Re: [SLUG] More Anti-Linux Olympic madness!

[Rachel Polanskis <r.polanskis@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Sun, 17 Sep 2000, Howard Lowndes wrote:

> David, as the father of an Olympic athelete, and one who is very aware of
> the sacrifices that my son has made to get where he is, I find your remark
> to be most offensive.

I dunno...
I think it's probably all in jest. 

I do tend to agree though - where are the Olympics for those people 
who do things like discover new technologies or save the environment 
or a treatment for some disease and whatever? 

I know there's something called a "Nobel Prize" but it sure doesn't 
beat getting 80x20 posters of yourself stuck up all over the city 
or a lifetime supply of breakfast foods or a permanent place sitting 
on a panel of TV journalists - you can't go out to lunch for the 
rest of your life for a Nobel prize now, can you?

I mean like the emphasis we put on sports in this country is 
ludicrous.  I know all about the struggle for achievement athletes 
make and all the sacrifices they supposedly go through.  But isn't 
it fair to say that there are equally, others who struggle a lot 
more, accomplishing acheivments of far greater social value for which 
recognition is never uttered or not at least during their life time?

Maybe we just don't like to dwell on the hard things - the ugly things
 and the things that don't plain fit into our mediocre lives.  Perhaps 
it's easier to explain to the masses the glory of a medalist over that 
of the young girl who discovered a powerful antibiotic in a rock pool 
during a research project - she can't even get a decent paying job now.
Maybe if she was a swimmer or a triathlete she'd get some credibility.

That's what I don't like.  The inequity of values we place on things.
Sport is just bread and circuses for the masses, while the rest of 
the country slowly goes to hell in a relaxed and comfortable manner.
I do wish your son all the best - it just doesn't have any meaning to me 
in the same way as an Australian Space Industry might, as opposed to 
an Australian Sport Industry.   ;)


rachel

-- 
Rachel Polanskis                 Kingswood, Greater Western Sydney, Australia 
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 "Yow!  Am I having fun yet?!" - John Howard^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H Zippy the Pinhead