<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Orlando Magic star Tracy McGrady, who had said representing his country in the Olympics was a childhood dream, now is leaning toward pulling out of the Summer Games in Athens, Greece. Sources close to McGrady told The Sentinel that security concerns in Athens have caused McGrady to waver.</div> Full Story Security is a problem, but you'd think they would have it top-notch for the Olympics. It sounds more like an excuse to me, which is sad. It seems like players don't want to represent their country anymore.
Normally I'd be inclined to agree with you. However, there were serious security concerns when Athens was first announced as the bid winner. With the recent bombing, those who have security concerns have to be sweating and scratching thier heads. Personally, I came less than 2 seconds away from the honor of representing my country at the Olympics and would have given almost anything for another opportunity to be there. Giving my life isn't one of them. Particularly in this situation, where those who are willing to take human life, aren't even supported by those whom they claim to be fighting for. That means that while I would die for my country, it would be a meaningless death at the hands of some fanatical lunatic who believes GOD of all people is telling them to kill. I didn't agree with the Christians when they did it in the crusades, etc. and I don't agree with it now. Allah, does not advocate this, no matter how you try to twist the words of the Koran. I'm usually all about advocating for players to take some pride in representing thier country. Dying for your country is something that is the ultimate price for citizenship, but dying in a senseless tragedy isn't.
I agree, with you Hagrid. Sports are so trivial when compared to the harsh reality of life. its just crazy what is goin on in that area of the world. The Jews and Palestines need to get over their differences. Last year i took world history as a course and learned so much about Islam. It is sad to see that a bunch of terrorist use propoganda and blame the killing on god and give the Islamic population throughout the world a bad name. The KKK uses the bible to distort the book of ecclesiastes, and say it is ok to diffrentiate between white and non white, and if you are not white you are a scum and should be killed.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting YaoMing03-04:</div><div class="quote_post">I agree, with you Hagrid. Sports are so trivial when compared to the harsh reality of life. its just crazy what is goin on in that area of the world. The Jews and Palestines need to get over their differences. Last year i took world history as a course and learned so much about Islam. It is sad to see that a bunch of terrorist use propoganda and blame the killing on god and give the Islamic population throughout the world a bad name. The KKK uses the bible to distort the book of ecclesiastes, and say it is ok to diffrentiate between white and non white, and if you are not white you are a scum and should be killed.</div> I really think you should look at a world map and study some more world history. Greece has nothing to do with what you have posted. Greece is too far away to be in influenced by what's going on there. Only the direct neighbours of Isreal are slightly influenced by what's going on in Israel and the Palestine area. However there is a chance that the Palestine terror organisations (and of course other terror organisations as well) could attack the Olympic Games but that could also happen if the Olympic Games were in the USA. Security is the priority No. 1 for the organisators. They are spending about 1 Billion Euro (that's over 1 Billion USD) just for security. 70,000 security officers, soldiers and firefighters will be represent, and the NATO will control the water (with their fleet) as well as the air. I just hope that not many of the US-Basketball-Team or the whole US Olympic Team think like T-Mac and won't come. Then would I really ask why are we having the Olympic Games, and whether it is just the biggest sports event (some people might question that it isn't the biggest sports event) or is it even more?
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Only the direct neighbours of Isreal are slightly influenced by what's going on in Israel and the Palestine area.</div> No offense, but that seems like a pretty naive statement. Not only is the entire world affected by that situation, but the situation prevalent across the Middle East affects the entirety of the world, both mentally and physically. Sure, attacks could happen on US soil, were we talking about the venue being here. However we're not and anyone from the US team making this decision as to whether to play or not, is going to have to think about the fact that home is what they know. They know more of the security issues here. Greece is completely unknown to most of them. People can tell you 'til thier blue in the face that security is the #1 priority, but that which you don't know or can't see with your own eyes will always have an element of distrust to it. That's basic human nature.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting hagrid:</div><div class="quote_post">No offense, but that seems like a pretty naive statement. Not only is the entire world affected by that situation, but the situation prevalent across the Middle East affects the entirety of the world, both mentally and physically. </div> Please read YaoMing03-04 post and mine again. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting YaoMing03-04:</div><div class="quote_post">its just crazy what is goin on in that area of the world. The Jews and Palestines need to get over their differences. </div> He talked about what's going on in this area but spoke only about the Jews/Palestines conflict. Firstly, Greece is not in this area of the world and reading his post again it even sounds like the Jews/Palestine conflict is the only terrible thing which is going on in this area at the moment. But let me rephrase what I said about "influence" perhaps affect is the better word, I don't know (and I'm sorry but my English isn't that good to express exactly what I'm thinking because English isn't my mother language and I'm less than a year now in England, so I'm still learning). Greece is not affacted in any major way speaking of Palestine terror attacks in Greece. Of course everyone has feelings and the situation influences everyone but especially the Jews/Palestines conflict doesn't affact the whole world as much as the Iraq war/al Quaida affact it and as far as I know Greece has never played any role in the Jews/Palestines conflict. In addition the Palestine terror organizations have already stated that their only enemies are Israel and the US government. And the recent terror attacks from Palestine terror organizations were only aimed at Israel not Greece not even the US government. That's the reason why I said that only the direct neighbours of Israel are slightly influenced by what's going on there because nowhere else have been any terror attacks from Palestine terror organizations than in Israel and the Palestine areas. But that's what YaoMing03-04 post imho was suggesting when he talked about the Jews/Palestine conflict in this area of the world. However Greece has their own conflicts and al Quaida may be able to attack the Olympic games but -no offence!- I would fear this more if the Olympic games took place in the USA.
Well that sucks. We need someone who will put some points up there. Not that we dont got anyone who doesnt...but I would love to see Tracy in the Olympics.
Funny thing is that we were talking about this at work and while it is nice to represent your country, everyone that commented on the situation said that if they were McGrady, they wouldn't go to the Olympics. Sure, there is some pride involved, but at the end of the day, you're putting so much at risk for so little in return.
