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Illustration by Cody Angel
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By Wildcat Opinions Board
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Wednesdsay Feb. 13, 2002
Political controversy arose again as the tattered World Trade Center flag flapped above a 52,000-person audience in Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City for the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Winter Games on Friday. It was estimated that 3.5 billion people around the world tuned in to the event. Many defended the raising of the flag as an honor to the victims and heroes of Sept. 11, while others argued that it was an unwisely chosen gesture in a world event.
Regardless of opinion, the demonstration walked a fine line. Rules established by the International Olympic Committee prohibit any political demonstrations during the parade of athletes. "Every country in the IOC has issues,'' American IOC member Anita DeFrantz said on Feb. 5. "As Americans, we have to understand it's a world event and also that we are a guest even though we are the host nation."
In addition, President Bush's speech to the American athletes was also criticized. "This flag serves (as) a symbol of this nation's strength, of our resolve, of our determination to fight for freedom."
Although this was the first global, non-political event to see reference to the War on Terrorism, it was not a surprise to many Americans. The recent Super Bowl was also filled with "Live from Kandahar" television clips, as well as a dramatic halftime show where a screen portraying names of terrorist attack victims collapsed to the beat of U2. The 2001 World Series saw home-runs fly by the World Trade Center flag.
But, is it appropriate to intertwine American political issues into globally watched sporting events? With the War on Terrorism only intensifying, what do you think?
We must be uniters, not dividers·
As far as jingoistic sports programming goes - as if there are many examples to categorize - there's a big difference between the Super Bowl and the Olympics.
Football is a phenomenon of American construction that has claimed a place as one of the last bastions of the anthem-singing, flag-waving patriot. There were moments during this year's show when the nationalistic theme went a little over the top. However, a well-intentioned show of support for American interests was entirely appropriate under such circumstances.
The Olympics is another matter entirely. The Games are supposed to be representative of a worldwide community that transcends borders. The fact that they take place in the United States six months after a national tragedy does not make them America's games.
Furthermore, patriotically motivated acts project an unwanted political dimension onto international competition. The differences of perception involved only instigate conflict amid what should be peaceful events.
And finally, I'll leave you with one question, which will hopefully give us pause to consider what the controversy is ultimately over: Is turning the attacks on the World Trade Center into a spectacle of entertainment really the best way to pay homage to those who lost their lives?
Caitlin Hall is a biochemistry and philosophy freshman. She can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.
Not once, but twice
You can't have your cake and eat it too. At least not when it comes to current U.S. foreign policy. The opening ceremonies of the Olympic games, sponsored by the United States, were a testimony to that. For instance, it's hard to have little children skating about in a light and fantasy ice medley of hopes and dreams and then switch to a live shot of the soldiers in Kandahar. A wee bit unsettling that was. Twice.
And yet it wasn't out of the ordinary in the slightest. The United States has always been good at the old game of sleight of hand. Opening ceremonies? We'll have Sting perform a "peace" song, and as Iranian athletes march we'll have NBC announcers remind the viewers of Iran's evil status. War? We'll say that we're only at war with terrorists, but in the meantime we will kill more innocents than those who died Sept. 11. Propaganda? We claim we want peace, but we make ridiculous evil axis statements. Image? We go to war a solitary nation in search of peace and reject help from the Turkish army to keep the image.
Policy should go one way or the other. It's either the Olympic spirit or it's war. It simply can't be both.
Laura Winsky is a senior majoring in Spanish and political science. She can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.
Need to respect war
It's an odd, odd world today. The more things change, the more they stay the same, and it goes to show that we just haven't learned anything from history. During the end of the Roman Empire, the emperor decided to bring the gladiatorial games and other obscene events to the Colosseum to take attention away from the fighting at the rim of the empire. With these awe-inspiring sporting events that dazzled the poor Roman's uneducated eye, the empire propagated its holy righteousness so that the people would become scared and regard the empire.
Today, we have the Super Bowl. While I am not a fan of football (and this is entirely a personal opinion that has nothing to do with the Roman Empire), it seems that our government is beginning to use Americans' strong liking for sports and the Olympics as avenues to pursue other agendas. We are a lot more educated than the average Roman, but the questionable pursuit of the government to mix fun and games with seriousness and war is something to think about. War should be given more respect and be treated with sensitivity, instead of immersing it with something that is just for fun.
War is not a joke, and it isn't being treated with the respect it deserves.
Mariam Durrani is a systems engineering junior. She can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.
Well, at least it's not propaganda
Uncle Sam is not sitting in the control booth at the Olympics or the Super Bowl. It may appear that way, but what looks like Uncle Sam is actually a clever guy in a business suit. He's a marketing exec, and he knows exactly how to optimize the short time he bought to influence the public. So why is he hawking patriotism?
It's a big seller. As a country, we experienced a shocking attack on our values, sense of security and skyline. The hostility blew a big chunk out of our national confidence. Now, we're looking for any way to boost our low self-esteem. Count American flag bumper stickers: This country is craving patriotism.
The producers of these events give us exactly what we want while simultaneously reinforcing their advertisers' marketing strategy. They maximize the patriotic angle to nourish our starving national pride. And when it's nice and plump, the advertisers step in and speak to us, not as a massive, eclectic viewing public, but as Americans - each and every one. It's personal. It plays into our emotional needs.
It's a successful sales pitch.
Daniel Cucher is a creative writing senior. He can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.
Patriotism: Deal with it
The Super Bowl is an American event that takes place each year in an American city. Considering the events of September, to not have expected or welcomed a patriotic theme during this year's game was a little ignorant and pretentious.
Enough said about that. On to Salt Lake City.
To me, the Olympics have always been about the opportunity for each country to display the best of what it has to offer, both in athletics and in character.
The World Trade Center flag represents the best of America: the strength and unity of the nation in a time of crisis, the durability and resilience of its people and the heroism of the police officers and firefighters that risked - and in some cases, gave - their lives so others would be saved.
If that's too political for some people, then quite frankly, that's just too damn bad.
As for the appropriateness of President Bush addressing the masses at the opening ceremony, I leave you with one question: Would such a fuss have been made if Bill Clinton were still president and did the same thing?
Shane Dale is a political science junior. He can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu
Patriotism is only natural
Political overtones seem inevitable at big events in America nowadays. The Olympics have been somewhat overshadowed by America's newfound patriotism following Sept. 11. The first Super Bowl since Sept. 11 was clearly a display of patriotism and support for those currently in power. While I do not consider political overtones a positive thing for non-political events, it's only natural for Americans to look toward political patriotism during any big event with the turmoil still plaguing us from the terrorist attacks.
Perhaps the fact that a majority of impartial American fans chose to pull for the Patriots in the Super Bowl was going a little overboard - just as the overwhelming support for the Yankees in the World Series seemed somewhat unfair to the Diamondbacks. I don't doubt that competitors from other countries in the Olympics feel how strongly the Americans are the sentimental favorites.
I don't fault people for turning to patriotism, even where it may seem inappropriate, while America is still healing. Nonetheless, we need to be more careful to avoid alienating those who do not share in our enthusiasm.
Kendrick Wilson is a political science freshman. He can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.
