Posted on 09/03/2009 9:32:09 AM PDT by Pope Pius XII
Calling her a "singular champion," the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) honored tennis star Venus Williams for her principled stand after an Israeli player was excluded from participating in a Dubai tennis tournament earlier this year.
In February 2009, the United Arab Emirates refused a visa to Shahar Pe'er, preventing her from participating in the Dubai Tennis Championship. Ms. Williams publicly spoke out against the decision and called for equal treatment for all players.
(Excerpt) Read more at adl.org ...
I have a feeling Obama would have gone along with the Arabs,.
I couldn’t tell from the article but did she compete there?
You would think the article would mention that.
It seems that she did not. I am happy to say, I don’t see her name or any other Americans listed in the tournament results.
http://www.barclaysdubaitennischampionships.com/1/results/default.asp
Good for her, and the rest of the American players for taking a stand against anti-semitism.
Oops! I stand corrected. That was the Men’s results.
Williams did participate and won the event.
http://www.barclaysdubaitennischampionships.com/1/results/2009wta.asp
It is nice that she spoke out, but if she really meant it, she should have withdrawn from the tournament, IMHO.
Andy Roddick (who was the defending men’s champion) refused to play Dubai due to the Shahar Peer’s exclusion.
Wonderful that she spoke out but her words were hollow. She participated anyway. Sometimes it’s about pricinple, but how fast overboard that goes when it’s time to GITS PAID.
There is a principle inherent in showing up to their little racist gathering, beating their lame asses, taking their prize money; and using the winners circle as a bully pulpit to say to them ‘I won, but not all who should have participated were able to because of your ignorant racism.’
In other words, if she had just stayed home and made a statement I doubt it would have had the same impact and made the papers in such a way.
Apparently the ADL liked what she did.
I am glad she played and that she spoke out. A black American winning was a good slap in the face to those bigots.
Words are nice but actions speak louder than words. She still played..........
I am glad she won but I think it would have been more principled to refuise to participate.
I’m pretty sure I read somewhere that once a big star signs up for a event, they stand to lose some money if they pull out for reason other then injury. And she would have probably had contractual obligations for publicity appearances, autograph signing, etc.
I remember the whole story blew up only a few days before the tournament so maybe it would have been very hard for her to pull out. I don’t know, there are several details we have no idea about going on there.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.