Great column by the normally, reliably conservative columnist Charles Krauthammer on the excessive, almost ungracious Americanism on display in Salt Lake.

This is a Charles Krauthammer column with which even Bill W would agree (in parts):

Click here for Krauthammer

hmmm .. I'm not sure if he's actually complaining about pro-USA cheers in SLC or pro-USA cheers on NBC -- which they were bound to do -- and we're the only ones watching... no big deal.

and isn't there a goal differential factor in hockey -- good for the USA women running up the scores on the Chinese!

[quote]Originally posted by Charlie in the Trees:
Great column by the normally, reliably conservative columnist Charles Krauthammer on the excessive, almost ungracious Americanism on display in Salt Lake.

---

CiTT, your un-American, pro-Oz bias is showing.
:-)

How come a guy whose name starts with "Kraut" isn't making a huge fuss over the team with the most medals, the Germans!

(don't freak out guys, my family is originally from Germany)

Oh pleez cry me a river tell me oneother country any other country that hosts the Olympics and would not put the focus on their Team?? America at this moment in our history is hungry for distraction, and hungry for home grown heroes too. So I see absolutely nothing wrong with tootin ourhorn, what so ever!!! Get over it!!
USA-USA!!!

Yeah! We bribed for and stole hosting these Olympic Games fair and square!

I realize in the minds of some it is considered poor form to be supportive of your own country. I reject that premise. I think there is nothing wrong with supporting our athletes, so long as we are not unwelcoming to our guests. I don't think the fans have been. One example would be the reception that Russian pairs skaters got the night they won, and the night the Canadians got the gold. On both nights the crowd was polite and no negativism was directed at the skaters. We have nothing to be ashamed of.

Good call, MunsonMan. For whatever reason, patriotism and affection, let alone love, for the USA by its own citizens has often been sneered at by the elites, particularly the liberal ones. Maybe that's because they never had to actually work for, and thus never learned to properly appreciate, anything; too much was handed to them on a silver platter. Contrast that with the excessive zeal these same types show in "celebrating" the nationalism of other nations and their citizens' "obligation" to show it, most recently under the rubric of "diversity." Given this, it's hardly an unreasonable conclusion to label their disdain for American patriotism as simply un-American!

[quote]Originally posted by gmginsfo:
For whatever reason, patriotism and affection, let alone love, for the USA by its own citizens has often been sneered at by the elites, particularly the liberal ones. Maybe that's because they never had to actually work for, and thus never learned to properly appreciate, anything;...

---

Or maybe it's because I spent more time living in a barracks than George Bush, Dick Cheney, Newt Gingrich, and Trent Lott - combined.

I do think that NBC has been a bit "rah-rah" for the USA, but we aren't seeing all the coverage from the other countries, so we can't really say for sure. I do think they have toned down a little their "up close and personal" profiles that were way too sappy in the past.

Having actually been at several events, I would say the crowds have been gracious in cheering for every athlete, no matter the country. They may cheer a little louder for a citizen of the USA (notice I didn't say "American" -- several countries make up the Americas!) All the competitors have been cheered no matter the country, and the winners have been treated to loud receptions at the medals plaza as well.

I'm not a real fan of the "Chant USA at EVERY event" type and think it can sometimes be obnoxious, but when an athelte puts in a winning performance, I cheer for them.

One thing no seems to like is NBC's coverage. The time spent showing us Bode Miller's outhouse - twice - could be better devoted to showing us actual events.

I thought the segment about Jim Shea's grandfather was touching and appropriate, but too much of the human interest stuff is just schlock.

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&grou...c.skiing.alpine

See the thread "NBC Coverage."

[ February 21, 2002: Message edited by: twin58 ]

Patriotism and perhaps even a slight show of nationalist chauvinism is to be expected from any host country, and I don't think the U.S. is doing anything out of line. It does seem that the winners get rousing ovations when receiving their medals, regardless of what country they're from. I was living in Spain during the 1988 Olympics, when a Spanish skiier (Blanca something or other) was a favorite for in one of the events. Spanish TV didn't show anything before except pre-race analysis or anything after except post-mortems. While watching the coverage with a couple of French friends, they kidded that in France if a Frenchman/woman wins the bronze, you don't even find out who won the silver or gold.

These Olympics don't bother me at all. The 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, on the other hand, were a true embarrassment. Americans were having a love-fest over the unprecedented success of Team U.S.A., while neglecting to mention that half the competition had stayed home! For example, an American Greco-Roman wrestler with a world ranking of #10 won the gold, and the announcers were damn near pleasuring themselves on-air over it. What they failed to note was that the #1 through #9 wrestlers were all from boycotting Eastern Bloc nations!! The whole Games were a ridiculous grandstanding rah-rah fest.

I just got back from a week at the Olympics. One thing I noticed is that although the US athletes got huge cheers everytime they were in competition, winning athletes from every country recieved huge ovations.

It was not always winning athletes either. I was at the Mens figure skating finals and one of the lower ranked Chinese skaters obviously injured himself on one of his jumps. He finished the program and landed several jumps in obvious pain, and the cheers for his gritting it out shook the stadium.

Everywhere I went, I never heard a bad comment or boo (except at the figure skating judges). It was awesome to be there, and I felt proud that our Country and Fans could actually show some class.

I have to say that NBC's coverage is a big improvement over Sydney. I can't say I watch wall to wall but I've noticed dramatically fewer stories about skiers with no eyes or lugers who donated their spleen to their sister.

As for the rah-rah Americanism that's unfortunately to be expected. On Outsports we have tried to celebrate accomplishments from all over the world and are not focusing solely on how Americans are doing. And with pictures, a hot athlete is a hot athlete whether from Switzerland or Seattle.

[quote]Originally posted by twin58:


Or maybe it's because I spent more time living in a barracks than George Bush, Dick Cheney, Newt Gingrich, and Trent Lott - combined.

---

You and me both, pal, only mine was on board a ship. That hardly prevents me from admiring most of them, though.

[ February 21, 2002: Message edited by: gmginsfo ]