Posted on 09/16/2007 4:28:33 AM PDT by gridlock
THE Red Arrows have been banned from performing at the 2012 London Olympics as they are too BRITISH.
Barmy organisers claim the popular RAF display team’s military background “might offend other nations”.
The decision has left pilots, who were set to perform their best-ever display at the opening ceremony, in a state of outrage.
One said yesterday: “We have been simply blown away by this decision.
“For years we have talked about performing a display at the Olympic Games and how magnificent it would be.
“It never crossed our mind we would be banned from the event.”
The Arrows, officially named the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, have flown at 4,000 festivals worldwide. But the Department of Culture, Media and Sport ruled last week that the jets were “unsuitable” and “not in keeping with the event as they were too militaristically British”.
The government department is running the event alongside organising committee chairman Lord Sebastian Coe. An insider also suggested the Arrows had ALREADY performed at the Olympics — by doing a fly-past when London won the initial bid.
But the pilot added: “The Red Arrows did indeed perform a fly-past. But that was 2005 and was hurriedly organised.
“We really wanted to put on a world-class display for 2012 — something incredible and never seen before. It would be a showcase of everything that is great about Britain.
“The Red Arrows are as British as the Queen and London buses.
“They’re not an expression of our military power — they’re a source of national pride. But Olympic bosses have said we might offend foreigners. It’s madness.” Yesterday the Department for Culture, Media and Sport appeared to leave room for a U-turn.
A spokesman said: “No decision has yet been made.
“We haven’t made any final arrangements for the opening ceremony yet.”
"The Red Arrows are as British as the Queen and London buses."
"It would be a showcase of everything that is great about Britain."
"...performing at the 2012 London Olympics..."
I say, old chap, "WTF???"
It took a real PC whizbang to come up with this one. The British people need so-called "leaders" like these about as much as my dog needs nore fleas.
Imbeciles like this should be held up to the maximum possible public ridicule, then tarred and feathered before being banished to Karachi, where they will feel more "at home."
Max nutter alert!!
Ya got me. I'm just glad NYS taxpayers don't have to foot the bill for this boondoggle. Britain can have it.
bump
They are going to “not offend” themselves right into a sharia “republic.”
Let’s see, that “not offend” part of our constitution is right here, uhmm, maybe over here... Oh, there is is, under judicial activism. Sure glad those liberal judges are telling us what’s good for us.
I was not a appallingly arrogant ass, like you, who childishly assumes that what happened in his little corner applied to everyone in Britain.
They should consider this: Make sure the Queen's seat is facing Mecca. All the athletes and dancers enter, face Mecca (back to the Queen), then they get on all fours and pound their foreheads into the ground for a while. For the finale they can sacrifice a goat and enjoy a rousing shout of "Death to America".
‘No, I actually believe someone who lives there knew the laws concerning what they could do at their home.’
I have lived all over Britain. Flying the flag is perfectly legal, acceptable and common.
‘I was not a appallingly arrogant ass, like you, who childishly assumes that what happened in his little corner applied to everyone in Britain.’
You’re an ignorant idiot. Nowhere in Britain is it illegal to fly either the Union Flag, the Cross of St. George, The Welsh Dragon or the Scottish Saltaire. Unlike America, where flying your flag can cost you $1250 a day. . . . .
http://www.hollywoodgrind.com/2007/01/19/donald-trump-fined-for-flying-the-american-flag/
It’s my impression the Olympics were originally revived with a frosting of military skills like riding, shooting, archery and fencing.
“The Olympics have gone beyond being merely stupid, wasteful, and irrelevant to being actively destructive and hostile.”
Substitute United Nations for Olympics. Same difference.
“Why does anybody support this tripe?”
Inertia.
Looked it up. Seems such a law was repealed July this year.
So instead of being an arrogantly liar, grow up.
Did the Thunderbirds or the Golden Nights perform at the Atlanta Olympics or the LA Olympics? Or the Salt Lake City or Lake Placid Olympics?
Parachutes?
'-}
The fools just spit on the graves of everyone who died trying to save a once-great country. Woe unto those who call good, evil and evil, good. Has anyone noticed that is is only politically correct to show “pride” if one is a pervert or an Islamofascist? It is politically incorrect to be proud of the people who are preserving what is left of civilization. I hope there are enough decent people who will raise a ruckus. Don’t go quietly into the night.
Ping!
The Olympics offend me.
FYI "(The) use of the Union Flag (Union Jack)as an ensign on a civilian craft remains illegal to this day ever since Charles I ordered it be restricted to His Majesty's ships "upon pain of Our high displeasure" in the 17th century, mainly due to its unauthorised use by merchant mariners to avoid paying harbour duties by passing themselves off as Royal vessels."
BYW the fine is 50,000 pounds.
-ccm
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