I have been meaning to write for days about this, and do to a recent spat of the “blues” with the loss of a family member, I find myself home today. I should be at the gym, I normally would be. However, I’m home. Blue. Depressed.
So that’ll tint my opinion today, but this discussion has been going on in my circles recently. It’s reached a national level.
Russia is anti-gay. Like America, the country doesn’t take too kindly to change. They’ve always been this way; we’ve always been this way. It happens that a few people, homophobes tend to be vocal and wealthy. They can use gay rights issues as a firey point to rile the masses and have done so there in Moscow.
It’s sad. Gays being beaten on the streets (like here, as a matter of fact). But, unlike here, we have many avenues to lash back and defend ourselves. The whole thing in Russia, making a law to outlaw “gay propaganda” leaves itself open to interpretation and can be used to police innocent peoples.
Kinda like they used terrorism here in the states.
Ahem. I digress.
But time and again, such laws are used to also distract from dirty dealings and a faulty system.
Again, just like here.
I HATE using Hitler’s Germany as a comparison, but, hear me out. I think of how Hitler hosted the Berlin Olympics. He wanted to showcase his “Master Race.”
Then Jesse Owens won. And Hitler refused to attend the Medal Ceremony.
I don’t think we can change the opinions of a massively homophobic society of another country; we’re having a hard enough time changing it here (again, speaking about how resistant this country is to “change”). But here’s my take on this situation.
No. Don’t boycott the Olympics.
This doesn’t garner favor with my circles, but here’s the thing, if I may. I lived right next door to the Olympic Training Center. You have no idea how much these people invest in events. Literally sacrificing concepts of “life” that you and I take for granted. They live and breathe one sport all the time. See a movie? Maybe in the twenty minutes between calorie counting, eating, and driving over to the weight room. Chat with friends? Sure, But they have to still get their 7.34 hours of sleep, so make it quick.
I will not take away their reason for living. I cannot do that.
No. Don’t move the Olympics.
Sorry, that city, not the country invested everyone to get these things ready. There is no way another location can be picked.
Fuck the Olympic Committee. They’re assholes.
Yes. I said that. The IOC are a buncha schmucks who think their shit doesn’t stink, frankly. They sued, successfully because they had a shitload of MONEY (yet again), to make the Gay Olympics change their name to the Gay Games. They said it was a copyright infringement.
Asswipes.
They were fine with the Hermit Crab Olympics. They were okay with the Olympics of Yo-Yos. But those gays? No. Can’t use the name.
So we’re dealing with an already homophobic schmucktards.
They said they’ll support Russia if they arrest anyone, since everyone should respect their home countries laws. So? If Germany is killing Jews, screw that noise, you can’t say anything.
What can we do?
I encourage our American counterparts to do something that is, truly American. Stand up to bullies. I think of the “Black Power” protests during the Mexico Olympics. We should stand by our Americans who are marginalized. We should go over there and just be.
If we get arrested? Watch Americans support Americans. Watch how we’ll howl and escalate the situation and show that this is not appropriate. NBC should report, nightly, how our gay and lesbian Americans are being treated and compare it to Russia’s idiocy. No, don’t cancel the news. Use it like Fox uses it emphasize the conservative side of things. Let media send the message.
McDonalds can still sponsor it, but they should still voice, loudly, “we do not CONDONE this.”
That’s what I think.
Take Russia to task by being vocal.
And then let our borders open to those seeking asylum from Russian tyranny.
Peace,
Roo
1 comment:
Stephen Fry tweeted the other day that he quite liked the idea of some kind of a physical sign, like crossing arms over the chest on the winners' podium. Similar to the example you've given, I think. I agree that we should voice our disapproval but that cancelling or moving or boycotting the games would probably be a mistake. Not only for the reasons you mention but also because it could simply give the more conservative element in Russia even more reason to feel they are right. Making them suffer economically turning them even further towards a hardline attitude. No-one wants to Godwin the discussion online but the comparisons with 30's Germany are pretty valid. On one discussion someone posted excerpts of the translation of the new laws but took out all the "non-traditional marriage" etc. references and replaced those terms with Jews, Jewish and so on. It made for chilling reading.
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