“Support Our Troops” slogan falls foul of Olympic rules

CDNBear

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Sep 24, 2006
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The story of a ribbon tied to a tree as a signal to a convict returning home that his loved ones have forgiven him is attested from 1959, but the ribbon in that case was white. The ribbon color seems to have changed to yellow first in a version retold by newspaper columnist Pete Hamill in 1971. The story was dramatized in June 1972 on ABC-TV (James Earl Jones played the ex-con). Later that year, Irwin Levine and L. Russell Brown copyrighted the song "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree," which became a pop hit in early 1973 and sparked a lawsuit by Hamill, later dropped. In 1975, the wife of a Watergate conspirator put out yellow ribbons when her husband was released from jail, and news coverage of that was noted and remembered by Penne Laingen, whose husband was U.S. ambassador to Iran in 1979 and one of the Iran hostages taken in the embassy on Nov. 4. Her yellow ribbon in his honor was written up in the Dec. 10, 1979, "Washington Post."
That's awesome, I don't really care that it was adopted for that meaning as well.

But that's hardly what you just asked and clarified, so how is "Support our Troops" political again?
 

CDNBear

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Sep 24, 2006
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Our troops = soldiers in the service of our government.
Support our troops = political statement.

Have a lovely life.
:lol:

Likely more lovely then a bitter little man that's held a grudge for 4 years...:lol:

Anyways, that proves nothing. By your logic, the lady that stamps passports is political.
 

Avro

Time Out
Feb 12, 2007
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I'd still like to know why the ribbon has to say "support our troops"?

I could understand if the Goalie had a family member in combat but otherwise I just don't get it.

Also, if you would be so kind as to tell me that if any politician has ever used the "support our troops" mantra to stand behind their political decisions or beliefs.

Thanks
 

Risus

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May 24, 2006
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:lol:

Likely more lovely then a bitter little man that's held a grudge for 4 years...:lol:

Anyways, that proves nothing. By your logic, the lady that stamps passports is political.
Your arguments are growing progressively lame. Based on what you just sais, if the slogan was 'support the lady that stamps passports', then yes, it would be political.

Get a life...
 

CDNBear

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Your arguments are growing progressively lame. Based on what you just sais, if the slogan was 'support the lady that stamps passports', then yes, it would be political.

Get a life...
I find it humourous that someone that spends the bulk of their life online, telling me to get a life, well, humourously ironic...:lol:

Thanx for the laugh.
 
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Risus

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May 24, 2006
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I find it humourous that someone that spends the bulk of their life online, telling me to get a life, well, humourously ironic...:lol:

Thanx for the laugh.
LOL, you are on line more than me. Anyway you didn't address the issue at hand in my post...
 

cdarro

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Feb 13, 2010
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Not sure which Olympics it was (98 or 02), but Canada's womens hockey team wanted to wear a shoulder patch of a rose in memory of Rose Cherry (Don's wife) but were not allowed to do so.
 

lunarwinds

The Local Music Teacher
Feb 14, 2010
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My honest opinion on the matter, is that no matter where you are from, it should be all about the games, NOT any politics or anything that would make you stand out. You can support the troops, but not out loud. This can be viewed from many sides what we see as good is evil to others...vice versa. We have to be completely neutral and that's what the IOC wants, and I understand that. They just want the games to go and be successful without any craziness between countries regarding politics. I don't care if you think war is not political or supporting the troops isn't. It's an opinion, and opinions in a way are all political. I don't know if you remember but when one of the games was held in Germany, many of the Israeli team members were captured and killed by a German gang. It was all over the old Nazi party and its hatred toward Jewish people. I think that is why the IOC is so intolerant of such behaviour...well that of political opinion. To the gang that killed them, they were doing good, though, to many of us (I hope) we see it as bad. I think that is really all they are trying to convey...if the dalai lamma died and the Chinese put a thing on their helmets, I am sure the IOC would tell them to take it off...because maybe there are other religions that do not like the dalai lamma and think he is a threat or evil.
 

cdarro

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.... I don't know if you remember but when one of the games was held in Germany, many of the Israeli team members were captured and killed by a German gang. It was all over the old Nazi party and its hatred toward Jewish people. quote]

Munich in 1972. It wasn't a German gang, it was Palestinian terrorists. It had nothing to do with Nazis.
 

lunarwinds

The Local Music Teacher
Feb 14, 2010
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.... I don't know if you remember but when one of the games was held in Germany, many of the Israeli team members were captured and killed by a German gang. It was all over the old Nazi party and its hatred toward Jewish people. quote]

It was Munich in 1972. It wasn't a German gang. It was Palestinian terrorists. It had nothing to do with Nazis.

Well nevertheless it was not a pleasant incident, and I think the IOC want to keep opinions on global activities out of the games...that is really my point, sorry to provide false information, I suppose my recollection is tainted. Thank you for the correction
 

CDNBear

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Sep 24, 2006
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LOL, you are on line more than me.
I see your grasp of reality is tenuous at best. I guess you missed it, but I've been off line for a month while the ice fishing was great. Apart from that, you still won't see me online much. But if it helps you sleep better, you keep telling yourself that...:lol:

Anyway you didn't address the issue at hand in my post...
What issue? The one where you can't refute it so you just call it lame? Or the part where you told me to get a life?

I'm going to break this down for you one last time. After that, you can either file yourself under moron or clueless.

The "Support our Troops" campaign is not funded by the Gov't. It is however a non profit campaign, and the proceeds go to, the Soldiers themselves and their families, when "Support our Troops" regalia is purchased through the Family Support Center or Canex. Which would actually make them "anti political", seeing as the campaign is a mechanism to lend aid to the families of Soldiers, whom the Gov't has failed to adequately care for.

The entire campaign is run by Vets, volunteers and Soldiers families. It is a non profit campaign, it is apolitical and does not lobby the Federal Gov't. It is true, politicians of many stripes have jumped on the band wagon, but that does not make the "Support our Troops" campaign a political body, the message a political statement, nor political in any way. It is a simple campaign to show those that choose to protect the people of their Nation, a little gratitude, while helping support their families and the Soldiers themselves.

Now, if you or any of the other members that feel I'm blowing smoke, can prove otherwise, I'll change my tune. Until then, you and the rest of them shall remain filed under clueless in my books.
 
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Avro

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Feb 12, 2007
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So now it's a campaign?

I'd still like to know why it has to say "support our troops".

Why did it ever say that?

Has any politician used it as a shield or talking point to deflect criticism of any recent wars?

It would be difficult to prove it's political in nature but I think we all know that in many cases it is.

Remove the lawyer speak and insert common sense and you know it as well.
 
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TenPenny

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Jun 9, 2004
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It is a simple campaign to show those that choose to protect the people of their Nation, a little gratitude

Which, of course, makes it a political campaign.
Not as in partisan politics, but political none the less.
 

talloola

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Nov 14, 2006
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an individual or teams opinion about anything political
or otherwise is not for advertising to 'all', and although
a few statements seem very innocent, 'allowing' one is opening the door to many, then come arguements which ones
should be allowed or not.
Keep opinions within one's own personal space or a teams
space, and not shown to the world. There will always be
a group somewhere that will be offended, and that is not
the desire at the olympics, it is not the place.
 

lunarwinds

The Local Music Teacher
Feb 14, 2010
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an individual or teams opinion about anything political
or otherwise is not for advertising to 'all', and although
a few statements seem very innocent, 'allowing' one is opening the door to many, then come arguements which ones
should be allowed or not.
Keep opinions within one's own personal space or a teams
space, and not shown to the world. There will always be
a group somewhere that will be offended, and that is not
the desire at the olympics, it is not the place.

Thank you that is the point I have been trying to stress the WHOLE time!
 

Chev

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Feb 10, 2009
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She was told she could not wear her bracelet, which she always wears in memory of a friend, when she skated. I watched the men skate and one of them I'm sure was wearing some kind of 'necklace'. Could see something flying around when he was spinning...