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Olympics: Opening ceremony grapples with weighty issues
AFP ^ | July 27, 2012

Posted on 07/27/2012 6:45:57 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe

A celebration of free healthcare, the trade union struggle, the battle for women's rights and a fleeting lesbian kiss: the Olympics opening ceremony Friday did not shy away from weighty social issues.

Unsurprisingly, the show devised by Oscar-winning British director Danny Boyle drew accusations from the British political right that it had strayed into "leftie" issues.

Aidan Burley, a lawmaker from Prime Minister David Cameron's ruling Conservative party, tweeted: "The most leftie opening ceremony I have ever seen -- more than Beijing, the capital of a communist state! Welfare tribute next?"

He followed that with: "Thank God the athletes have arrived! Now we can move on from leftie multi-cultural crap."

Several people tweeted their support for his comments.

Alastair Campbell, former British Labour prime minister Tony Blair's communications chief, retorted on Twitter: "Brilliant that we got a socialist to do the opening ceremony."

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: 2012olympics; brilliant; dannyboyle; healthcarenotfree; leftiepropaganda; nhsisnotfree; socialist; weightyissues; welfareparade
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To: the scotsman

I thought it was funny that NBC wouldn’t tell us what Tim Burners-Lee was known for.

That, of course, is because he was the inventer of the world wide web. And Obama told us it was the United States government that did that. And NBC can’t make him a liar.

So sorry, Britain.

BTW, Did you catch the TARDIS sound during the “Bohemian Rhapsody”?

We were hoping they’d let David Tenant run the torch into the stadium.


61 posted on 07/27/2012 8:39:11 PM PDT by CharlesWayneCT
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To: the scotsman; agere_contra
The ceremony's snapshot of British history started with a depiction of the pastoral idyll mythologised by the romantic poet William Blake as "England's green and pleasant land", degenerating with the Industrial Revolution into "dark Satanic mills". - reuters.com

Then the ceremony took an awesomely downbeat turn, to the Industrial Revolution. On the BBC, an announcer explained that Boyle had deemed this segment of the evening Pandemonium, a word that was invented by Milton to designate the capital of hell. So belching smokestacks emerged from the formerly verdant earth. - newyorker.com


62 posted on 07/27/2012 8:42:23 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
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To: FlingWingFlyer

And what did mass grand pianos and a man in a jet pack have to with athletics in 1984?. I’d attack the 1996 ceremony, but it was so crap I cant remember it.

Oh, I forget, when you do it, its great. When we do it, cue sneering comments at the useless Limeys.

USA!..USA!
RAH-RAH-RAH!.


63 posted on 07/27/2012 8:43:45 PM PDT by the scotsman (i)
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To: cweese

Knots Berry Farm worthy opening

Best part was fireworks finale


64 posted on 07/27/2012 8:47:40 PM PDT by patriotspride
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To: patriotspride

Time for auto track Sir Paul.


65 posted on 07/27/2012 8:49:36 PM PDT by patriotspride
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To: Tailgunner Joe

For me it was pre-ordained that I would not watch the London Olympics this year. This is what happens to a nation when the flower of its manhood is lost in two world wars.


66 posted on 07/27/2012 8:56:30 PM PDT by The Duke
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To: Tailgunner Joe; xzins
the Olympics opening ceremony Friday did not shy away from weighty social issues.

I will be shying away from watching the Olympics. Hopefully whatever network paid for the rights loses their shirt on this fiasco.

Politically Correct Bull$#!+. It's everywhere. It's time to push back. It's time we fight this stupid culture war because if we don't fight we will lose.

Onward Christian Soldiers!

67 posted on 07/27/2012 8:59:29 PM PDT by P-Marlowe (There can be no Victory without a fight and no battle without wounds.)
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To: the scotsman

Get the chip off your shoulder. The closing ceremony in LA with the flying saucer was a complete embarrassment.

The only good opening ceremony I ever saw was the one in South Korea with that giant rope dragon thing. They kept it simple.


68 posted on 07/27/2012 9:03:41 PM PDT by JoeDetweiler
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To: agere_contra
But where would FR be without its resident pack of “I refuse to watch this” know-nothing haters?

Guilty as charged. Absolutely.

I have never nor will I ever watch the Olympics. The sports comprising the event have little interest to me because of the nature of the participants, a bunch of third-world internationalist types and unrepentant commies.

That's just one man's opinion but it's also shared by radio host and Townhall author Mike Gallagher. In jest during a segment with Fox's Chris Wallace, Gallagher commented he'd rather watch the Lifetime channel than the Olympics. Until I heard it mentioned this morning on his radio program, I was blissfully (if not ignorantly) unaware that the 2012 games started today.

As for me, I'm a hugh NASCAR fan and, for my tastes, even a mediocre NASCAR event trumps the Olympics. I just wonder how much of an overlap there is between all-American NASCAR partisans and those who also enjoy the Olympics?

69 posted on 07/27/2012 9:05:35 PM PDT by re_nortex (DP...that's what I like about Texas.)
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To: Tailgunner Joe

WWII was not mentioned in the British historical events. Couldn’t get the Germans mad, I guess.

Instead, the planners included a truly lame salute to their dangerous National Health Service....the one where patients drag themselves out of bed to clean their own unclean rooms or to get themselves a drink of water because there is no one to help them. No, they didn’t include those tidbits in the dance number featuring nurses and doctors cavorting on stage.


70 posted on 07/27/2012 9:09:48 PM PDT by txrefugee
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To: Tailgunner Joe

How can something be grotesque and boring at the same time?


71 posted on 07/27/2012 9:12:06 PM PDT by Mike Darancette (Obamaid has to go.)
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To: CharlesWayneCT; ClearCase_guy
Your comment.

But I was disappointed that they made fun of one of my favorite movies, about one of the most compelling stories of a british olympic athelete.

I had to make this observation after my clash with my liberal spouse (bless her). She has a dislike for one Sarah Palin. My respect and admiration for this good lady is of course, not reciprocated..... however we both agreed old Rowan Atkinson, called Mr Bean, just was not funny and not needed.

Note to all and sundry. I have done some reading of "Dreams From My Father". I am reading the Maraniss book titled "Barack Obama -the story". If we of the English speaking peoples, who are seen as a separate entity if white, do not stick together, we- or our children/grandchildren are toast.

Sort of like your Mitt Romney. Descended from Miles Romney (1806-1877), of Dalton in Furness, Lancashire, England. Almost died on voyage to the United States.

72 posted on 07/27/2012 9:16:32 PM PDT by Peter Libra
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To: re_nortex
It was nice to see the athletes marching in. They all looked so healthy, happy, and well-scrubbed. It is, after all, all about them and seeing them was a nice relief compared to the "entertainment" with wildly dressed dancing kids and political symbols. Couldn't understand why a whole segment about teens finding one another and having a party was relevant at all - something about a parent's nightmare, made no sense to me. Then I fell asleep and missed the Queen's arrival with "James Bond," - wanted to see that. Woke for the lighting of the cauldron and the finale. That part was good - spectacular fireworks display. Paul McCarthy was literally choked up at first, I think it overwhelmed him and it was a bit touching to see him humbled by the enormity of it all.

But, what I kept thinking - thank goodness the next one won't be in Chicago. Hopefully, in Rio they will leave politics out of it and focus more on creating a celebration of athletics, culture, and creativity instead of trying to make a statement.

73 posted on 07/27/2012 9:26:27 PM PDT by CitizenM (Obama - The architect of the decline of the U.S.)
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To: the scotsman
Imagine the audacity to remind the planet that we basically built the modern world.

Then why celebrate the destruction of your culture? National healthcare as a crowning achievement, really.

74 posted on 07/27/2012 9:29:47 PM PDT by Mike Darancette (Obamaid has to go.)
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To: CitizenM
It was nice to see the athletes marching in. They all looked so healthy, happy, and well-scrubbed. It is, after all, all about them and seeing them was a nice relief compared to the "entertainment" with wildly dressed dancing kids and political symbols.

I want to make it abundantly clear that I don't begrudge those who enjoy the Olympics. It's just not in my wheelhouse and I've never acquired an interest in those games. It might be a Texas or Southern thing. The local all-sports radio station had only a brief mentions of the Olympics. It was Cowboys...Cowboys...Cowboys along with the Rangers and Mavericks.

75 posted on 07/27/2012 9:32:35 PM PDT by re_nortex (DP...that's what I like about Texas.)
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To: re_nortex
It was Cowboys...Cowboys...Cowboys

"Did you enjoy those three Super Bowls? I hope you did, I hope you did very much....good mornin' to ya."

76 posted on 07/27/2012 9:34:34 PM PDT by dfwgator (FUJR (not you, Jim))
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To: Tailgunner Joe

The most significant thing of the night.

Bob Costas’ glowing review of Mitt Romney’s role in saving the 2002 Winter Olympic games.

You know he has got to be the DUmmies public enemy number one right now.


77 posted on 07/27/2012 9:38:15 PM PDT by dfwgator (FUJR (not you, Jim))
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To: dfwgator
"...good mornin' to ya."

Without a doubt, this week's highlight was BaD Radio's interview with Demond Wilson from Sanford and Son. The discomfort of Donovan Lewis was hilarious and it rightfully won the E-Brake of the Week.

78 posted on 07/27/2012 9:41:25 PM PDT by re_nortex (DP...that's what I like about Texas.)
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To: CitizenM
"I kept thinking - thank goodness the next one won't be in Chicago. "

Next up, Winter Olympics 2014 in what's left of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics - Russia!!!

yitbos

79 posted on 07/27/2012 9:50:09 PM PDT by bruinbirdman ("Those who control language control minds." -- Ayn Rand)
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To: re_nortex

True story, I waited on Demond back when I went to UF at a restaurant, I got stiffed on the tip.


80 posted on 07/27/2012 9:56:46 PM PDT by dfwgator (FUJR (not you, Jim))
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