I believe it was Smith's and Carlos's right, if they chose to exercise it, to show disrespect to their flag and national anthem. What was very wrong was that by doing so on this occasion they showed disrespect to Peter Norman, the silver medallist, who was not American and had done them no ill. This was also the moment of Norman's life and the disregarding action of the two Americans ruined it.
Are you saying that Norman had prior knowledge of what was to take place? My understanding is that he did not. My guess is that if Smith and Carlos had consulted him beforehand and he had expressed disagreement with what they proposed to do, they would still have gone ahead and done it. A more respectful (to Norman) form of protest would have been for the two US athletes simply to have refused to wear their national tracksuits during the ceremony.
Czerniakowska, yes Norman had a prior knowledge of what was to take place. Carlos and Smith asked Norman if he believed in human rights and God; Norman said yes to both questions. They told Norman what they were going to do. Norman told them that he will stand with them regardless. Norman wore the Olympic Project for Human Rights badge. Carlos and Smith were Norman's friends until he passed away. Carlos and Smith came to Australlia to give eulogies and to bury Norman.
If what you say is true, I'm reassured, at least up to the point of wondering what Smith and Carlos would have done had Norman and/or the Australian team committee in fact raised some objection. Incidentally,why did Carlos raise his left fist and not his right?
The three men were ostracized by their country for awhile. The Australian team had nothing to do with Norman's decision. Carlos only brought one pair of gloves; Smith wore the right glove and Carlos wore the left glove. I watched documentaries and read the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper online about Norman's funeral information. The IOC didn't give Norman the recognition at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, even though he was there. If you don't believe me or anybody, then please do your own research.
I didn't say I didn't believe you. I was merely probing to ensure that the facts were clearer to me. You can't remove nationalism and patriotic fervour from the Olympics, much as I would personally wish to, and it's often difficult to reconcile some aspects of issues. I'm not American, so I'm in no position to judge how the US public might have felt about such a protest taking place before their national flag and during tyhe playing of their national anthem.
Oh okay, I understand what you are saying. I wasn't even born when the event occurred. My mother was 8 years old at that time. When I was 14 or 15 years old, I read the chronicle that my mother has; it has everything from 1900 to 1987. I must tell you, I was speechless when I was saw a photo of the three men standing in the victory dais, and Smith and Carlos were raising their fists. I was sadden by what the three went through afterwards. I have a profound respect for all three courageous men.
Smith and Carlos were, I think, protesting against racism in the US, not racism per se, so were the Olympics an appropriate event for such action? They were courageous and sincere without doubt but the 'black power' connotations of their salute may actually have been inimical to their cause at that time, aligning them more closely with Malcolm X than Martin Luther King in public perception. Sometimes, though, we just have to take our chances as they arise and hope that history treats us kindly.
Ball of Confusion, a perfectly accurate melody to help characterize the sign of the times.
soulchild3751 1 year ago
I believe it was Smith's and Carlos's right, if they chose to exercise it, to show disrespect to their flag and national anthem. What was very wrong was that by doing so on this occasion they showed disrespect to Peter Norman, the silver medallist, who was not American and had done them no ill. This was also the moment of Norman's life and the disregarding action of the two Americans ruined it.
Czerniakowska 2 years ago
Peter Norman supported them. He also opposed the white Australia policy.
kissmyARToxo 2 years ago 4
Are you saying that Norman had prior knowledge of what was to take place? My understanding is that he did not. My guess is that if Smith and Carlos had consulted him beforehand and he had expressed disagreement with what they proposed to do, they would still have gone ahead and done it. A more respectful (to Norman) form of protest would have been for the two US athletes simply to have refused to wear their national tracksuits during the ceremony.
Czerniakowska 2 years ago
Czerniakowska, yes Norman had a prior knowledge of what was to take place. Carlos and Smith asked Norman if he believed in human rights and God; Norman said yes to both questions. They told Norman what they were going to do. Norman told them that he will stand with them regardless. Norman wore the Olympic Project for Human Rights badge. Carlos and Smith were Norman's friends until he passed away. Carlos and Smith came to Australlia to give eulogies and to bury Norman.
Jmb22083 2 years ago
If what you say is true, I'm reassured, at least up to the point of wondering what Smith and Carlos would have done had Norman and/or the Australian team committee in fact raised some objection. Incidentally,why did Carlos raise his left fist and not his right?
Czerniakowska 2 years ago
The three men were ostracized by their country for awhile. The Australian team had nothing to do with Norman's decision. Carlos only brought one pair of gloves; Smith wore the right glove and Carlos wore the left glove. I watched documentaries and read the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper online about Norman's funeral information. The IOC didn't give Norman the recognition at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, even though he was there. If you don't believe me or anybody, then please do your own research.
Jmb22083 2 years ago
I didn't say I didn't believe you. I was merely probing to ensure that the facts were clearer to me. You can't remove nationalism and patriotic fervour from the Olympics, much as I would personally wish to, and it's often difficult to reconcile some aspects of issues. I'm not American, so I'm in no position to judge how the US public might have felt about such a protest taking place before their national flag and during tyhe playing of their national anthem.
Czerniakowska 2 years ago
Oh okay, I understand what you are saying. I wasn't even born when the event occurred. My mother was 8 years old at that time. When I was 14 or 15 years old, I read the chronicle that my mother has; it has everything from 1900 to 1987. I must tell you, I was speechless when I was saw a photo of the three men standing in the victory dais, and Smith and Carlos were raising their fists. I was sadden by what the three went through afterwards. I have a profound respect for all three courageous men.
Jmb22083 2 years ago
Smith and Carlos were, I think, protesting against racism in the US, not racism per se, so were the Olympics an appropriate event for such action? They were courageous and sincere without doubt but the 'black power' connotations of their salute may actually have been inimical to their cause at that time, aligning them more closely with Malcolm X than Martin Luther King in public perception. Sometimes, though, we just have to take our chances as they arise and hope that history treats us kindly.
Czerniakowska 2 years ago
@Czerniakowska I think they only had one pair of gloves so each raised the fist with the glove.
dewek13 1 year ago
heroes.
stylenstine 3 years ago