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OK.

Let`s just agree to disagree. Good luck with more gold medals. :-)

say what?

I'm not sure what that old post has to do with this discussion.  Let's just agree that double standards exists on ALL levels.  It's not going to be productive if you don't.

It's the intention, and the hope, that the Olympics would transcend political issues.  To expect that the IOC to penalize a team for it's countrys political views contradicts the spirit, and is ultimately unjust.

If this were a simple discussion about the right or wrong of a decision made at the Olympics, I'd continue pressing my case for fairness.  If in fact it's your intention to make it an Iran-bashing format, I'm out of here.  I personally agree with you on many issues.  But you sound just like (I won't name names but...) when you take such an antagonistic attitude. 

Anyhoo... enjoy the Olympics and watch the USA KICK ASS!

This friggin double standard is killing me!!

//iranian.com/main/singlepage/2008/shooting-close-range

Or it applies to Iranians ONLY?

Me too

Yes, the right thing to do was for him to dissent, but the right thing to do in face of a regime like Iran`s is costly for individuals. I leave that to him and his own conscience. The decision makers in the Olympics however will not personally face the consequences of these criminals. It is them I am criticizing here. The Olympics is a sign of cooperation between all members. When one member state systematically acts like this, it should not be allowed to participate and contaminate the whole affair time after time. It is not a coach, but the state itself that has to be barred from any international event altogether unless it agrees to behave. There is no excuse for failing to do this. It is just disgusting to witness this circus year after year.

I continue to disagree

I continue to disagree strongly on the whole team being disqualified.  Unless of course you want to rewrite the policies and standards of the Olympic Committee.  There are no provisions for disqualifying the whole team... nor should there be.  Why specifically do you think otherwise?  In no other sports arena is the team punished for either a player's actions or even a coach's actions?  My personal opinion that he should have had the balls to swim anyway is purely my belief IN doing what's right and not what someone tells you to do.  No wonder the regime has such control and WHAT is it going to take for someone TO stand up to them.

fair

of course it is fair. It is the only right thing to do. Why should the swimmer be disqualified? We all know it was not his decision. It is the decision of those in charge and they should all be barred. Nothing is more fair. It is just disgusting how the officials don`t do what should be done.

everyone

Well isn't this nice!  We're starting to play nice now!  Why does EVERY single blog, article, thread, have to end up name calling?  I don't know about being more or less so, but it's for sure that Iranians are just a leetle beet defensive.  Don't provoke for pete's sake!  You lose so much validity in real discussions when you play this game. 

I do disagree with you on the whole delegation paying for the price of this guy.  Several other athletes have been disqualified for various infractions... do you really think it's fair to penalize the whole team?  Of course not!  Regardless of the real reason... political or just being an asshole... the swimmer is the real loser.

??

"you're welcome"??? for what?

Okay

I already know I was a bit out of line with the joke about winning at the end. It was in bad taste, and I did`t intend to defend it. I apologize to any Iranian who is hurt by that. But I stand on my main point, and the logic behind it. The right thing is for the whole envoy to be disqualified and sent back. Some here still seem not to fully get it. There is no way you can avoid what your responsibility in bringing about this mess in the first place, and expect not to pay a price. I repeat what I said. It is your responsibility first and foremost to do something about these fascists, and while you don`t you can`t blame the rest of the world all the time and feel insulted every single minute of your lives.
I have always been honest here. I am not trying to win over anyone with nice talk. I say my mind, what I believe. If you don`t like what you hear all the time, that`s just too bad. You disagree, fine. Just stop acting as if you deserve to be praised 24/7. Please.

Bad hair day?...I'll tell the next joke!

American Wife:

NOW you know why!

You're welcom.

Zion

You're taking a rather simplistic attitude to the reaction to your comment.  It was sarcastic and unnecessary.  I've read a lot of your postings... trying to learn something... trying to understand a volatile issue.  I've agreed with you in private discussions with my husband MUCH MORE than he'd like.  But hey, so what.  We're adults and if we can't discuss issues or at least agree-to-disagree, then we're pretty sorry examples of intellects..lol.  I'd like to think you're having a bad hair day because you're not worthy of this petty kind of comment and it's for DAMN sure that the athletes aren't. 

...

What do I have to say for myself? What is this, a trial?
lol.

I have said nothing against the ordinary people of Iran. I feel sorry for the poor swimmer who has no saying in this anyways, like many others before him. I am talking about the official envoy of the Islamic republic of Iran. This is what they should have done many years ago. They do what needs to be done once, and next time the jerks will know better.

This is the real world my friend. You can also talk of innocent Iranians all you like, and I agree, but at the end of the day, they are putting up with this and can`t expect not to have to pay a price. It is their responsibility, more than any one else, to rid themselves and the world of the jerks they brought to power in a popular revolution. As long as they don`t, they get what comes and ultimately they have only themselves to blame.

I am honest and telling you as it is. This is what true friends are expected to do. You prefer another PC sugar coating like you hear from Russian or Chinese or European businessmen instead? Or maybe you prefer the likes of Chomsky praise your resistance to imperialism all the time?

(anyways, you really think they have a chance to win?)

Zion

Why do you have such contempt for Iranians? You are becoming increasingly hostile in your comments towards ordinary Iranian people, who are innocent. I suppose it's o.k. to have extreme opinions about politicans of any country, but it's a little different when it becomes evident that you have no goodwill towards our nation. What do you have to say for yourself?

Revealed !

"Not that they have any chance of winning anything anyways"...(zion)

"Taa mard sokhan nagofteh baashad

Eib-o honarash nahofteh baashad"

REVEALED!!

thanks... alot... for

thanks... alot... for showing the world what fair people we really are... AGAIN. yeah, we really showed the world what's important to us, AGAIN. and it's not the PEOPLE.
Zion. why do you say such hateful things. i don't understand why you are on this website. if you hate iranians so bad, why do you come here?

About time

Just disqualify the whole lot. Simple.
Not that they have any chance of winning anything anyways.