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Post by aubrey on Jul 28, 2012 10:59:30 GMT
I'm really really not cynical, but I'm also not that bothered by this. Some things are nice to see - like a giant shot-put ball "landing" in the tarmac outside the park gate (opposite St Thomas's) - but I'm really not excited, not like I was for the world cup in 1970, say (though if you remember how that turned out you might think I'm just trying to protect myself against disappointment). I'll probably not watch the opening thing - maybe a bit of it, and I'll see some bits on the news I expect: but that Mud dance they showed from the rehearsals this morning won't mean anything if you weren't alive in Britain in the early 70s. I can't stick the Usain Bolt Fastest man in the world thing - and doesn't he put on side about it? - considering that he's still slower than most other animals, and a lot of them don't even have to be adjusted for size. So the whole Olympics seems to be a celebration of things that humans are worse at than other animals, and ignoring the things that we're best at. Dunno of any animals that can organise a planet wide meeting of the fastest, strongest, healthiest, fittest, most skilled examples of the entire species. And if I was the fastest man in the world, I'd sure tell people about it.  But you'd still be slower than most mammals. We can do a lot of things that animals can't, but we don't seem to be as proud of those. I'm not sure that being able to organise something like this is necessarily a thing to put on side about:  |
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Post by aubrey on Jul 28, 2012 11:00:45 GMT
However, disregarding that cheap shot, I saw the first 75 minutes of last night's do, and I liked it. It seemed calculated to annoy right wingers (and it did!).
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Post by Patrick on Jul 28, 2012 12:35:50 GMT
That's not a real thing, is it? Verily so! Organised by These Jolly Fellows and Fellowesses! |
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Post by Patrick on Jul 28, 2012 12:42:54 GMT
Incensed that you missed it? Cos I can't think what there is to be incensed about if you didn't watch it. lol. I'm sure the "It's a Knockout" ceremony was lovely. It's the hypocrisy of all those going "So Proud to be British" that's pissed me off. |
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Post by bonbonlarue on Jul 28, 2012 12:55:29 GMT
The Jamaican and USA teams are staying in the next street to my office. My chum was there last week and reported that the US team are on and off the coach from training, never speak to anyone and under strict supervision. The Jamaican team on the other hand wander about willy nilly, chatting, signing autographs and posing for pics. He met Usain Bolt and reported that a nicer chap you couldn't wish to meet. I may hang around after work on Monday... |
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Post by everso on Jul 28, 2012 17:03:25 GMT
By the same token, why would they want to represent another country? 'GBR' is not currently 'another country'. It's the country they live in for Olympic representation purposes. The lassie can sing or not sing as she sees fit, for whatever reason she sees fit. The bigoted shite of the Daily Mail who wrote that article making an issue of it and bullying her are the disgrace here, not some lassie who didn't want to sing the English national anthem. Not wishing to labour the point, and I've nothing against the girl, but it does seem that she wants it all ways. If you're representing Great Britain then shouldn't you be singing the National Anthem of that country? When and if Scotland gains independence (and I hope it does) then she will represent Scotland (I would think) and will sing "Flower of Scotland"(?). If she feels so strongly about not wishing to recognise Great Britain as a country, shouldn't she have ducked out? Harsh, I know, but it seems a bit hypocritical of her. Sorry.  |
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Post by riotgrrl on Jul 28, 2012 21:21:03 GMT
'GBR' is not currently 'another country'. It's the country they live in for Olympic representation purposes. The lassie can sing or not sing as she sees fit, for whatever reason she sees fit. The bigoted shite of the Daily Mail who wrote that article making an issue of it and bullying her are the disgrace here, not some lassie who didn't want to sing the English national anthem. Not wishing to labour the point, and I've nothing against the girl, but it does seem that she wants it all ways. If you're representing Great Britain then shouldn't you be singing the National Anthem of that country? When and if Scotland gains independence (and I hope it does) then she will represent Scotland (I would think) and will sing "Flower of Scotland"(?). If she feels so strongly about not wishing to recognise Great Britain as a country, shouldn't she have ducked out? Harsh, I know, but it seems a bit hypocritical of her. Sorry. This is just not logical Everso. This girl wants to play her sport at the highest level, which (she thinks) is the Olympics, so she is delighted to be selected for the team and she accepts the invitation (which many Scottish athletes didn't) She lives in a state called (for Olympic purposes ) GBR, so that's what she has to have to play at this level. Why does she have to sing the English national anthem? And why should she be bulled and harassed by the tabloid media if she doesn't? She didn't make a fuss. She didn't go overboard to make a point. She just chose not to sing the English national anthem. Welsh Nationalist, Gwynfor Evans expressed it well; "Britishness is a political synonym for Englishness which extends English culture over the Scots, the Welsh and the Irish." The Kim Little affair shows that any attempt by members of the other three nations, who try slot themselves into a definition of Britishness that they might feel comfortable with, will be crushed because being British and retaining any sense of being Scots, Welsh or Irish are mutually exclusive. |
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Post by trubble on Jul 28, 2012 22:25:21 GMT
This is interesting. So far, I agree with both of you. Quite strongly.
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Post by riotgrrl on Jul 28, 2012 22:37:04 GMT
This is interesting. So far, I agree with both of you. Quite strongly. Bullshit you do (agree with us both.) You are the very girl who, had you excelled at an athletic talent (and there is no reason why you wouldn't have, had you but put your mind to it) would have wanted to play at the highest level, but would nonetheless wished to have been true to yourself. So is Everso really. She just is a bit taken away with it all at the moment, and when she has a moment she will realise, as you will, that I am not just interesting on this matter, I am obviously right. Athletes are different from the rest of us. They eat, dream, sleep, live a particular weird thing - be it playing football, or running fast, or some other impressive but dull talent that I admire them for but can't get excited about. Athletes live and dream their sport. This is her chance to play on the brightest international stage. Does she have to accept someone else's idea of what her identity should be to take up this opportunity? Because, if so, wow, that's harsh. As I say, she didn't make a fuss, she didn't make a protest. She just didn't sing the English national anthem. Nor did the other Scottish girl in the football team. Nor did the Welsh men (ryan giggs, craig bellamy - if these names mean a thing to anyone.) It's not Nuremburg. It's London 2012. Surely it's ok for people not to sing the English national anthem? |
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Post by riotgrrl on Jul 28, 2012 22:50:44 GMT
Thing is, nobody knows why she didn't sing. Maybe she was protesting againt war on Iraq or the privatisation of the NHS, or maybe she just forgot the words, or maybe she was embarassed to sing in public.
Nobody knows.
But the Daily Mail whipped up a storm of protest about her not singing because she was Scottish and didn't want to sing the English national anthem. Their report was repulsive harassment.
I stand with Kim Little against the media haters, and I can't imagine why anyone else wouldn't.
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Post by riotgrrl on Jul 28, 2012 22:58:12 GMT
This Scottish woman footballer also failed to sing 'God Save the Queen'.
Watch this video. She is not very articulate, but she is Scottish, with a broad weegie accent, having been born in the USA, playing in Sweden and obviously (visually) having African genetic heritage.
Why the fuck should this girl be expected to sing 'God Save The Queen' just in order to be able to get a game in the Olympics?
She also stayed silent. She didn't object, create a fuss, draw attention to herself. She just didn't sing the English National anthem.
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Post by riotgrrl on Jul 28, 2012 23:02:43 GMT
The Jamaican and USA teams are staying in the next street to my office. The Jamaicans are all a bit excited right now. It's the run-up to the celebration (next weekend) of their 50th anniversary of their foundation as an independent nation state. I'm off out next weekend to a party to celebrate it at the African-Caribbean Center up here. I'm looking forward to it immensely. I really hope the Jamaicans tear it up at these Olympics and exceed and excel. Fabulous nation that punches well above its weight. Murder rate a bit high right enough, but nonetheless one of my top 10 favourite nations. |
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Post by everso on Jul 29, 2012 9:43:14 GMT
Maybe we should have an Olympics Anthem that everyone should sing. Or do away with them all together?
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Post by aubrey on Jul 29, 2012 10:11:14 GMT
And it should be Ode to Freedom/Joy, seeing as how the EU don't seem to have much use for it.
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Post by riotgrrl on Jul 29, 2012 11:23:44 GMT
I can't remember which nation it is, but one of their national anthems doesn't have any words.
I may have been intemperate last night. If so I apologise. It was a long day . . .
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peterl
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Post by peterl on Jul 29, 2012 15:55:58 GMT
I'm sure the "It's a Knockout" ceremony was lovely. It's the hypocrisy of all those going "So Proud to be British" that's pissed me off. Wharf's wrong with being proud to be British? |
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Post by Patrick on Jul 29, 2012 16:22:48 GMT
I'm sure the "It's a Knockout" ceremony was lovely. It's the hypocrisy of all those going "So Proud to be British" that's pissed me off. Wharf's wrong with being proud to be British? Because it's always "Worn on the sleeve" it's never Genuine. Most people would slag the place off at the first opportunity. Until there's some big occasion then all of a sudden everyone is "Proud to be British". |
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Post by everso on Jul 29, 2012 22:58:26 GMT
Wharf's wrong with being proud to be British? Because it's always "Worn on the sleeve" it's never Genuine. Most people would slag the place off at the first opportunity. Until there's some big occasion then all of a sudden everyone is "Proud to be British". I constantly slag off this country (ask Mr. E.) but I wouldn't want to be anything else but British/English/Essex. |
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Post by bonbonlarue on Jul 30, 2012 6:58:01 GMT
I am constantly proud to be British and consider myself lucky [v] to have been born in such a beautiful country.
90% of the alternatives are just too horrible to consider.
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Post by riotgrrl on Jul 30, 2012 8:58:25 GMT
Ladies, I'm asking nicely .. . but what is it about being 'British' that makes you proud which is significantly different to your being 'English'?
Seriously, what, for you two (who are proud to be 'British') is the difference between English and British?
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