U.S. Athletes Warned Against "Jingoistic" Flag-waving!

Which appeasement junkie thought this up?

Published on May 17, 2004 By greywar In Current Events

The Washingon Times reports that U.S. athletes have been waned against waving the U.S. flag at the olympics. The thought process here is that since the U.S. is not very popular right now we should avoid making any "jingoistic" statements or show any national pride.

My question is this... Where does it stop? Should we simply rol over and play dead? Perhaps let the french have a few of our cities as an apology for attacking their lovely friend Saddam? Or maybe we should restart the oil-for-kickbacks program so the "international community" can heal the "deep diplomatic wounds" we have incurred with the resumption of easy bribe money?

I hope the team captains have the courage to stand up and wave Old Glory high and wide. Screw the appeasers. If the world can't stand a bit of national pride...too damn bad.

Emperor Darth Misha I also has excellent coverage of this in his own indomitable style here.

I am dying to hear the views of the more left leaning of the JU community. Seriously. I wont flame you or anything. (well I suppose that is dependant on your behaviour as well)

Comments (Page 2)

greywar

on May 17, 2004

Gerry - The story as reported in the Washington Times was mainl concerned with the flag waving aspect of it although I am certain you are correct that they were admonished against other more over-the-top types of displays such as the one you reported seeing in Sydney. As I said earlier, I do not think we should be overly provacative but we should feel no more restraint in celebrating than any other nation who participates. Flag waving during the olympics is a long standing tradition and I see no reason to stop it now simply to appease other nations.

greywar

on May 17, 2004

A better idea would be to refrain from excessive flag waving and come out of the Olympics with a resounding #1 in the gold metal column.

Ying - That is the most well thought out comment I have ever seen you leave. I don't agree with your politics but I thank you for the civil comment. More of those and you may climb out of negative numbers.

Gerry Atrick

on May 17, 2004

Greywar I guess I was just wondering if the story I heard ( and the story itself mentioned the Sydney olympics performance by the 100 metres relay team) and the Washington Times story had the same source information but came out with different interpretations. I don't think anyone believes that any athlete from any country who wins cannot show love of country. I would be disappointed if the US is expected to behave differently from anyone else.

greywar

on May 17, 2004

I expect that both stories came from the same source as you say. The Washington Post likely just found the flag-waving bit of it to be the easiest to write a column on. Much as I did:)

Jamie Burnside

on May 17, 2004

I think that the point is that the flag wavers should try to show some restraint.

It is okay to wave the flag around a bit, just don't go into "Icky Shuffle" territory.

I don't really see why nationalities are such a big deal in the Olympics anyway. Olympic victories are individual accomplishments. Victorious athletes would be better off trotting around with larger-than-life-sized posters of themselves rather than flags of their country.

As an American, I am almost completely positive that I personally have had no impact on the performance of any of the athletes receiving their medals. Let them enjoy themselves without having to carry the burden of their home country's international standing.

greywar

on May 17, 2004

It is okay to wave the flag around a bit, just don't go into "Icky Shuffle" territory.

Man was I into that. I feel quite silly remembering it now though.

couchman

on May 17, 2004

Frankly if waving "Old Glory" in Greece annoys some euro-socialist or islamic nation...well than...fine...no skin of my back....as to the dire issues some say are apparent now in the world, well one might add that many of those said nations that may boo the US teams for waving it were the cause of those problems....but who am I to judge..just an American tired of the passe' anti-US bull.......whats next....deciding that it might not be prudent for the US to send teams for the Olympics because of someones perceived problems.....grow the F**k up ....if the Olympic commitee plans on issuing a statement down the road telling instead of suggesting that US athletes not show any forms of Patriotism, then maybe we should pull out of the games and pull US military and Intelligence support which was requested by Greece under Nato articles.....funny how Nato membership is one sided deal....all fine to request assistance for ones own country but not for deploying troops in say Afghanistan...where the overwhelming majority of nato forces there are in 2 cities....and not in the mountain areas...so much for Nato support there

messybuu

on May 17, 2004

If that's the case, then I understand. I don't want the US athletes to be acting differently than other athletes are.

Saint Ying

on May 17, 2004

There is a time for a civility, and a time for rabid partisan banter and vitriolic self mocking joy. I have generally prefered the former, but the latter is very useful as well. If people pay more attention to the wicked than the good, it's not my problem. Wickedness is key to defeating Jesus on Earth. Nor is it fair that conservatives like Anthony R. get to practice foolish and stereotypical thinking, and I don't. Everyone should get their chance to bask in the cool burn of venemous froth

greywar

on May 17, 2004

Wickedness is key to defeating Jesus on Earth.

Okaaayyy..., not sure I follow how this connects to the sentence before it.

Muggaz

on May 18, 2004

A little flag waving isn't goin to make the USA any more disliked than it is allready... As far as athletics and sport goes, they are great, and deserve to be proud of their acheivments whilst representing the country they love.

As long as nothing is implied other than harmless patriotism, there is no reason i can see why is should be contained...

It doesn't really matter anyway - Aussies are going to clean up

BAM!!!

greywar

on May 18, 2004

Muggaz - There are sports in Austrailia? like what? Koala bowling? I am sure you *will* clean up in that.

Muggaz

on May 18, 2004

OMG greywar!!!

You are now hitting an Australian where it hurts most! Insulting our sporting culture!!!

Per Capita, we have the best sporting nation in the world, so we will be the Jingoist flag wavers at Athens!

BAM!!!

greywar

on May 18, 2004

Again what sports? Outback extreme golf? Billabong rock-skipping? The hundred meter descended from prisoners-escapee dash?

I kid Muggaz.... While in Korea the Star sports channel brought me Austrailian League Football, World Cup Rugby, and even cricket. They were the only things that kept me sane. Even if I did have to go online to even grasp the bare rudiments of cricket.

kingbee

on May 19, 2004

vb tab pulling?

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