XX Olympic Winter Games

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Prudence

Similarly, CCCP was the name of the country. If they'd knocked off the gulag nonsense and become respectable world citizens and still wanted to call themselves CCCP would that be a problem?

But they didn't, they change the name. Thus, CCCP specifically represents an opressive, murderous regime, not the entire history of the region. That's why simply saying, "Germany" isn't a good analogy. "Nazi Germany" specifies a particular period of the history, just as CCCP does.

Like scaeagles, it's not the wearing of the sweater, it's the wearing of the sweater in a professional setting that bugs.

[Prudence]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

But they didn't, they change the name. Thus, CCCP specifically represents an opressive, murderous regime, not the entire history of the region. That's why simply saying, "Germany" isn't a good analogy. "Nazi Germany" specifies a particular period of the history, just as CCCP does.

I still disagree. "Nazi" is inherently evil. It's not a matter of individually objectionable leaders, it is a philosophy that is itself evil. Communism is not inherently evil. Stalin was about as oppressive and murderous as they come, but he's certainly not alone in history. He also doesn't represent the entire history of CCCP. There are plenty of Russians who'd like to go back to CCCP - and not because they favor gulags.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Prudence

I still disagree. "Nazi" is inherently evil. It's not a matter of individually objectionable leaders, it is a philosophy that is itself evil. Communism is not inherently evil. Stalin was about as oppressive and murderous as they come, but he's certainly not alone in history. He also doesn't represent the entire history of CCCP. There are plenty of Russians who'd like to go back to CCCP - and not because they favor gulags.

Stalin may not represent the entire history of the CCCP, but are you suggesting that the political oppression and human rights abuses under Brezhnev or Kruschev (please excuse my seplling if I'm getting them wrong) was OK? There were probably plenty of Germans who would have liked to back to Nazi Germany as well.

CCCP does represent political oppression and suppression of human freedom. What else does it represent?

[€uroMeinke]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

CCCP does represent political oppression and suppression of human freedom. What else does it represent?

Cosmonauts!

[innerSpaceman]

zapppop delights in wearing offensive t-shirts. Fortunately, he's not likely to become a posseur rebel Olympic athlete.


But I wonder what shirts posseur rebel Olympic athletes would wear to Gay Day?

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

zapppop delights in wearing offensive t-shirts.

While not necessarily offensive, doesn't he have an 'Asthma is Sexy' shirt? I remember him posting it somewhere. Now that's funny.

[scaeagles]

As a court professional, would you wear a "Fvck the draft" t-shirt in a courthouse? I would guess not, because you are, well, a professional. There are places and times where certain things aren't appropriate.

Likewise, an athlete from the USA, representing the USA, while that person does indeed have an individual personality, bears a certain amount of responsibility. We fought a long cold war and a couple indirect hot wars with the Soviets. If you want to wear a CCCP sweatshirt, fine, but not as a representative of the USA.

It isn't an issue of offense.....it's an issue of decorum.

[MickeyLumbo]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

It isn't an issue of offense.....it's an issue of decorum.

precisely why i will refrain from a post about wearing a DCA t-shirt.

[Moonliner]

Bahh, it was a gift from a Russian skater. He respects the Russian skaters and wears it because a friend gave it to him. The fact that it's a bit "in your face" is just a bonus for him...

Nothing to see here, move along...

[innerSpaceman]

Eh, it always bugs me when they tout the medal count as being the medals of the USA. I know that the athletes are there via their nationality, but they are not playing as part of a "team." They are individual athletes competing for the most part quite individually.

I don't think the USA earns any gold medals. And, despite the trappings, I never think of the American athletes as belonging to "Team USA."


I'll concede, though, that - like it or not - they are representing the United States in some fashion (not meant to be a pun).