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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

Actually, the pianos playing is one of the few things I remember about those Olympics. I thought it was wonderful listening to great American music on all those pianos.

I’m sorry I just didn’t care for your ceremony. Parts of it were quite nice. Other parts had me going WTH? It was disjointed. I liked the hymns. I enjoyed the tribute to the victims, but had to watch that online. Enjoyed how the “spittoons” were actually used. That was lovely.

However, the other stuff was a jumbled mess. When I think of Great Britain and the UK, I have much respect for the land of many of my ancestors and what they accomplished. I wish there had been more of that and less “pop”. If the Olympics were here in Texas, you’d bet we would have Cowboys, Indians, football, oil, Jesus, BBQ and etc. That’s who we are and we are proud of it. Not some weird half time show devoted to the EBT card.


81 posted on 07/27/2012 10:00:35 PM PDT by 1scrappymom
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To: 1scrappymom

The problem is that if Britain did celebrate their past, the PC-Police would complain that they were celebrating colonialism.


82 posted on 07/27/2012 10:06:55 PM PDT by dfwgator (FUJR (not you, Jim))
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To: bruinbirdman
Next up, Winter Olympics 2014 in what's left of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics - Russia!!!

Guarantee they'll be no fags with the torch kissing each other there.

83 posted on 07/27/2012 10:08:52 PM PDT by dfwgator (FUJR (not you, Jim))
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To: cweese

We watched a few minutes also. It was disgusting, an insult to the athletes. It is a sad day for Olympic sports. I’m glad that I’m not a parent of a competing athlete.


84 posted on 07/27/2012 10:12:04 PM PDT by Eva
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To: dfwgator

Very true. Which is why there will never be Olympics in Texas. Oh and the heat. Mostly the heat.


85 posted on 07/27/2012 10:12:55 PM PDT by 1scrappymom
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To: the scotsman

I saw that, too. Brief, but very conspicuous childrens’ transvestite lobby stuck that one in.


86 posted on 07/27/2012 10:15:34 PM PDT by steve86 (Acerbic by nature not nurture TM)
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To: Tailgunner Joe

What I noted was that the past, that is the 19th century and earlier was about work, while the present and recent past was about entertainment.

PC stuff, celebration of bad health, the mixed race couple, the young black couple (why not Chinese, they’re in Britain too?!), were all as ridiculous as it comes, having a vulgar rapper even worse, what was is shouting - “Ahma killya mo fo _itch”? If not he should have to be representative of the subculture, who are we kidding!


87 posted on 07/27/2012 10:19:26 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (Bad things are wrong!)
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To: submarinerswife
Danial Craig is very nice on the eyes!)

So is his wife


88 posted on 07/27/2012 10:24:50 PM PDT by dfwgator (FUJR (not you, Jim))
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To: dfwgator
"Guarantee they'll be no fags with the torch kissing each other there. "

And the Rooskies cleaned out the autonomous territories, Abkhasia and South Ossetia, bordering Georgia.

Now their working on much of the neighboring Caucasus Islams.

yitbos

89 posted on 07/27/2012 10:38:36 PM PDT by bruinbirdman ("Those who control language control minds." -- Ayn Rand)
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To: 1scrappymom
...there will never be Olympics in Texas. Oh and the heat. Mostly the heat.

In the unlikely (impossible) event that the Summer Olympics were hosted in Texas, I will retract my vow to never watch them. I enjoy a good train wreck. Watching the participants from socialists backwaters like Scandinavia and other cool climates melt in our Lone Star blast furnace, generally in operation from May to mid-October, would actually be some fine entertainment.

90 posted on 07/27/2012 10:42:08 PM PDT by re_nortex (DP...that's what I like about Texas.)
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To: AD from SpringBay

My thoughts exactly. This was an exposition of what is wrong with the UK (and rapidly the US.)

I half expected to see Micheal Meyers show up as Austin Powers and mock the Queen. Or show up as Fat Bastard in full kilt and tartan.

Mr. Bean was a rare highlight, but it was a bit over the top to take a dig at one of England’s rare Olympic-themed classics, “Chariots of Fire.” Just having him do a cameo on the synthesizer would have been enough for a few laughs.


91 posted on 07/27/2012 10:46:10 PM PDT by anymouse (God didn't write this sitcom we call life, he's just the critic.)
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To: mrsmel

It was puke.


92 posted on 07/27/2012 10:47:21 PM PDT by Big Horn (Rebuild the GOP to a conservative party)
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To: Tailgunner Joe

It appeared Paganistic in parts. The best part was the kids singing.


93 posted on 07/27/2012 11:20:02 PM PDT by bronxville
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To: bronxville
It appeared Paganistic in parts

As opposed to all of the other Olympic Opening Ceremonies?

94 posted on 07/27/2012 11:20:50 PM PDT by dfwgator (FUJR (not you, Jim))
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To: Skepolitic
NHS eh....

British NHS goes medieval.....

leeches for blood letting

maggots for wound cleaning

garlic for flesh eating bacteria

islamic nurses allowed to not wash nor roll up their sleeves to wash

cataract operations denied to old folks

doctors have to prescribe water to prevent patients dehydrating

do it yourself" dental repair kits widely available

and a fast track to the morgue for the elderly.

95 posted on 07/27/2012 11:22:22 PM PDT by spokeshave (The only people better off today than 4 years ago are the Prisoners at Guantanamo.)
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To: FlingWingFlyer
Romney was right when he says the Brits aren't ready for prime time.

The Brits are professional amateurs.

96 posted on 07/27/2012 11:26:36 PM PDT by spokeshave (The only people better off today than 4 years ago are the Prisoners at Guantanamo.)
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To: bronxville
It appeared Paganistic in parts.

I just remarked to my wife that the torch lighting ceremony appeared to be a Pagan religious service --- celebrating the fire --- Even had a witch playing the drums..

And did Sir McCartney take an overdose of estrogen?

97 posted on 07/27/2012 11:54:40 PM PDT by steve86 (Acerbic by nature not nurture TM)
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To: steve86

Yes, I noticed the witch and fire worship. Then there was the sun worship and maypoles. And why so much about the Harry Potter wizardry books when they’ve got such a rich history of castles, knights, princes and princesses, etc. Wizards and witches...the Olympic Flag carriers notwithstanding. :)

And what about that giant baby with a circular band around it’s forehead - spookie.


98 posted on 07/28/2012 2:08:09 AM PDT by bronxville
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To: bronxville

Druids anyone? makes a person pause and wonder if the Druids of years past are back.


99 posted on 07/28/2012 2:34:21 AM PDT by Eye of Unk (Going mobile, posts will be brief. No spellcheck for the grammar nazis.)
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To: VanDeKoik; Scotsman
Brief shot of a movie with a boy in a dress, and some really cringe-worthy music from the 80s.

I think you saw "Gegory's Girl" images. Only it wasn't Gregory in the dress. Actually a very good movie.

100 posted on 07/28/2012 2:47:31 AM PDT by raybbr (People who still support Obama are either a Marxist or a moron.)
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