USA at world athletic champs
Discussion
Please can the mods not move this to the sports forum....
I've been watchin the athletics and they mentioned about the 'JO' on the shoulder of the American atheletes' jerseys.....it stands for Jesse Owens, who famously ran in that stadium in 1936, whilst Hitler and the Nazis were in charge.....
However - why do the Americans feel it was necesary to bring this up again?
I understand Jesse Owens was a leading black figure and was influential at these games. But Germany today is no longer under Nazi occupation and the majoirty of the population distance themselves from what happened all those years ago.
Highly unnecessary - they should be ashamed of themselves!
I've been watchin the athletics and they mentioned about the 'JO' on the shoulder of the American atheletes' jerseys.....it stands for Jesse Owens, who famously ran in that stadium in 1936, whilst Hitler and the Nazis were in charge.....
However - why do the Americans feel it was necesary to bring this up again?
I understand Jesse Owens was a leading black figure and was influential at these games. But Germany today is no longer under Nazi occupation and the majoirty of the population distance themselves from what happened all those years ago.
Highly unnecessary - they should be ashamed of themselves!
That'd be the Jesse Owens who wasn't allowed to travel, eat or sleep in the same place as the white members of the American team, UNTIL they came to Germany where there was, ironically, no policy of segregation.
Owens himself said 'Hitler didn't snub me - it was FDR who snubbed me'
oh, and he had to ride in the goods lift to his reception in the USA after the Games
Owens himself said 'Hitler didn't snub me - it was FDR who snubbed me'
oh, and he had to ride in the goods lift to his reception in the USA after the Games
Before condemning this, you might want to go and actually find out some details on the whole thing!
1. This is - I was amazed to discover - actually the first time that a US track and field team has competed at an event in Berlin since Jesse Owens himself.
2. The whole thing is about honouring Jesse Owens and Luz Long, not about lauding American superiority over the Germans. Owens' granddaughter and Long's son will be presenting the medals for the long jump competition.
3. It has all been done with the full support of the IAAF.
Not quite so shocking once it has been de-tabloidised, is it?
1. This is - I was amazed to discover - actually the first time that a US track and field team has competed at an event in Berlin since Jesse Owens himself.
2. The whole thing is about honouring Jesse Owens and Luz Long, not about lauding American superiority over the Germans. Owens' granddaughter and Long's son will be presenting the medals for the long jump competition.
3. It has all been done with the full support of the IAAF.
Not quite so shocking once it has been de-tabloidised, is it?
I see what you mean, but I still don't think it is necesary to go around dragging up the past.
On the one hand it is nice to see someone as sginificant as Jesse Owens being recognised, however, I don't see the 'V' for victory symbol on the GB shirts, as a sign of recongintion that we have a free Europe!
On the one hand it is nice to see someone as sginificant as Jesse Owens being recognised, however, I don't see the 'V' for victory symbol on the GB shirts, as a sign of recongintion that we have a free Europe!
JCB123 said:
I see what you mean, but I still don't think it is necesary to go around dragging up the past.
On the one hand it is nice to see someone as sginificant as Jesse Owens being recognised, however, I don't see the 'V' for victory symbol on the GB shirts, as a sign of recongintion that we have a free Europe!
Sometimes dragging up the past is the correct thing to do.On the one hand it is nice to see someone as sginificant as Jesse Owens being recognised, however, I don't see the 'V' for victory symbol on the GB shirts, as a sign of recongintion that we have a free Europe!
The last episode of the TV series "The World at War" is called "Remember" for a reason.
Edited by Eric Mc on Thursday 20th August 15:59
JCB123 said:
I see what you mean, but I still don't think it is necesary to go around dragging up the past.
On the one hand it is nice to see someone as sginificant as Jesse Owens being recognised, however, I don't see the 'V' for victory symbol on the GB shirts, as a sign of recongintion that we have a free Europe!
"If you would understand anything, observe its beginning and its development." - AristotleOn the one hand it is nice to see someone as sginificant as Jesse Owens being recognised, however, I don't see the 'V' for victory symbol on the GB shirts, as a sign of recongintion that we have a free Europe!
We wear poppies every year, celebrate D-day landings etc... How are they different?
gerbo said:
The English have a problem with the Americans bringing up the past?
It's more of a problem with the whole "Holier than thou attitude".As pointed out, the American team were just as rascist and disrespectful to Jesse Owens as the Nazis were, so it seems a bit hypocrytical.
Not that it's really a big deal. Just a bit pointless.
Edited by Spiritual_Beggar on Thursday 20th August 16:08
RacingPete said:
JCB123 said:
I see what you mean, but I still don't think it is necesary to go around dragging up the past.
On the one hand it is nice to see someone as sginificant as Jesse Owens being recognised, however, I don't see the 'V' for victory symbol on the GB shirts, as a sign of recongintion that we have a free Europe!
"If you would understand anything, observe its beginning and its development." - AristotleOn the one hand it is nice to see someone as sginificant as Jesse Owens being recognised, however, I don't see the 'V' for victory symbol on the GB shirts, as a sign of recongintion that we have a free Europe!
We wear poppies every year, celebrate D-day landings etc... How are they different?
It is unnecessary for the Americans to have that on their uniforms.
staceyb said:
RacingPete said:
JCB123 said:
I see what you mean, but I still don't think it is necesary to go around dragging up the past.
On the one hand it is nice to see someone as sginificant as Jesse Owens being recognised, however, I don't see the 'V' for victory symbol on the GB shirts, as a sign of recongintion that we have a free Europe!
"If you would understand anything, observe its beginning and its development." - AristotleOn the one hand it is nice to see someone as sginificant as Jesse Owens being recognised, however, I don't see the 'V' for victory symbol on the GB shirts, as a sign of recongintion that we have a free Europe!
We wear poppies every year, celebrate D-day landings etc... How are they different?
It is unnecessary for the Americans to have that on their uniforms.
This is a genuine, inoffensive gesture made through the IAAF themselves remembering the last time the athletics were in Berlin.
How about the World Cup 2006 in Berlin? Inflatable spitfires, and this run of ads...
I don't find any of it offensive, but it puts things in to perspective.
Why do people seem to think that this is something the Americans have decided to do all on their own to laud it over the Germans? It's an organised act of remembrance and celebration which both the Germans and the International Governing body have been happy to organise.
It's as much about celebrating the remarkable behaviour of Long as it is about Owens. Maybe people could stop belittling that by trying to turn this into some sort of American one-upmanship contest which it clearly isn't.
It's as much about celebrating the remarkable behaviour of Long as it is about Owens. Maybe people could stop belittling that by trying to turn this into some sort of American one-upmanship contest which it clearly isn't.
Spiritual_Beggar said:
gerbo said:
The English have a problem with the Americans bringing up the past?
It's more of a problem with the whole "Holier than thou attitude".As pointed out, the American team were just as rascist and disrespectful to Jesse Owens as the Nazis were, so it seems a bit hypocrytical.
Not that it's really a big deal. Just a bit pointless.
None of the existing US track & field team were around in 1936, and the overwhelming majority of them are black. Those black athletes today are treated far, far better than Jesse Owens ever was, and that is in no small part due to the achievements and actions of Jesse Owens and Lenz Long in the same stadium 73 years ago. Why wouldn't all parties want to celebrate that event?
Edited by Kermit power on Friday 21st August 08:04
Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff