i feel horrible for homosexual (there are 6 openly gay athletes competing this year), heterosexual, bisexual, ALL athletes in this years olympics. ALL of them have to go to a country, where security is a very present concern. where we dont know if "russia will have sufficient security to host the upcoming winter olympics in sochi given an unwillingness to fully work with other countries, and particularly the U.S., as they prepare for the games" (thanks cbs for this info). an UNWILLINGNESS? i'm pretty sure sochi needs to host the olympics, more than the olympics needed to take place in sochi.
the fact that some athletes, whom are openly gay, had to tell their families to stay home, that it would be safer; locked down my decision to not watch. an athlete works their entire fucking life to compete at an olympian level. and then because they like to kiss or love or spend their life with someone of the same sex, they need to tell their families to stay home! watch my dream come true from a television, don't partake in this life changing moment with me, its fine (NOT). and then said family has to sit home, with a knot in their stomach, praying to god that their loved one returns home safe. (at least physically safe, im sure anyone partaking in the sochi olympics, whether gay or not, will leave these games with some sort of emotional scar.)
it was rumored that some countries were going to carry out gay pride flags during the opening ceremonies. i seriously hope they do, but then again i hope they dont. i hope they do so it will serve as a big FUCK YOU to putin. but i hope they dont, in fear that something awful and unnecessary will happen. even if they dont carry the flags, im sure the mens figure skating will be enough to make putin squirm in his egotistical, small minded, shit for brains, chair.
what i can support is european union commissioner viviane reding in her boycott of the games. i can support german president joachim gauck and french president francois hollande and their decision to not attend the games (although not an official boycott, its a stand). i can definitely support our president, barack obama and his decision to not attend either (he also named billie jean king, an openly gay former athlete, as the white house delegate for the olympics, a little added gem).
i wish nothing but luck and love for any athlete competing in this years olympics (unless you are an asshole and completely agree with putin and his policies or the fact that sochi was killing dogs to make room for the olympics or the fact that the climate there isnt really sufficient for snow, so we had a legitimate excuse NOT to host there, or that theyre putting reporters into appalling living conditions--is that enough?!). i understand how for some of the athletes the decision to boycott may have been a thought, but you deserve to compete. this is your life, the decisions of the country you have to compete in, are not yours. just be safe, win/lose, and get the fuck out of russia.
http://prollytrue.blogspot.com/2014/02/sochi-sono.html
Great post. The only thing I disagree with is the bit on Obama. The administration's official story is that there are too many scheduling conflicts which will prevent him from attending.
ReplyDeleteHe should just say I won't attend because I will not support blatant human rights violations, end of story. Why make up such a weak excuse?