An unpatriotic whiner

When emotions run high it’s fascinating to

observe the way people react. Issues, usually a
nice cloudy grey, become magically clarified to

black and white

no in betweens. But

nonetheless it.still comes as a bit of a shock (he
said with tongue in cheek) to be called unpatriotic
because I don’t believe in an Olympic boycott.

Not only unpatriotic, but a
whiner and carper. Ah well,
at the last check, it was still
nol against the law to have
an opinion different from
others in the same country,
although to judge from the
letter in our ‘sports mailbag’
such views should result at
least in a firing squad.

Our writer claims the
Olympics became political
back in “72, when the Israch
athletes and officials were
murdergd for political
; | don't recall the
Olympics condoning the
actions of the murderers. In
spite of the murderers wish,
the games continued. They,
and the athletes were bigger
than the murders.

NO SIMPLE ANSWERS

By pointing out to me in a
letter that people have died
in wars is much the same as
my saying in a sports column
that politicians seem to talk
of pretty insignificant issues
when children around the
world are starving to death

every hour of every day.
Or I could also say that a
considerable number of

Vietnamese were killed by
American troops in the long
and bloody Vietnam war.
Those killings were aided
considerably by Canadian
made weapons and arms.

‘Look. There are no simple
answers to major problems.
This is one of the major
things I've learned over the
years. Something like the old
saying: "The more I know,
the more I know I don't
know.’

Why is it that when crucial
affairs arise reason seems to
drift out the window? Why
must we all speak with one
voice even though it goes
against our principles to do
so?

While it wont keep me
awake nights, I resent
anyone having the un-

mitigated gall to call me
unpatnotic when they do not
know me. when they do not

know my feelings on any
subject save the Olympic
boycott Tt as) an untair

accusation and a low blow
But. having been involved in
life and athletics for all my
lite, as a Competitor,
and writer, |
pmsed by anything

people say oof do
especially when it ts against
those with whom
notinvolved

official
am not sur

that

they are

INTERFERENCE

It is somewhat tron
the Canadian athletes in
Lake Placid are | pood
pathol Canadians whom we
all wish well but any athlete
who thinks about gomg to
Moscow ts unpatriotic

that

As has been expressed
time after time in this
column, I am totally op-

posed to a boycott. It is
mterference in the rights of
individuals. If these in-
dividuals hold views dif-
ferent than those of a few
politicians fighting for their
survival, I fail to see the lack
of patriotism.

FREEDOM OF CHOICE

Rather than being proud
of the stand ‘Canada’ is
taking, I am disappointed by
it. But 1 am proud of those
few who are willing to say
‘no’ to forces which attempt
to interfere with their nights,
when those rights will not, in
my opinion, have any
bearing on the political
actions currently taking
place.

It is surprising to see the
change that takes place
when issues of this nature
crop up. Normally everyone
in this country believes that
the individual has certain
nights. But now, it appears
that those who are least
involved in sports and the
Olympic movement have
become experts and have
decided that the athietes
have no rights save those of
the view that they must not
participate.

What is the danger of
allowing the athletes to
make up their own minds?
Or is there a feeling that
because they are athletes

that they haven't got the
‘brains’ to make the ‘right’
decision.

Grant the athletes the
freedoms the rest of the
population has or be
prepared to willingly
sacrifice the same as the
athletes.

After all, it should be
remembered that neither
Canada nor .the United
States has cut off trade or
relations with the Soviet
Union. All the government
has done, apart from some
quixotic toy sword waving, is
to say they will not allow
culture to flourish between
the two countries and that
they will not sell extra
wheat. No change in policies
really, im spite. of the
posturings and prancings of
would be politicians.

If a boycott is the only
political answer we have,
then heaven help us all.

If insisting on the right to
make up my own mind and if
speaking out on a view that
some might find opposite to
their own is unpatriotic, then
so be it.

However, if at anytime
politicians are willing to stop
politicking and start helping

not only athletes, but
medical research, en-
vironmental concerns, the

advance of friendship and
feeding of

culture, the

B3-Wednesday, February 13, 1980 - North Shore News

starving children, and the
myriad of other ills of our
society instead of saying how
the other guys aren't doing
anything, then perhaps I will
be able to feel that we are
being well served rather than
used for somewhat grimy
political purposes.

Alt present everyone
seems to be struggling to get
in his two cents worth. And
really, it doesn’t seem all
that productive. After all,
we're simply fighting with
words.

In one sense. it’s
something like marriage. It
takes a lot of hard work to
make it successful. Flaring
up and walking out is easy.

Staying put, admitting
mistakes and accepting the
other as they are is essential
for long lasting harmony.

Why can’t we ail try a litle
harder at getting along with
each other rather than
fighting?

Or is that too, unpatriotic?

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