Sometimes I can be so proud of the U.S.

[ridgeback]

Sorry if this bores some of you but I just love it…

BEIJING (Reuters) - The United States chose former Sudanese refugee Lopez Lomong to carry their flag at Friday’s Olympic opening ceremony in a move that could embarrass Sudan and its ally China.

Lomong, who spent 10 years in a refugee camp after fleeing his native Sudan as a child, was given the honor after a vote by the team captains of the entire U.S. Olympic squad.

“This is the most exciting day ever in my life,” Lomong said in a statement by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) on Wednesday.

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/news?slug=reu-usflagdc&prov=reuters&type=lgns

[KSevnter]

Wonder i that is in response to China’s decision to revoke Joey Cheek’s visa (gold medalist from Torino).

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/blog/fourth_place_medal/post/Chi?urn=oly,98718

Olympic gold medalist and outspoken Darfur activist Joey Cheek has had his visa revoked by the Chinese embassy, hours before the speedskating champion was set to fly to China. And he wasn’t even planning on wearing a mask when he got there.

Chinese officials don’t need a reason to revoke anyone’s visa but, in their eyes, they had plenty of reasons to snatch Cheek’s. He is the founder of Team Darfur, a group of 70 athletes whose goal it is to raise global awareness of the human-rights violations taking part in the Darfur region of Sudan. China’s military, economic and diplomatic ties to Sudan have been well-publicized in the lead-up to the Games.

Said Cheek of his ban in a prepared statement:

"I am saddened not to be able to attend the Games. The Olympic Games represent something powerful: that people can come together from around the world and do things that no one thought were possible. However, the denial of my visa is a part of a systemic effort by the Chinese government to coerce and threaten athletes who are speaking out on behalf of the innocent people of Darfur.

Cheek was going to China to support the athletes on Team Darfur – including soccer player Abby Wambach – and to promote the cause, one that he has championed for years. After winning gold in the Torino Games, Cheek announced he was donating his $25,000 USOC bonus to Darfur and implored his sponsors to do the same. It seems that Joey Cheek is truly one of the good guys.

[dwblover]

Wow, that makes me proud of all the team captains as well. And if they think revoking Joey’s visa is going to slow down his efforts, they are SO wrong. Now it is just bringing more attention to his cause.

[Hopeful_Hunter]

For the first time in a very long while, I’m proud of something the US has done on the international stage thanks to this decision.

Showcasing a refugee, and highlighting inhumanity, is what the US used to stand for, and I’m glad to see it hasn’t been completely waterboarded into oblivion.

THIS is what makes the Olympics special, IMO…thanks for sharing this!

[ridgeback]

@Hopeful Hunter;3419293

For the first time in a very long while, I’m proud of something the US has done on the international stage thanks to this decision.

Showcasing a refugee, and highlighting inhumanity, is what the US used to stand for, and I’m glad to see it hasn’t been completely waterboarded into oblivion.

THIS is what makes the Olympics special, IMO…thanks for sharing this!

You’re welcome:D I just love it:)

[Speedy_Alice]

[QUOTE=dwblover;3419065]
Wow, that makes me proud of all the team captains as well. And if they think revoking Joey’s visa is going to slow down his efforts, they are SO wrong. Now it is just bringing more attention to his cause.[/QUOTE]

Agree! So happy for Lomong and proud of the team captains! Thanks for sharing.

[classicsporthorses]

You should see how proud we are in central NY! The school district is one that I am responsible for and about 15 miles from my office at the State University College of NY at Cortland. He is a BIG hometown hero!

They were actually doing a fund raiser in Tully last night, a small community, to raise funds for his adoptive parents and coach from Tully to attend the games.

[Equibrit]

Being American does not confer the right to be a crass guest in a foreign country.

[Eclectic_Horseman]

@Equibrit;3421770

Beuing American does not confer the right to be a crass guest in a foreign country.

Screw that. If there is one thing we are justifiably proud of, it is the exercise of our 1st Amendment rights.

I was even proud of GWB for having a few choice words about China’s human rights record before he went over.

If that makes us crass, so be it.

[ridgeback]

[QUOTE=Equibrit;3421770]
Beuing American does not confer the right to be a crass guest in a foreign country.[/QUOTE]

Exactly how is it crass? He has every right to carry our flag…

[Equibrit]

“…in a move that could embarrass Sudan and its ally China.”

Way to solve a problem.

[ridgeback]

[QUOTE=Equibrit;3421822]
“…in a move that could embarrass Sudan and its ally China.”

Way to solve a problem.[/QUOTE]

Clearly you aren’t that savvy on how world politics work… It’s like a chess game often times that is how things are communicated before they get resolved… Embarrassment is better then armed military!!!

[AffirmedHope]

@Eclectic Horseman;3421799

Screw that. If there is one thing we are justifiably proud of, it is the exercise of our 1st Amendment rights.

In CHINA?

[Eclectic_Horseman]

@AffirmedHope;3421838

In CHINA?

Absolutely. And at great personal risk, I might ad…

[hitchinmygetalong]

In my opinion, the Olympics should never be a political soapbox. But this is not without precedent (as the US boycotted the Moscow Olympics in '80 to protest the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan), so I guess I’ll just have to shut up.

[Equibrit]

This is the sort thing that gave rise to the expression “Ugly American”. But hey - if you’re fine with that, it’s all that counts. You don’t attempt to impose your values on another culture when you are a guest in their country.

[snoopy]

@Eclectic Horseman;3421799

Screw that. If there is one thing we are justifiably proud of, it is the exercise of our 1st Amendment rights.

That is all well and good in the USA. Athletes are GUESTs in China and should behave as such.
I am always amazed when americans feel that their amendment rights extend beyond their borders.

[Dixon]

[QUOTE=Equibrit;3421770]
Being American does not confer the right to be a crass guest in a foreign country.[/QUOTE]

Huh? How does this remotely relate to the topic?

I too am proud of this symbolic move by the U.S. As for Olympic speedskater Joey Cheek, he is a 2008 Gold Medalist in my book, even though China refused his entry. China’s retributional revocation of his Visa warrants, at a minimum, the U.S. revoking Chinese nationals’ visas, as part of the political chess game. We should boot out some Chinese businessmen and the Chinese bank that just received a banking license to do business here. I just wish these happenings made more and bigger headlines than Bush showing up at the Opening Ceremonies. Few actions by the U.S. can make up for the embarassment he’s caused us the past 8 years.

[Eclectic_Horseman]

@snoopy;3421862

That is all well and good in the USA. Athletes are GUESTs in China and should behave as such.
I am always amazed when americans feel that their amendment rights extend beyond their borders.

China had to compete to get the games. They wanted us----not the other way around.

I am always amazed when people think that violence against women, children and animals is “okay” when it is part of someone else’s culture.

We have a right to freedom of speech as Americans not to be penalized by the US Government for voicing our opinions. Of course, China has the right to do to Americans whatever it does to its own citizens in its own country…WHILE THE WHOLE WORLD WATCHES.

[Speedy_Alice]

[QUOTE=Equibrit;3421822]
“…in a move that could embarrass Sudan and its ally China.”

Way to solve a problem.[/QUOTE]

I feel any “embarrassment” would be in a category similar to the way Jesse Owens “embarrassed” Hitler and Nazi Germany in the '36 Olympics…