Tag: Oppression

Activism In Sport

I was pointed to this video last weekend, where “[a]cclaimed Sports Illustrated and The Nation sportswriter,” Dave Zirin, was in Vancouver “speak[ing] about activism, sports and the Olympics as part of a series entitled ‘Politics in the Ring‘;”

“Zirin talked about the idea of activist athletes, what they’ve fought for, and what they’ve opposed. From feminist uprisings against wearing corsets in tennis, to Muhammad Ali’s activist conversion after his Olympic win, Zirin showed that sports has the power to extend beyond just spectacle. […] Versed in the history of sports, Zirin was critical of the hypocritical stance the International Olympic Committee has taken on several issues over the past century…”

Speaking as an individual who spent most of his childhood attention following and playing various “organized” — even playing hockey with a bunch of idiots in the street involves a little organization — sport, and being thoroughly uninterested in the whole idea of professional incarnations of sport, for going on 20 years, I found this “talk” quite interesting. Even refreshing.

Check it out…

Continue reading Activism In Sport

Much More Fulfilled

Emotions surrounding today are compounded, two fold. The first, and rather obvious, is the attack on The World Trade Center, September 11th, 2001. Which, I’m sure, will receive it’s fair share of misguided coverage in the media today.

And of course events of that morning had a lot to do with the emotions I currently feel. What with America still as arrogant, if not more, than September 10th, 2001. The harder they fight, what they deem as threats to their homeland and their “sovereignty,” the less relevant its government becomes. And the less “safe” our global community grows. In fact it’s much too ironic for even me to appreciate. So I’ll leave it there.

But ever more applicable to me, at least, is the second and more personal reason. It started a little bit before that day, on the July 1st weekend… Continue reading Much More Fulfilled

I Can’t Believe It

OK, yesterday I wrote and posted a bit on racism. And how a television reporter might be guilty of being “insensitive,” at least by something he said “in passing.” But I wasn’t sure.

So in a moment of extreme uncertainty, I “panicked” and deleted it without actually thinking it through, relatively soon after posting it. For which I came to feel “guilty” over what I had done. Sure about what I wrote and not being entirely sure of my “footing,” but a lot more about deleting it. I’m not too sure of “proper blogging practices,” but deleting something, no matter how soon after posting would seem to me to be a “no-no.” 

Point being guilt is a powerful emotion. That’s probably why an American President’s hair is a lot more grey following leaving office, eh? Oh, and I’ve since reposted A Moment Of Racism? Continue reading I Can’t Believe It

A Moment Of Racism?

Originally appearing here and was subsequently yanked yesterday, Saturday August 23rd, 2008…

I was planning on taking it easy today. For whatever reason–I’ve a suspicion those two extra beers last evening didn’t contribute to my “fettered” motivation–what ya gonna do, not watch Dazed And Confused?

I know, shoulda known better than to watch CNN while trying to relax today. What’s done is done…

The big “news” was Barack Obama choosing Joe Biden as his running mate in his quest for the American Presidency. Interestingly it’s painfully compelling to watch the various idiots talk the shit out of a subject. But just before I had my fill John King–the dink who “broke” a story that any Democrat with a cell phone already knew–dropped what I assume is a moment of racism? Continue reading A Moment Of Racism?