Tennis Great Navratilova Attacks U.S. Values

Reuters ^ | 06/26/2002

[Pokey78]

BERLIN (Reuters) - U.S. tennis great Martina Navratilova criticized her adopted homeland in a German newspaper on Wednesday, saying money is the only thing that matters there.

Navratilova, a Czech-born American who won 18 grand slam singles titles when she dominated women's tennis in the late 1970s and 1980s, also wrote in an article for Die Zeit weekly that she believed free speech was being suppressed in the United States.

"The most absurd part of my escape from the unjust system is that I have exchanged one system that suppresses free opinion for another," said Navratilova, 45, who fled Czechoslovakia at the age of 18 to go to the United States.

The nine-time women's Wimbledon ( news - web sites) champion, who still plays in some doubles tournaments and last week played in a singles tournament at the Eastbourne International Championships in England, singled out President Bush ( news - web sites)'s Republican Party for unusually harsh criticism.

"The Republicans in the United States manipulate public opinion and sweep any controversial issues under the table," Navratilova said.

"It's depressing. Decisions in America are based solely on the question of 'how much money will come out of it' and not on the questions of how much health, morals or the environment suffer as a result."

Navratilova, who is openly homosexual, said she fights actively for gay rights.

[luvbach1]

You know, at one time I respected, and even liked her. She came across to me in interviews as honest and personable, and I was impressed by her good English. Just goes to show how easily one can misjudge someone.

[luvbach1]

Whos aid her views were being given any credence?

[luvbach1]

Our mistake was letting an unreconstructed commie emigrate to America, while her poor brethren, many of whom would have become good Americans (and even Republicans!) had they been allowed to emigrate, languished in the communist backwater she was privileged to escape.

[Jay W]

I was all fixin' to say that if she doesn't like it here, Delta's ready when she is. But seeing as how she's over in Berlin, how about if she stays over there and doesn't come back?

[luvbach1]

She displays abysmal ignorance of American politics and evidence of heavy lib indoctrination somewhere along the line.

[luvbach1]

Your opinion duly noted, but Anna still rules.

[JRjr]

Martina should pay more attention to her job at "Snap-on Tools"

[luvbach1]

It is amazing how closely liberal "thought" in America parallels commie thought in pre-democratic Eastern Europe. MR is clearly a product of the communist era in Eastern Europe.She well may have been a member of the communist party. It was often required of professionals and sports standouts as a prerequisite to their working or competing.It looks lke Martina took the propoganda to heart.

[luvbach1]

Maybe someone else has said it, but if so some have missed it, she's not German but a Czech who should be cancelled.

[sakic]

Thanks for offering more proof even though it really wasn't needed.

[Democratic_Machiavelli]

From what I've seen happening in Europe, I wouldn't be surprised if they were hanging on her every word.