| Red Arrows TOO British for Olympics????? |
Tue, 13 May 2008 10:34  |
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The world-famous Red Arrows have been banned from appearing at the 2012 London Olympics because they are deemed 'too British'. Organisers of the event say that the Arrows military background might be 'offensive' to other countries taking part in the Games.
The display team have performed at more than 4000 events worldwide, but the Department of Culture, Media and Sport have deemed the display team 'too militaristically British'. Red Arrows pilots were said to be 'outraged', as they had hoped to put on a truly world class display for the Games, something which had never been seen before. Being axed from a British-based event for being 'too British' is an insult
- the Arrows are a symbol of Britain.
The Red Arrows have been excellent ambassadors for British overseas trade, as they display their British-built Hawk aircraft all over the world.
The Arrows performed a short flypast in 2005 when the winning bid was announced, but their flypast at the Games was to have been truly spectacular.
It is to be hoped that common sense prevails, so if you disagree with this decision, please sign the petition on the link.
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/RedArrows2012/
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| Re: Red Arrows TOO British for Olympics????? |
Tue, 13 May 2008 11:01  |
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Well that just sounds about right for this country !!  At least you can count on the Red Arrows to be ontime and they perform for the honour of being in the Red Arrows and not for the money !
So count me in for the petition !
Legadmirer2
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| Re: Red Arrows TOO British for Olympics????? |
Tue, 13 May 2008 12:09 |
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| 2ndbubble wrote on Tue, 13 May 2008 10:34 |
...it is to be hoped that common sense prevails, so if you disagree with this decision, please sign the petition on the link.
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/RedArrows2012/
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That seems to be asking a lot from our beloved PM who promises so earnestly 'to listen and to lead' and then does neither, but I'll gladly sign the petition - thanks for bringing it to our attention and good luck  !
lacewing.
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| Re: Red Arrows TOO British for Olympics????? |
Tue, 13 May 2008 14:35 |
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Interesting the way this story is presented. The headline is "they're too British", whereas the detail suggests that it is their military associations that are the problem.
Now, I hate loony left 'black bin bag banning' as much as the next guy, but if the the Olympics is supposed to be a symbol of peace and international union (and not just an over-hyped corporate gravey-train starring a bunch of drug cheats) then maybe a military display is not entirely appropriate, especially considering Britain's involvement in 'humanitarian bombing' campaigns around the world in the last couple of decades.
I'm off to get my flack jacket and tin hat now. 
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| Re: Red Arrows TOO British for Olympics????? |
Tue, 13 May 2008 15:38 |
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Let's hope that we do not have any military there then, bands, marching, and so on, or that theory will not hold a lot of water sir. Have to say though, it isn't the airmen, soldiers, or sailors who start these conflicts, it is the wonderful politicians who lead us. When it goes wrong then they try and distance themselves from the ladies and gentlemen, but then that isn't new.
Olympics is yet another example of the money being thrown away, yet again. How much will it cost in the end ??
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| Re: Red Arrows TOO British for Olympics????? |
Tue, 13 May 2008 15:44 |
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LL, you make a reasonable point, and they should ban politicians from attending too.
However, the point about the way the article is worded still stands.
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| Re: Red Arrows TOO British for Olympics????? |
Tue, 13 May 2008 17:23 |
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The Olympic Games have always been a vehicle for nationalism and since the Berlin Olympics in 1936 have been blatantly political showcases and opportunities for point-scoring, or even, later, to continuing the Cold War in rather warmer surroundings. Just look at USA v USSR Basketball in 1972 or the whole shoddy Moscow deal in 1980, complete with 'medals' for US sportsmen and women who were not allowed to attend; most of these, I seem to remember, finished up in the river!
Peace, as ever, is paid lip-service only.
lacewing.
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| Re: Red Arrows TOO British for Olympics????? |
Tue, 13 May 2008 18:33 |
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lets just all go and live in another country....that way we can complain against the way they run it .....get free houses .....free benefits.....bring my family over from the Uk to live in my new found country.....oh and while im at it speak out in a shameful way and say im going to kill them all, while still continuing to live there.....and claiming benefits....and getting a free house .....??!!!!
Trouble is ...there is no where else like the Uk....who would put up with it ....is there ?????????
Signing the petetion as soon as i have finished my rant....My hubby worked in the Raf for many years and was proud to have worked with the red arrows, as far as he can remember not one country that they ever displayed in ever complained...strange that the British are the first.....!!!! a sad reflection on the times we live in ????
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| Re: Red Arrows TOO British for Olympics????? |
Tue, 13 May 2008 20:24 |
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The Red Arrows are an aerobatics team FFS ... they don't even fly front-line fighter aircraft !
It's stupid decisions like this that make me wish they DID fly combat aircraft ...and that they would fly a sortie over the HQ of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport ... and strafe the stupid burgers ! 
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| Re: Red Arrows TOO British for Olympics????? |
Tue, 13 May 2008 20:40 |
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| Dirk wrote on Tue, 13 May 2008 20:24 |
It's stupid decisions like this that make me wish they DID fly combat aircraft ...and that they would fly a sortie over the HQ of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport ... and strafe the stupid burgers !
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why stop there? If they did the whole Commons at PMQ we'd have to find a whole new load of politicians... 
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| Re: Red Arrows TOO British for Olympics????? |
Tue, 13 May 2008 21:13 |
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| melmoth wrote on Tue, 13 May 2008 20:40 |
| Dirk wrote on Tue, 13 May 2008 20:24 |
It's stupid decisions like this that make me wish they DID fly combat aircraft ...and that they would fly a sortie over the HQ of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport ... and strafe the stupid burgers !
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why stop there? If they did the whole Commons at PMQ we'd have to find a whole new load of politicians...
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Interesting thought melmoth 
I'm sure you've heard the phrase ... " Guido Fawkes .... the only man to ever enter Parliament with honourable intentions ... "
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| Re: Red Arrows TOO British for Olympics????? |
Wed, 14 May 2008 11:41 |
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"we'd have to find a whole new load of politicians".....
Melmoth for PM
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| Re: Red Arrows TOO British for Olympics????? |
Wed, 14 May 2008 22:35 |
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I'm not even surprised.
All this from a country who has taken no end of pride over its military background and pomp and circumstance.
Never mind, I daresay we will elect a government who puts Britain first in time for the Olympics and we'll get the Red Arrows back instead of this lefty shower who u-turn on just about everything and can't run a p**s up in a brewery.
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| Re: Red Arrows TOO British for Olympics????? |
Thu, 15 May 2008 10:09 |
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Which government would that be Mich? I think you'll find the Tories will put themselves, their rich friends, and the corporate world first like they always do.
After all, what have the Tories ever done for us?
Black Wednesday
sold off our national assets because they'd all be run soo much better by the private sector
destroyed the unions, helping to divorce the people from the body politic
the Poll Tax
turned the police into a political force, helping to destroy the relationship between police and public
huge unemployment
undermined respect for teachers
supported New Labour in it's worst actions (illegal foreign wars)
But, maybe you're right - as long as they get a few people waving the Union Jack, everything else will look after itself....
I can understand your unhappiness with Labour, but just switching to the Tories (I'm assuming that's who you're referring to) will not change much for the better IMO.
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