citizens. Whose the bad country Soju, the USA or Russia? I get your point/s, but you might want to shy away from using Iraq as an example: The US ultimately ignored the UN and invaded Iraq. Like I said, I get your point, but the US has a lot of blood on its hands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonovision Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 quote:Originally posted by terpfan68 Then Track is just as bad, maybe worse. The difference with track, as Jeffrey S alluded to, is that they don't reward different ways of running, with the possible exception of race walking (which everyone makes fun of anyway) and hurdles. And all the swimming events are relatively short distances, making it possible for a single athlete to be dominant across most events (Phelps). The difference between a 100m sprint on the track and a 400m race, let alone 800 or 10k, is so profound that you would never see an athlete compete at a high level in both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soju Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 CG: I think you missed the boat on this discussion chum. Are the Russian Olympians protesting against China? When they do I'll point out what they're up to. The topic was Americans leading protests against China, so I was pointing out what America was up to. I guess you are so sensitive about this issue you took this to be "America bashing". Who is the bad country? Why pick one CG? There are a lot of bad countries doing a lot of bad things. Because Russia didn't come up in the discussion you think I'm letting them off the hook? It must be arguing for the sake of arguing week on this forum. It's a laugh a minute around here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Beaver Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 quote:Originally posted by Soju It must be arguing for the sake of arguing week on this forum. It's a laugh a minute around here. Yeah, I think we're all getting testy leading up to next week's game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 ^ sure, and for the better as well, there have been some great postings here in the past few days... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest speedmonk42 Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 quote:Originally posted by CG "My personal opinion is that things like being at war or sustaining the death penalty should be reasons for a country to be prohibited from hosting a major sporting event." According to your plan, the death penalty alone would exclude 1/2 to world from competing - 51 countries from the games, mostly muslim plus Japan, USA, huge India, huge China, Thailand etc. Discriminating in one stroke against both freedom of choice on how to deal with really bad criminals and a religion which commands it! "Who are Americans to protest war mongering or funding wars is that a joke? " Temporarily blinded by your hatred of the USA again heh. Did you forget the UN Security Council passed 14 resolutions against Iraq? Did you forget the USA spent a year-and-a-half jawboning with the French and others to try to get some assistance to go in and enforce the UN resolutions that Saddam Hussein had broken? How does that compare with Russia murderously crossing the Georgian border this past week. Hmmmm. Wars all over the planet and you leap to blame-America for trying to enact UN resolutions before they attempted to depose an evil murderous dictator compared to the Russians who didn't even ask before they rolled their tanks. Russia whose country systemically starved and murdered millions of its own citizens. Whose the bad country Soju, the USA or Russia? Sigh. Read what I wrote. Apply the same standard to all the countries. Including this one I might add. I hardly think the argument that one country killed millions more than another really makes much sense. Once you are into killing millions do we really need a hierarchy of the damned? "Hey we only killed a couple million... they killed xx million" Not exactly the greatest comeback or defense in history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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