The_Mentalist
07-18-2013, 18:21
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/16/lindsey-graham-boycott-olympics-snowden_n_3607528.html
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) suggested in an interview with The Hill Tuesday that the United States should boycott the 2014 Olympics if Russia grants asylum to Edward Snowden.
Russia is set to host the games in 2014, in the coastal city of Sochi.
"I would. I would just send the Russians the most unequivocal signal I could send them," in response to a question from the newspaper about whether he would support a boycott.
"At the end of the day, if they grant this guy asylum it's a breach of the rule of law as we know it and is a slap in the face to the United States," Graham told The Hill.
So, in response to those remarks, I sent him this......
Sir. I had to write you in response to comments you made regarding boycotting the Olympics in Russia. First of all, look up the 1936 Olympics. You will see that it was held in Berlin while under Hitlers rule. You will also see that the United States did participate. You will also see that it where Jesse Owens kicked tail and gave the national socialist party a black eye.
Second, in 1980 we boycotted the Olympics in Russia because of the war in Afghanistan and a few other reasons. Ironically, we are now the ones at war in Afghanistan. The result of this boycott was a large hit to the economy as well as destroying the dreams of the athletes that worked their entire lives to compete at an Olympic event. The window of opportunity for an Olympic athlete is extremely small. Many can only participate in a single Olympics because of the stress and damage to the body. This dream was destroyed for many because politics invaded an event that is supposed to be apolitical.
In 1984, Russia decided to give us some payback and boycotted our Olympics. Once again, this hurt us economically. Also, any medals won or records set in either of those Olympics are tainted. Without a full roster of competitors, any achievements are limited by the "if they had participated then..." Stigma.
Do not make the mistake of 1980. Do not destroy the dreams of the athletes that have worked so hard just to qualify. Do not demean all the time, effort, money, sacrifice and love that the families have invested for their child to achieve their goals. Keep petty politics out of the Olympics. They do not belong there. Learn the lessons of the past. Talk to the USOC and contact some of the athletes. See how much pain they deal with. See the long hours that they train. See just how dedicated these people are to represent our nation on the global stage. Our athletes deserve our support. They do not deserve to have their dreams dashed and all their hard work to go to waste because of a political hissy fit.
I hate when politicians get a wild hair and destroy the hard work of others because they don't like something.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) suggested in an interview with The Hill Tuesday that the United States should boycott the 2014 Olympics if Russia grants asylum to Edward Snowden.
Russia is set to host the games in 2014, in the coastal city of Sochi.
"I would. I would just send the Russians the most unequivocal signal I could send them," in response to a question from the newspaper about whether he would support a boycott.
"At the end of the day, if they grant this guy asylum it's a breach of the rule of law as we know it and is a slap in the face to the United States," Graham told The Hill.
So, in response to those remarks, I sent him this......
Sir. I had to write you in response to comments you made regarding boycotting the Olympics in Russia. First of all, look up the 1936 Olympics. You will see that it was held in Berlin while under Hitlers rule. You will also see that the United States did participate. You will also see that it where Jesse Owens kicked tail and gave the national socialist party a black eye.
Second, in 1980 we boycotted the Olympics in Russia because of the war in Afghanistan and a few other reasons. Ironically, we are now the ones at war in Afghanistan. The result of this boycott was a large hit to the economy as well as destroying the dreams of the athletes that worked their entire lives to compete at an Olympic event. The window of opportunity for an Olympic athlete is extremely small. Many can only participate in a single Olympics because of the stress and damage to the body. This dream was destroyed for many because politics invaded an event that is supposed to be apolitical.
In 1984, Russia decided to give us some payback and boycotted our Olympics. Once again, this hurt us economically. Also, any medals won or records set in either of those Olympics are tainted. Without a full roster of competitors, any achievements are limited by the "if they had participated then..." Stigma.
Do not make the mistake of 1980. Do not destroy the dreams of the athletes that have worked so hard just to qualify. Do not demean all the time, effort, money, sacrifice and love that the families have invested for their child to achieve their goals. Keep petty politics out of the Olympics. They do not belong there. Learn the lessons of the past. Talk to the USOC and contact some of the athletes. See how much pain they deal with. See the long hours that they train. See just how dedicated these people are to represent our nation on the global stage. Our athletes deserve our support. They do not deserve to have their dreams dashed and all their hard work to go to waste because of a political hissy fit.
I hate when politicians get a wild hair and destroy the hard work of others because they don't like something.