# US athletes told not to wave flag at Olympics?? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 17, 2004, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-athletes-told-not-to-wave-flag-at-olympics/245636 "2004-05-17T17:34:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-athletes-told-not-to-wave-flag-at-olympics/245636/41 "2004-05-18T13:58:30Z")
Actually, I advocate the withdrawal of American troops from every foreign nation in which they’re stationed (which is more than half the nations on earth). I advocate that the US government cease meddling in the affairs of foreign nations altogether. And I advocate the complete opening of US borders and free trade, including with Cuba. So how exactly am I part of “the problem”? ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-athletes-told-not-to-wave-flag-at-olympics/245636/42 "2004-05-18T14:23:39Z")
Will Iraq have a team? Or are they too busy right now? By all accounts a Hussien son was fairly interested in sport. Shouldn’t they have have the right to backstroke under the naked sun with the rest of us. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-athletes-told-not-to-wave-flag-at-olympics/245636/43 "2004-05-18T14:31:54Z")
buttonjockey, have you ever been to a soccer match? Have you ever played it? how the hell can you say it is uncompetitive? ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-athletes-told-not-to-wave-flag-at-olympics/245636/44 "2004-05-18T14:44:49Z")
> [@buttonjockey308](#): > > Competition is a necessary function of American society, and one that’s altogether ingrained in our lives, it’d be a shame if a few crybabies were able to extinguish our fire, just because they were worried about how someone else might view us. Ummmmmmmmm I think you will find that this is a function of all societies. America doesn’t have the rights on to wanting to win. Our lil “wayyyyyyy down here” nation loved being the home to the Americas cup (damn those Swiss :D) ---
**Author:** ![Abbie\_Carmichael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@Abbie\_Carmichael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abbie_Carmichael)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-athletes-told-not-to-wave-flag-at-olympics/245636/45 "2004-05-18T14:52:52Z")
**Our present attitude of “Fuck what the world wants, we do whatever we please” is exactly the kind of attitude that gets our buildings knocked down and our private citizens killed.** Yeah. We had it coming, all right. Probably deserve to have another September 11th happen. And since our attitude is so shitty, maybe “justice” will be done and even more people will get killed next time around. Asshole. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-athletes-told-not-to-wave-flag-at-olympics/245636/46 "2004-05-18T14:55:35Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Actually, I advocate the withdrawal of American troops from every foreign nation in which they’re stationed (which is more than half the nations on earth). I advocate that the US government cease meddling in the affairs of foreign nations altogether. And I advocate the complete opening of US borders and free trade, including with Cuba. So how exactly am I part of “the problem”? Perhaps I am misreading your posts. Please clarify the following points: Do you or do you not care what other nations think of us? Should American athletes act with shame, or with dignified pride, or with obnoxious in-your-face pride? Or in another way? Are athletes representatives of their countries, regardless of whether they are policy makers or not? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-athletes-told-not-to-wave-flag-at-olympics/245636/47 "2004-05-18T14:56:22Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > **ivylass** , did you click on **theR** ’s link and say, “that’s perfectly normal, acceptable and non-arrogant behavior”? An Iranian won the world judo championship last year, and celebrated by holding up a copy of the Koran on the victory podium. Another celebrated by stripping off his jacket and pointing to the flag on the back. Would anyone say that was objectionable? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-athletes-told-not-to-wave-flag-at-olympics/245636/48 "2004-05-18T14:57:16Z")
Remember the days when the Olympics were a celebration of sport? Remember how politics were dropped at the lighting of the torch? Remember how spectators, judges, and athletes all couldn’t care less what country one was from? Me neither. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-athletes-told-not-to-wave-flag-at-olympics/245636/49 "2004-05-18T14:59:28Z")
> [@Abbie Carmichael](#): > > Yeah. We had it coming, all right. Probably deserve to have another September 11th happen. And since our attitude is so shitty, maybe “justice” will be done and even more people will get killed next time around. Ohferchrissakes, that’s not what I said. What are you, one of those “if you’re not for us you’re against us” types? Simpleton. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-athletes-told-not-to-wave-flag-at-olympics/245636/50 "2004-05-18T15:02:54Z")
> [@This Year's Model](#): > > Remember the days when the Olympics were a celebration of sport? Remember how politics were dropped at the lighting of the torch? Remember how spectators, judges, and athletes all couldn’t care less what country one was from? > > Me neither. Seriously. They need to model the present day Olympics more like the Olympics of days gone by, like 1936. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-athletes-told-not-to-wave-flag-at-olympics/245636/51 "2004-05-18T15:05:41Z")
> [@Brutus](#): > > Seriously. They need to model the present day Olympics more like the Olympics of days gone by, like 1936. The goosestepping was so purdy. ---
**Author:** ![Abbie\_Carmichael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@Abbie\_Carmichael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abbie_Carmichael)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-athletes-told-not-to-wave-flag-at-olympics/245636/52 "2004-05-18T15:14:34Z")
No, **tdn** , but to say that we brought it on ourselves is beyond low, tantamout to saying that a woman suggestively dressed deserves to be raped. The 9/11 terrorists were brutal murderers with no rational bones in their bodies. They killed our people simply because **we exist** , America is a better place to live than the 3rd world ratholes they crawled out of, and they were so jealous of what we have here that they couldn’t see straight. To hear you talk America should just pander and kiss the ass of every terrorist in the world: can’t be making them mad, we might bring another attack on ourselves. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-athletes-told-not-to-wave-flag-at-olympics/245636/53 "2004-05-18T15:21:32Z")
> [@Brutus](#): > > Seriously. They need to model the present day Olympics more like the Olympics of days gone by, like 1936. I’m not sure if **Brutus** is joshing us with an ironic (one hopes) suggestion that the 1936 Olympics were apolitical, but I’m not surprised that he would have an affection for that particular venue. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-athletes-told-not-to-wave-flag-at-olympics/245636/54 "2004-05-18T15:25:18Z")
> [@Abbie Carmichael](#): > > No, **tdn** , but to say that we brought it on ourselves is beyond low, tantamout to saying that a woman suggestively dressed deserves to be raped. The 9/11 terrorists were brutal murderers with no rational bones in their bodies. They killed our people simply because **we exist** , America is a better place to live than the 3rd world ratholes they crawled out of, and they were so jealous of what we have here that they couldn’t see straight. To hear you talk America should just pander and kiss the ass of every terrorist in the world: can’t be making them mad, we might bring another attack on ourselves. Yeah, it’s sooo simple. They just hate freedom. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-athletes-told-not-to-wave-flag-at-olympics/245636/55 "2004-05-18T15:28:01Z")
> [@gobear](#): > > I’m not sure if **Brutus** is joshing us with an ironic (one hopes) suggestion that the 1936 Olympics were apolitical, but I’m not surprised that he would have an affection for that particular venue. I like to think there is no way he wasn’t joking. Horrible political views? Yes. Humourless? No. He likes winding so much he should be a clockmaker. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-athletes-told-not-to-wave-flag-at-olympics/245636/56 "2004-05-18T15:29:16Z")
> [@Abbie Carmichael](#): > > No, **tdn** , but to say that we brought it on ourselves is beyond low, tantamout to saying that a woman suggestively dressed deserves to be raped. The 9/11 terrorists were brutal murderers with no rational bones in their bodies. They killed our people simply because **we exist** , America is a better place to live than the 3rd world ratholes they crawled out of, and they were so jealous of what we have here that they couldn’t see straight. To hear you talk America should just pander and kiss the ass of every terrorist in the world: can’t be making them mad, we might bring another attack on ourselves. Not quite. I never said Americans brought it on ourselves, and if I implied that, I’m sorry (I’m a bit pissy today – some fucknut spammed our work e-mail today, an hundred people replied to all). What I’m saying is that while the terrorists were brutal murderers, and that we didn’t deserve it, we’d be wise to see what role we might have played in it so that we can prevent future attacks. To say that we were hit merely because we exist, and because they are jealous is foolhardy. Like it or not, we are seen as the world’s bully. Lord knows we are not, and that we went into Iraq (and a hundred other places) for the sole purpose of minding our own business. But that’s not how the rest of the world sees us. There’s a reason why Canada is not considered the Great Satan, after all. They have all the freedom and standard of living that we do, and yet they are not nearly as hated as we are. Perhaps we can attribute that to more than just dumb luck. Unfair, I know. It should be apparent to all third worlders that we are a blameless society that never interferes in world affairs. But we do bear some responsibility for how the world views us. It’s called diplomacy. ---
**Author:** ![Dob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Dob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dob)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-athletes-told-not-to-wave-flag-at-olympics/245636/57 "2004-05-18T15:37:01Z")
So the point of this policy is to make America look better to our enemies? What?? I say screw it!! Any country or people that hate us now, will hate us then. No matter if we quietly walk off the field heads down, or we run off waving Old Glory! Let the atheletes have their time, and their fun. These people have worked their asses off almost their whole lives to get to this point. If they want to show their joy by waving an American flag…let them wave. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-athletes-told-not-to-wave-flag-at-olympics/245636/58 "2004-05-18T15:48:46Z")
> [@Dob](#): > > So the point of this policy is to make America look better to our enemies? di·plo·ma·cy n. 1. The art or practice of conducting international relations, as in negotiating alliances, treaties, and agreements. 2. Tact and skill in dealing with people. See Synonyms at tact. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-athletes-told-not-to-wave-flag-at-olympics/245636/59 "2004-05-18T15:53:03Z")
I never watch the Olympics, so it’s a genuine question. Is this victory lap an Olympic tradition, or is an american thing? ---
**Author:** ![manwithaplan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@manwithaplan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manwithaplan)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-athletes-told-not-to-wave-flag-at-olympics/245636/60 "2004-05-18T15:59:16Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > I never watch the Olympics, so it’s a genuine question. Is this victory lap an Olympic tradition, or is an american thing? Pretty much every victorious track athlete does it, regardless of nationality. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-athletes-told-not-to-wave-flag-at-olympics/245636.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-athletes-told-not-to-wave-flag-at-olympics/245636.md?page=4)