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Published on August 15, 2004 By Stroughzer In Sports & Leisure

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Comments

on Aug 15, 2004

Youa re the one calling the race card mate - this quite possibly has nothing to do with anti-semetism... it is merely a political beleif... if this competitor wants to forgo his chance at Olympic prestige just because of his personla beleif.. whatever...

Anti-Isreal is not Anti-Semitism... when are people going to get that into their heads? was boycotting Moscow anti-Slav? no...

BAM!!!

Stroughzer

on Aug 15, 2004

This wasn't just the athlete, like the Black Power Salute in '68. This is the government and the national olympic committee making this policy. He really had no choice in the matter. As far as the race card goes, remember that Iran doesn't recognize Israel's right to exist. If you don't think that has anything to do with all those Jews living there, then you haven't been paying attention

Gideon MacLeish

on Aug 15, 2004

The Olympics are supposed to represent international goodwill. If the Iranian athletes refuse to exercise that goodwill, they are violating the spirit of the games. On the other hand, the matter is as simple as allowing the Iranians to forfeit any matches against Israelis; a ban at this juncture would mess up the scheduling that has already taken place. This is a tough measure, but it's the only FAIR solution. In my mind, it isn't about anti semitism, but about goodwill, or the lack thereof.

Muggaz

on Aug 16, 2004

Stroughzer, I really don't recognise Israels right too exist either, that has absolutely nothing to do with the people living there... anywho, it's beside the point...

Gid, I beleive you are right in your assesment of the situation... the Olympics are about goodwill... I remember Iran and USA exchanging flowers before a World Cup soccer match in 1998, and it really looked as though sport was going to open peaceful avenues... that was pre 9/11 though, and we DO live in a very different place...

Even in the Olympics, we have to realise that some people don't see eye to eye... we can only treat it on a case by case basis, and sending a country home would open the floodgates...

Lets just all watch Australia win GOLD GOLD GOLD!!!

BAM!!!

bzjaffe

on Aug 16, 2004

Of course anti-Israel is not anti-Semitism, but we are talking about the Iranians who constantly state their desire to wipe the 'Zionist entitiy' of the map. They are anti-Israel because they are anti-Semitic. Here, the two go hand in hand.

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