Below is my column in The Hill on the controversies surrounding the Paris Olympics. Criticisms of the Opening Ceremony continue with the Vatican weighing in this week to condemn the scenes discussed below.
Here is the column:
“I wanted no part of politics.” Those words of Jesse Owens after the 1936 Olympics echoed in my mind as I watched the string of controversies emerge from the Paris games.
From the scenes in the Opening Ceremony to even the food service in the Olympic village, the 2024 Olympics sometimes seemed like a clash not of individual athletes but of political agendas.
The Opening Ceremony of director Thomas Jolly is still raising protests from religious and other groups over two controversial segments.
In one scene, three young people are shown flirting in a library while reading books like “Les Liaisons Dangereuses” (Dangerous Liaisons) and “Le Diable au Corps” (Devil in the Flesh). They then run to an apartment for what was clearly a threesome sex-romp, culminating in the participants pushing the cameraman out of the bedroom.
Many people (including me) could not care less about who or how many people you have sex with. Many also would prefer not to have to explain to kids watching what the scene meant if they failed to pick up the meaning from the hot stairway kissing scene.
Then there was the feast scene, featuring DJ and producer Barbara Butch, described as “an LGBTQ+ icon who calls herself a ‘love activist.’” For many, the tableau evoked Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” — an image that was brought home for many by the Christ-like halo worn by Butch in the center.
For the record, I loved many parts of the Opening Ceremony with its stunning imagery and wonderful music. I also welcomed the inclusion of scenes with gay or trans people to show the diversity of French culture.
But for games that are supposed to serve as a shared experience for a world composed of many religions, cultures and practices, these two scenes were gratuitously divisive. Why was a threesome sex romp so vital to the vision of these Olympics?
For many, the hoisting of the Olympic flag upside down seemed to capture the approach of the French organizers. The games are supposed to capture our shared love of sports and ability to come together as a world for these games.
But that was only the beginning of the controversies, as the games appeared to make political and social divisions into an Olympic sport. It seemed like every aspect of the games, no matter how small, had to “make a point.”
For example, the environmentalists prevailed in pushing a green agenda that succeeded in not only producing possibly more carbon emissions but certainly pushing many nations over the edge.
Athletes have complained that their performances were undermined by the conditions at the village. That included “green beds” made of cardboard — beds that are ideal for recycling and a nightmare to actually sleep on. Athletes complained that they competed with little sleep on the beds designed by some woke Marquis de Sade.
Air conditioning was a “non” at the Paris Olympics, leaving athletes sweltering on their cardboard beds. It was so miserable that various countries flew in air units to make the rooms inhabitable.
Then there was the food shortage. Many blamed the push for plant-based food to lower the games’ carbon footprint. The result was that many teams, given their athletes’ need for high-protein and high-calorie meals, turned up their noses at the “reasonable,” “sustainable” choices and flew in not just their own food but also their own chefs.
None of this, of course, was about the athletes, who were left literally scavenging for meat. Their food and living conditions were meant to send a message, much like the opening ceremony, that was separate from them or their competitions. It seems like only interest groups were cheering, as athletes literally sweated it out before even going to compete.
Ironically, the many planes and trucks used to ship air conditioning units, food, and staff to Paris likely wiped out any climate benefits.
The games then became the focus of an even more intense debate over the decision to allow transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports.
Imane Khelif of Algeria defeated Angela Carini of Italy in just 46 seconds in the ring. Carini tapped out, stating that in her entire career she had never been hit that hard.
It was later revealed that Khelif and another boxer, Lin Yu‑ting of Taiwan, had failed to meet gender eligibility tests at the Women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi just last year. (It should be noted that Khelif is not a transgender athlete but someone listed with differences of sexual development, known as DSDs.)
Khelif and Yu-ting competed in the last Olympics without medaling. (Yu-ting won a fight on Friday in the women’s 57kg category against Uzbekistan’s Sitora Turdibekova to reach the quarterfinals.)
In fairness, the Olympics, like all federations, is struggling with this issue and it is not the responsibility of the French organizers. Yet the theme of the games also outraged some civil libertarians.
For example, there was another controversy at the start of the games when France announced that its Muslim athletes would not be allowed to wear their hijabs, or hair coverings, a decision that some of us condemned as a gratuitous denial of their faith. France is infamous for barring religious garb in public as part of its secularist tradition.
At the same time, French authorities have announced that charges are being considered against critics of the participants and organizers of the “Last Supper” scene.
There is little debate that direct, intentional threats should be prosecuted as they are in the U.S. But France is now one of the most anti-free speech nations in the West, with its sweeping criminalization of speech that can be interpreted as “inciting” or “intimidating” others.
These measures reflect the most glaring disconnect in the Opening Ceremony where the French motto of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity (“liberté, égalité, fraternité”) was celebrated.
In today’s France, “liberté” is no longer valued. Individual rights of religion and speech are routinely sacrificed in the name of “equity” and “fraternity.”
Many in this country believe that we should follow the same path. As I discuss in my new book The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage,” this movement has reached our shores, with many calling for individual rights like free speech to be limited by goals of equity. There is even a movement to amend the First Amendment as “aggressively individualistic.”
In spite of our best efforts, the athletes of the Paris games continue to inspire us. Ratings are soaring. I have been glued to the television and have already fallen into the habit of gasping in shock when a gymnast steps slightly out of bounds after doing a routine that would have left me crippled for life for just attempting. They make us believe that anything is possible, even superhuman feats.
There are times when athletes cannot escape the politics of our age. When Owens won four gold medals with Hitler watching, there was no missing the transcendent meaning of his achievement.
That message, however, was far more powerful because it was delivered by an athlete as part of his competition. The problem with the Paris games is that they are trying to make it more about us than it is about them.
Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at George Washington University. He is the author of “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage.”
…one last note, a puzzle re: the OLYMPICS.. re: all the Kamala Harris Ads, with Kamala saying her vision for America is this this and that and that she will make sure we get this this and that… but.. where is this, this and that right now?, i.e., she’s had almost 4 years to bring about this, this, and that.. and what is here appears to be the exact opposite………….
Great Review, Prof. Turley! ..too bad someone had to use the Olympics for Political & Trans statements.. and too bad someone decided to use cardboard beds, which are much more stressful on the Environment to make than just using wood.. and in a world blitzed with both whey and plant Protein Powders & Shakes, too bad someone didn’t think to ask for donations for the athletes.. and too bad someone couldn’t see that paying snoop dogg a Half Million USD (yep, that’s $500K) per day to get to watch the Olympics as a VIP was probably a tad too much.. BUT.. at least the Sports we got to see without paying for peacock have been Wonderful.. imagine that!
Anyone who wonders how the Reichswehr was able to roll over France so easily in 1940 need look no farther than the Olympic opening. They are a spent force, a low-T society, well into permanent decline. Decadence has devolved into degeneracy. One can only hope that the migrants that are replacing the population are subsumed into the debauchery.
Excuse me, it wasn’t the Reichwehr… existed from about 1920 to about 1935, the military arm of the Weimar Republic that was eventually overtaken by the National Socialists. You’re welcome!
You are incorrect.
cionnath —- The name of the German military in 1940 was Wehrmacht.
I for one found that the only athletic event I could watch, that didn’t somehow pound me over the head lightly or heavily with social-agenda intent, was the wonderful golf event.
It was more exciting than I think the organizers thought it would be. Even if one were not a fan of the sport of golf, to have 60 of the world’s best on that wonderful course at the same time made it feel like one of the Major golf tourneys of the year. Congratulations to Scott Scheffler of the USA for his thrilling win.
And you think that you can watch Olympic golfing without subsidizing Olympic Women’s Boxing? Were you intellectually crippled form birth, or is your extreme obtuseness a characteristic that you have deliberately adopted?
When Simone Biles performs her triple double, her head reaches a height of 12 feet 2 inches from the floor.
so what.
For any further attempted gaslighting the title of the Tableau says—> the last supper on the Seine.
Just fyi. It was horrible
*SENATOR KEELEY
It’s simple. XY cannot change into XX. To say it can is a lie. Children are not exposed to lies lest they become adults and sue everyone associated with the lie.
It’s a LIE. Lies can create delusional thinking. That’s all anyone needs to know.
Update—> kehlif the Algerian boxer won gold.
Does she produce ova? Let’s move to nude olympics as we’re in ancient Greece. Then we hold these truths to be self evident. Lia Thomas…
Kamala thinks that “the cloud” is some space that exists “above us” and that your information is no longer stored in a “physical location”.
THIS is the person that libturds are going to vote for.
When asked what she was going to do about inflation she replied that “we have to understand that food and gas prices have gone up”.
OT
“TAKE THE GOOGLE SEARCH SEGMENT FOR PUBLIC USE”
_______________________________________________________________
The Search segment of Google MUST be “taken” after just compensation for public use under the 5th Amendment.
Google Search is “general Welfare” – ALL WELL PROCEED – or basic infrastructure as are roads, water, internet, electricity, post office, airports, rubbish collection, sewers, etc., per Article 1, Section 8.
Google Search is a commodity or service used in similar amounts and frequency by general, or all, Americans.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
“Google loses antitrust case over search”
“A federal U.S. judge ruled Monday that Google has illegally held a monopoly in search and text advertising. The court homed in on Google’s exclusive search arrangements on Android and Apple’s iPhone and iPad devices. The Department of Justice and a bipartisan group of attorneys general from 38 states and territories, led by Colorado and Nebraska, filed similar but separate antitrust suits against Google in 2020.”
“A federal U.S. judge ruled Monday that Google has illegally held a monopoly in two market areas: search and text advertising.
“The landmark case from the government, filed in 2020, alleged that Google has kept its share of the general search market by creating strong barriers to entry and a feedback loop that sustained its dominance. The court found that Google violated Section 2 of the Sherman Act, which outlaws monopolies.”
– CNBC
what does that have to do with the subject at hand?
He introduced his comment with “OT”, which stands for “Off Topic”. That is far more courtesy than many other posters show.
Oh, and that makes it on-topic then? I gotta work on my courtesy skills huh?
Jizz-for-brains dipshit.
Separately, Scotus has denied Missouri’s request to file a lawsuit in its original jurisdiction against New York. Scotus did not issue an opinion, only an order. State lawsuits against other states are allowed under the Judiciary Act, and Scotus has exclusive original jurisdiction rather than appellate jurisdiction – “exclusive” meaning there is no other federal court in which such a case can be filed. A week or two ago when an anonymous commenter brought this up, I noted that Texas had tried something similar against Pennsylvania in 2020, but the Court refused to allow the lawsuit to be filed. I predicted the same would happen in this year’s version. The commenter then (oddly) excoriated me for using the word “similar” and said I was all wet since Scotus requested an expedited reply from New York, supposedly signaling it was going to allow the lawsuit. I don’t expect that commenter, being anonymous, to acknowledge he or she was wrong.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/supreme-court-rejects-missouri-trump-sentencing-new-york-case/
The case involved Missouri challenging the Trump gag order and impending sentencing, saying they denied the rights of Missouri residents to hear the views of a candidate for President.
Would the poor decisions being made about the 2024 Olympics be materially better in any other western European nation? I doubt it. The entirety of western Europe seems under the thrall of a demonic, anti-human civilizationally-suicidal spirit. Now if they were held in eastern Europe, with its clear-headedness about the defects of Leftism – having lived through many bitter decades under its totalitarian jackboot – the situation would doubtless be far better.
OT
“‘Crazy Nancy’ Pelosi wants Joe Biden’s face on Mount Rushmore.”
– Sky News
______________
“Crazy Nancy” is going to have to pass “Joe Biden’s Face on Mount Rushmore” to see what’s in it.
What needs to happen at Mount Rushmore is to take anti-American, anti-Constitution “Crazy Abe’s” face off!
OT
“Americans are ‘getting whacked’ by too many laws and regulations, Justice Neil Gorsuch says in a new book”
“Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch is out with a new book in which he says ordinary Americans are “getting whacked” by too many laws and regulations”
– ABC News
_______________
Americans have been “getting whacked” by too many laws and regulations, some that don’t even exist, since “Crazy Abe” Lincoln imposed martial law with a gun to America’s head, seized all power, suspended habeas corpus and the Constitution, conducted his unconstitutional “Reign of Terror,” unconstitutionally amended the Constitution under brutal post-war military occupation, and commenced the progressive implementation of the principles of communism and the “RECONSTRUCTION OF A SOCIAL WORLD,” per Lincoln’s fellow traveler Karl Marx (letter Marx to Lincoln, 1865, https://www.marxists.org/history/international/iwma/documents/1864/lincoln-letter.htm).
“Crazy Abe” said that because secession is not prohibited, secession is prohibited, and that he was going to kill every American who disagreed with his antithetical, anti-American, and undiluted constitutional nonsense—in the end, he only killed one million.
Everything “Crazy Abe” did, subsequent to his unconstitutional prohibition of not-prohibited secession, was unconstitutional and must be corrected retroactively by 150 years just as unconstitutional Roe v. Wade was corrected retroactively by 50 years.
‘I also welcomed the inclusion of scenes with gay or trans people to show the diversity of French culture.’
Heh? So it isn’t possible for us to just be human people competing on a global stage rather than shoving each other into tiny little boxes? And what in the literal H was appropriate for a family event, something for everybody, about that opening ceremony, regardless of preferences? What in the actual f*** do the Olympic games have to do with sexual themes? Some subjects are adult material, period. Seems kind of antithetical to the whole point of the games, but fully in line with the rot of our global culture, thanks to the modern left. And I highly doubt the Professor raised his own kids in this fashion. Way to think of others, T. Guess it’s that ‘dem compassion’ again. 🙄
If there is any question that the Professor is a dyed in the wool democrat, let that be put to rest. Blindness is not egalitarianism, and this particular dem bugaboo is the exact opposite of ‘enlightened’. In all truth, at least in the 21st century, ‘liberalism’ does indeed appear to be a mental disorder or late onset mid-life crisis (I am noticing more and more people over 50 dropping f-bombs in *formal* conversation, and i can’t help but think it is just a pathetic attempt to be relevant. When did we start letting children that don’t know their a**es from a hole in the ground lead?). The fact that without exception, every dem in any position of authority is perfectly happy to lie, gaslight, and bully to hold onto power – sheesh. If we lose in November, we are fecked.
For those of us that actually participated in counter cultures prior to the 1990s, before you could by the outfit at Hot Topic and then just get a bunch of tattoos, this is pretty bloody absurd. And ironic considering the tone of the book. It’s about the spirit, Professor, which is elucidated over and over again in ‘The Indispensable Right’; not the physical expression, and I’d think you’d know better, but dem brains seem to be part mush when it comes to forming connections between things and what that might portend for the future. And severing that tic is like extracting teeth without anesthesia.
Globally, we are NOT on a good course, in any sense of the words. This was a joke, the kind that isn’t funny, and this will be the world if we do not find our spines. From this to net zero, very, very ignorant or unwell people are currently steering the ship.
“If we lose in November, we are fecked.”
If we lose electorally in November, we will need to find some other way to derail this train, because stopping it is an imperative. Otherwise, your comments are spot on.
The American Founders would like to say a few words regarding finding “some other way to derail this train, because stopping it is an imperative.”
Gentlemen, go ahead.
Ahem!
“But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”
– Declaration of Independence, 1776
Do the French think that cardboard grows on trees? Oh wait, it does. Then why not use the wood from the trees felled trees and processed into cardboard to make wooden beds instead? Doing so would be more likely “greener” then the chemical process used to make cardboard. Cardboard production requires numerous chemicals and significant amounts of electricity. After the Games they could then sell the beds to collectors, give them to the athletes that slept on them, or donate them to homeless shelters.
They prefer to use cardboard, so that they can pretend that it will be recycled afterwards. Snooty pretense is the very essence of their agenda.
And the athletes pay the price for their arrogance. Sad. i have not shared the good professor’s awe of the games. I spent $8 on Peacock and immediately canceled it so I wouldn’t forget to do so (should have sprung for no commercials, but that’s what the mute button’s for). This way I get to watch what I want without the endless backstory videos that they interrupt for a few minutes of competition. Thanks, but no. I was able to enjoy every equestrian and swimming event without having to listen to Peyton or Snoop Dog.
*SENATOR KEELEY
Wasn’t a cathedral , something or another, set ablaze in Paris not so long ago? Must have been an accident.
Everyone understands France is for the French culture. No foreign language of even a word can be used. Lasagna is noodles with cheese with tomato sauce?
Someone just spitballed the Olympics. Famous French you aren’t really welcome mon ami. Flew the Olympic flag upside down ?
Mr. T must have meant fools’ gold when he wrote woke gold.
Mr. Jolly has a child at the table. It is the brutal assault on innocence.
A child with a knife at his throat…
Picasso’s Guernica
I enjoyed this ed’toon:
https://cdn.creators.com/218/376107/376107_image.jpg
Most unfortunate that the Woke/Green/WEF Agenda has officially permeated the Olympics with Men Boxing against Women. Who knew that Domestic Violence would be a new Olympic category ?
Next will be a Drive-by shooting event. The only sport where men should compete against women is equestrian and perhaps the mixed medley in swimming.
Woking trans (i.e. state or process of divergence) is a stochastic, erratic political process (PP, no pun intended).
“I also welcomed the inclusion of scenes with gay or trans people to show the diversity of French culture.”
J.T. please stop using “Trans…”. There is no such thing as a trans people. It is a made up term for a mental condition.
“There is no such thing as a trans people. ”
I’m so glad you get to make these sorts of decisions for how people feel about themselves. Self centered much?
I don’t really care how people feel about the truth of science. There is no such thing as a “trans person”. Please prove me wrong. As for getting to make decisions for others, you obviously think I have way more power than the idiot progressives convincing children to mutilate their bodies. That would be great, but it is you and people like you who are the ones “making decisions” for others.
Did I say anything somebody doesn’t exist? Or that they should assume a specific pronoun?
You need to understand reading comprehension a bit better. You are the one that basically say trans people don’t exist. Why do you care so much what they call themselves?
“Why do you care so much what they call themselves?”
Because it is damaging to young people who in turn mutilate themselves. It is also important to have a common language. 2+2=5 is not true just because you “feel” it does and forcing others to accept otherwise is also damaging. Again, Trans people do no exist, so we should not be using the term to describe people with a mental issue.
So glad you have the “truth of science.” You must be so smart.
If smart is not believing in fake “trans people” then yes, I am smarter than those that do.
Since no combination of plastic surgery, hormone treatments, hairdos, makeup, and method acting classes has ever successfully transformed a human male into a human female (or vice versa) it is reasonable to say that there is no such thing as a human transsexual. I hear that there are some uncanny facsimiles but that is all they are: fakes, counterfeits, cheats, not the real thing. Just plain nutty stuff.
It’s uncaring even when completely annoyed to say nutty stuff when referencing truly disabled and handicapped people.
They suffer and act out it’s true. What’s being done is truly wrong. Try to remain civil.
…and an insult to Christians everywhere.
Dear Mr. Turley, one has to wonder what the result could have been if the prophet Muhammad had been insulted on the world stage as what happened with the insult to Christ and His followers. There would have been massive riots and Paris would be burning. Christians are above rioting, stealing and burning cities. We take the teachings of Christ to heart as in turning the other cheek to loving your neighbor as yourself. These are not weak, empty statements because love is the greatest of them all.
I believe we all know. One need only google “l’Hebdo massacre” to recall what happens.