Plaque unveiled by Mayor of London Boris Johnson in Hackney ceremony.
On 5th September 1972 inside Munich’s Olympics Village Israeli athletes were ambushed by Palestinian terrorists. Over the course of the day 11 Israelis were murdered after botched rescue attempts by the German authorities. A German policeman also died. The Games carried on.
Some of the terrorists died during the final rescue attempt at a military airbase but the others, held in German custody, gained their freedom after a plane was subsequently hijacked and a demand for their release was agreed to.
Mossad methodically went about locating and killing each terrorist, except one.
Common decency has it that those trusted into your care are remembered when tragedy occurs. British football grounds regularly resonate to a minute silence when one of the footballing community is lost.
But not where the International Olympics Committee is concerned and where Israeli blood was spilled under its auspices. Heaven forbid they should offend certain other competing nations.
At no stage has this tragedy been properly remembered since 1972; never a minute silence at any Games in the 40 years since. The only plaques to the murdered athletes are in Munich and Israel.
Ankie Spitzer, wife of Andre, the murdered fencing coach, asked the IOC for a minute silence during the opening ceremony of the London Olympics to mark the 40th anniversary of the attack but Jacques Rogge said the atmosphere of the opening ceremony made such a silence inappropriate. The IOC will, instead, go to the military airbase where the final botched rescue bid took place. Neatly out of sight and mind of those the IOC don’t wish to offend.
Anticipating this outcome the co-chairs of the Britain and Israel Olympic Plaque Committee Martin Sugarman (Chair Hackney-Haifa Twinning Association) and councillor Linda Kelly (past speaker of Hackney) raised funds for a dignified and moving ceremony yesterday morning at the Arthaus in Hackney.
Linda said she was amazed that with all the hours during the Olympics the IOC could not spare one minute for the memory of the murdered athletes.
The Conservative Party was represented by Mayor of London Boris Johnson, Communities Minister Eric Picles MP, Matthew Offord MP and Councillor Brian Coleman.
Eric Pickles MP, Minister for Communities and Local Government.
Labour was solely represented by Andrew Dismore, GLA member for Barnet and Camden. The Miliband brothers were invited but one was busy and the other didn’t reply. No mainstream Liberal Democrat politicians bothered to come.
Maureen Lipman, who constantly fights Israel’s corner against the many hypocrites in the acting world, came.
Sebastian Coe, London Olympics organiser, was invited. Linda Kelly read out his reply which amounted to nothing more than “Sorry. Mad busy at moment”. Shame he couldn’t have used one of his ubiquitous VIP Olympics lanes to transport him to Hackney for even the 20 minutes or so that Boris Johnson managed to appear.
Meanwhile, the Simon Marks Primary School Choir beautifully sang Jerusalem of Gold, the Hatikvah, God Save The Queen and Oseh Shalom Bimromav, which preceeded Kaddish (Prayer for the deceased) for the athletes.
The superb Simon Marks Jewish Primary School Choir.
War veterans were there to present wreaths in front of the plaque, which was unveiled by Boris Johnson, and to perform the Last Post and Reveille either side of the minute silence for the athletes.
Jewish war veterans present a wreath.
Yosi Romano, named after his uncle who was mercilessly gunned down in Munich, spoke movingly as did Ben Helfgott, a Holocaust survivor and British Olympian, who knew the murdered Israeli athletes so well.
Yosi Romano named after his uncle who was murdered in 1972.
Holocaust survivor and ex British Olympian Ben Helfgott.
Efraim Zinger, the President of the Israeli Olympics Committee, noted that this is the third time London has hosted the Olympics; in 1908 Israel didn’t exist, in 1948 they were fighting for their lives and, so, they didn’t want to miss out on London 2012.
Boris Johnson spoke of the “numb disbelief” in which the world watched events unfold in Munich in 1972. He was eight at the time.
Boris Johnson unveiling the plaque yesterday.
The permanent plaque is available to be visited at the Arthaus in Hackney. Meanwhile, a big thank you to Martin and Linda, an anonymous donor, the Reuben Foundation, the Muriel and Gershon Coren Charitable Foundation and to Hackney and East London Synagogue for their hospitality
Videos:
RichardMillett's Blog 
Don’t tell me I’m first to respond!!?? Wonderful moving occasion. Excellent reporting by Richard – for once not under threat!!!
Those of you who missed this event – and even those of you who were there – are invited to participate in the one minute’s silence in Trafalgar Square on Friday 27th July.
For details,please contact theclivehyman@yahoo.co.uk
Sebastian Coe’s response seemed to be about “me” being busy rather than anything constructive about the ceremony. As for The Miliband’s and Liberal Democrat’s ..what a shower !
But Michael, you mustn’t criticise Lord Coe. After all, according to his spokesman he is going to have his ‘moment of private reflection’ to remember this atrocity and we should all be beholden unto him and eternally grateful for that. What an odious little ……….. (fill in the blank yourself).
Quite
w@nk? Steve Ovett was the better man.
Wasn’t Eric Pickles superb?
Michael
Funnily enough, the word I had in mind rhymed with that!!!
“Sixty thousand Canadians, more than two thousand of the world’s greatest winter sport athletes and the leader of the Olympic movement, Jacques Rogge, all united in their grief, observed beautifully a minute’s silence together in memory of Nodar Kumaritashvili, the young Georgian luger who had died after a terrible training crash at Whistler just a few hours earlier.”
Olympic chief initiates minute’s silence for victims of terror attacks at Munich 1972:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/olympics/article-2177778/London-2012-Olympics-Minute-silence-held-Munich-1972-victims.html#ixzz21T7ged4p
“A minute’s silence was held in London’s Olympic Village on Monday in memory of the 11 Israeli team members killed at the 1972 Games in a ‘spontaneous’ tribute by the IOC.”
Rogge said: ‘I would like to start today’s ceremony by honouring the memory of 11 Israeli Olympians who shared the ideals and have brought us together in this beautiful Olympic Village.
‘The 11 victims of the Munich tragedy believed in that vision. They came to Munich in the spirit of peace and solidarity. We owe it to them to keep that spirit alive and to remember them.
‘As the event of 40 years ago reminds us, sport is not immune from, and cannot cure, all the ills of the world.’
So Coe managed this sponteneous memorial. I guess he is not so time poor after all.
Let’s hope Lococ and the IOC have tasted the need to share this with the world at the opening ceremony. Sport may not be able to cure the ills of the world as Rogge so wisely commented, but an international Olympic event like this can for sure send a clear message to those who threaten to scupper the games if the 11 murdered Olympians are not suitably remembered at the opening ceremony with the dignity and honour demanded. The mere mortals who run this event need to bow in humility at this catastrophic loss, not only to the Olympic family, but to each murdered vicitm’s family and to the future denied them by murderous terrorists who to this day threaten us all if we don’t bend to their will, to the extent that citizens of London have missiles stationed on their roof tops forth education of the London Olympics. Some international spirit of brotherhood that examples!
Speak clearer Mr Rogge and acknowledge this threat so we can deal with it once and for all. This is your moment, don’t botch it up.
Sorry link to 2010 Winter Olympics:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/winter-olympics/7235593/Winter-Olympics-2010-Nodar-Kumaritashvilis-luge-death-due-to-driver-error-says-Clive-Woodward.html
Well done Mr Millett, I hope you had your fill of mini-bagels and chocolate croissants.
I meant to say: “…..but an international Olympic event like this can for sure send a clear message to those who threaten to scupper the games if the 11 murdered Olympians are suitably remembered at the opening ceremony with the dignity and honour demanded
Like many others, I penned a letter to the Daily Telegraph, but,of course, it did not appear. In my view,the present owners are not exactly one of Israel’s friends. However, there is a movement that we all stand for a minute’s silence on Friday, July 27th at 11am. Stop your cars, stand still in the supermarket, in the street, and let the world know, ‘we shall remember them.’
Alternatively you could join us in Trafalgar Square and help swell the numbers. For further info, please email theclivehyman@yahoo.co.uk
Wasn’t Gert there to ask what all the fuss was about?
I am probably missing something but I’m really at a loss about what you all expect from your fellow countrymen.
I’m sure many of them were very busy and others simply didn’t wish to attend.
I could understand if you were upset that only a handful of the 250,000 Jews in Britain chose to attend as it was their brothers that were murdered but I fail to comprehend why non Jews should be obligated to show (or prend to show ) such respect.
As I said I’m probably missing the point.
You’re quite right. You are missing the point, but don’t worry about it. It’s really to do with understanding the responsibilities of office, accepting these, and behaving appropriately; but I really can’t be bothered going into detail.
However I do agree with your criticism of the fact that Jews don’t turn up to these events (although this one was by invitation only and not all 250,000 were invited).
Yes Michael I think maybe you are missing a point ..As well as Jews they were part of the Olympic family that were brutally murdered.I would have thought they could have found 1 minute of silence in the opening ceremony to honor them. Failing that to have at least turned up at this event don’t you agree?
I am a “non Jew” as you would classify me, but I still think that the Olympics could commemorate the victims of the worst attack on Olympic athletes. Not as Jews, but as humans.
Hi Andreas,
That would be hypocrisy. They were not killed for being humans, they were killed because they were Jews.
While the Jews were being held hostage the “humans” were carrying on with their games; running jumping and playing. When they won the “humans” in the audience cheered wildly.
In between events the “humans” sunbathed and played ping pong. Incidentally, the murderers were “humans” too.
Animals would never have behaved in such a way.
and as an assault on the Olympic idea itself (assuming that it is still somewhere in this behemoth of a hyped event)
in school I learned that during the ancient Olympics all hostilities had to stop and that one of Pierre de Coubertin’s aims was to transport that idea into our times.
These days we can’t expect hostilities to stop all over the world (what a shame that we can’t) but shouldn’t we uphold/preach the idea that at least we expect the area where the Olympics are held, should be inviolable?
I know that without heavy security measures that wouldn’t work of course but I wonder why nobody seems to be talking about the idea as such any more? Was that dream killed at Munich together with the Israelis?
Israelis and/or Jews the canary in the coal mine
here’s an example of the kind of admiration for the Olympics I grew up with – not Berlin 1936 – as I remember it that came back into German public discussion only much much later hyped by artists’ admiration for Leni Riefenstahl.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/player/p00n1xw1
Well done Martin and Linda!
Thank you for your excellent report of the` Plaque and the Commemoration ceremony`.I doubt that the main media will report it widely.Alike the Millibands et al far too busy filling in the gaping holes in the Security and networking in the Hilton Hotel while downing G and T`s and stuffing fillet steaks in their gold plated mouths along with the I O C ! and the `hoi polloi `
Sorry I’m not convinced.
I’m not even quite sure what bothers me.
I think it’s something to do with failing to understand why you feel the need for a bunch of celebrities to be part of your grief.
I’m also rather sad to hear that only a very small percentage of Jews were allowed to attend.
If I understand correctly the situation is this.
The important Jews of Britain wanted to grieve the murder of some Israeli sportsmen in the Munich olympics together with some British celebrities but didn’t want most of the British Jews to attend.
They then got quite upset when not all the celebrities wished to attend.
Ok I think I undestand now.
I’m also confused as to why BPC seems to believe he has the right to be cynical about the way Seb Coe wishes to grieve or not grieve.
You are quite right. You don’t understand and you are confused. Regarding the numbers, the organiser would have loved everyone to be there. Unfortunately the venue could cope with only a limited number.
Never mind. You have the opportunity to demonstrate that you care – or don’t care – by joining or not joining the gathering on Friday 27th July at 10.45am in Trafalgar Square. Numbers once again are limited to how many we can cram into the Square, but I’m sure we’ll find room for you.
“although this one was by invitation only” Is that true. If so, I am surprised and disappointed. So how did one qualify as a macher to attend this event, Richard.
I’m not a macher. I was originally asked to help on the door in case any of the disruptive elements that detest Israel found out and tried to disrupt. I qualify as I know most of them by face, sadly.
Richard are there any known instances of a Jewish memorial meeting being disrupted? I seem to remember you getting your collar felt trying to disrupt a memorial meeting but thats about it.
Oh dear, the coward’s back making defamatory allegations under the guise of anonymity. Brave man you are, Rich, brave man.
From what I could see, the vast majority of those who were there on Sunday were ‘activists’ who regularly attend rallies and demos, who write to the media and MPs etc ie people who are involved fighting anti-Israel activity and propaganda. This is not to suggest for one moment that you are not involved, but it would indicate that you are not signed up to any of the local / informal groups of people who are; which means you are not known to them.
I was told that received my invitation because I am on the British Israel Coalition emailing list. So why not sign up with them? Become part of one or more of the many groups who are active. Channel your energies through them. Become part of the strategic planning. Join people who want to do something, who recognise the need for public activism as well as the behind-the-scenes diplomacy etc.
The gathering planned for Trafalgar Square on Friday is a prime example of what can be done by associating yourself to a group. It was the idea of one activist who was dissatisfied with the response of our elected and self-appointed communal leaders and decided that we had to make a positive public statement. I’m told that the initial response to the emailing via BIC and other groups is very heartening and we could have a large number if everyone who’s indicated they would support this turns up. Please come and encourage others to come.
So get actively involved. Who knows, you might land up on the ‘macher’ mailing list in the future.
“….Our hope will not be lost,
The hope of two thousand years,
To be a free nation in our land,
The land of Zion and Jerusalem.”
“…Send her victorious,
happy and glorious,
long to reign over us,
God save the Queen!”
As a child I was also taught to sing these two contradictory anthems; I wanted to be “a free nation in our land (of Zion and Jerusalem)”, but I also wanted the Queen “long to reign over us..”
It seems to me unfair and almost cruel, to bring children up to believe in two incompatible dreams. Either one is assuming that they won’t really take one of them seriously, or planting the seeds of a terrible future identity crises.
If anyone likes candid camera:
http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshh3y9TrxWvgz69w069
Actually I took control of the chocolate croissants Tony .
A really big thanks to Martin Sugarman and Linda Kelly for making this happen . A tremendous feat of organisation which paid off .
Great choice of venue as well . Boris and Eric Pickles both spoke well and Ben Helfgott was especially moving . Simon Marks school choir was a fantastic inclusion as were the AJAX veterans who managed to raise their banners in extremely cramped quarters without spearing anyone .
Well done again to everyone who helped make this a truly fitting and remarkable ceremony .
Richard, I do not doubt your bona fide credentials. But what criteria were used for the other invitees, I am wondering. If it was a question of security , when there was the mass rally for support for Israel in Trafalgar square, everyone was free to come, and rightly so, despite any security issues. I don’t like the idea that only some of us are worthy to commemorate in this particular way.
Amie, like Richard I was also asked to (wo)man the door for the same reason. I don’t know exactly what plan Martin and Linda had in mind, but they certainly did a grand job in achieving their goals. However, there is a sense in which I would have preferred this to be at Trafalgar Square even if only a few people turned up as then every passer by would have been witness to what we are saying. What transpired was a well organised event showing who amongst our elected leaders cared enough to turn up, but it was rather a closed shop which is a pity. Having said that, there will be a rally at Trafalgar Square on Friday morning, so do try and get there.
Amie
We would have liked the Albert Hall or better still Wembley Stadium for all those 250,000 enthusiastic enlightened Jews who appreciate that Israel means more than an alternative to Marbella , the occasional Simcha and perhaps a second home .
However on second thoughts we elected to hold it in the atrium of a building which was kindly donated to us . Pity that no one from our 250,000 community saw fit to fund the event properly . We could have accommodated so many more from our concerned community
My son began writing a novel about the Olympic Games and was deeply troubled by the obliteration of the memory of the murdered at Munich long before Just One minute was thought of. The book, published a few weeks ago, is dedicated to them, and the opening chapter deals with the event.Since this disgraceful suppression of memory has now been remedied by the Just on Minute movement, I will not give details of the book as I feel that would be in bad taste and look like opportunism.
Sorry BPC can’t make Trafalgar Square but please enlighten me as to why you get upset when celebrities have more important things on their agenda than joining you in your grief.
Why do you feel you have the right to decide where they should be or what they should grieve for?
Let me explain.
Grief is a very personal thing and if a group of people decide to grieve together ( with or without chocolate croissants ) that is wonderful, but getting all upset when somebody doesn’t wish to join you in your grief sounds a little pathetic.
Why do you feel the need for celebrities to affirm your grief?
With the self effacing modesty that has made his comments such delight to peruse, Goldman diffidently concedes that he may “be missing something”. Though Bonnie Prince Charlie is quick to agree, I am not. In my opinion Goldman’s line of reasoning reaches the most profound depth of the Diaspora Jewish experience.
Unsurprisingly, like my question regarding children singing contradictory anthems it will go unanswered. It seems we are forever more comfortable to pat ourselves on our backs or gripe about the bad guys than face the bigger questions of life. I once read about a tendency in corporate decision-making to devote more time to deciding smaller matters than bigger. A board may debate which type of paper clips to use for 45 minutes and then in five minutes agree to sign a multi-million Dollar contract. Perhaps, the bigger issues just scare us.
Goldman asks why on the one hand the organizers of the ceremony in Hackney appeared to be begging non-Jewish celebrities to attend, while on the other hand by their “by invitation only” policy, refused members of the Jewish community who wished to attend entrance.
The question is compounded by the realization that were Sebastian Coe, for example, to have been persuaded to be present, it would have been because of pressures of influential Anglo-Jews, and his mourning would probably have been in no way sincere. On the other hand, I believe that there are tens, perhaps even hundreds of Jews, whose tears would have been genuine had they been allowed in.
So, why is it so important for the UK Jew to see non-Jewish (or in the case of the Milibands, assimilated Jewish) celebrities pretending to be upset about something about which they evidently do not give a damn? Is it truly the memory of Israel’s Olympic athletes about which we are concerned? Or could the anger and disappointment be the realization that most politicians and others celebs attach such little weight to the Anglo-Jewish voice?
And in those questions lies the eternal paradox. The Jew works hard to assimilate into UK society and acquire influence, but by doing so he unwittingly emasculates himself. He votes in elections for what he perceives as UK interests (and rightly so) and sings “G-d Save the Queen” whenever there might be any non-Jews in the vicinity, but it is exactly with these actions that he convinces the UK politicians that little harm will befall them if they offend or snub Judaism or Israel. After all, he wants to be an Englishman.
The Islamic community might be far more insular and their leaders might often have beards and funny clothes, but does anyone doubt that if they had a similar function those same celebs would be lining up?
I know that these are what somebody once called; “uncomfortable questions for comfortable Jews” so I assume that instead of them being answered or related to, they’ll be more back patting and griping about the bad guys.
The author of this excellent blog asks why one minute of silence was too much to ask for. I’ll ask that everyone on this blog devotes one minute asking him or herself why it is so important that those who don’t care spend one minute pretending that they do.
Ok, maybe if, G-d forbid, you had lost a partner in the same way as Ankie Spitzer you would feel the same. The call came from her not us. She is still hurting, as, probably, are the rest of the relatives for the lack of care, concern, respect of the IOC. Should we ignore her pain?
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
No, that is why it is wonderful that members of the Jewish community mourned with her. My objection was on the one hand what sounds like a rather humiliating attempt to bring along the “big names” and on the other hand to have an “invitation only” policy.
Last Friday I went to a memorial service on Mount Herzl for a commander of mine, who was also a friend. Danny Haas was born in Cleveland and died in the first Lebanon War while fighting the enemies of the Jewish People.
There were no mini-bagels and chocolate croissants, just a young girl pouring ice cold water from recycled Coke bottles to prevent us from dehydrating in the midday sun. There were no celebrities or politicians, but anybody who wished to come was welcome. We read Psalms and some words of Torah were spoken too. Those who eulogized Danny weren’t wearing fancy suits, but neither did they have to read from printed pages – their words came from their hearts and entered the heart. Danny’s sister asked me if I wanted to speak and for the first time in 50 years I was lost for words.
There was a Daniel and a Danielle too – both named after Danny. They were beautiful children chasing around between the grave stones. How Danny must have delighted in their laughter. Their parents immigrated to Israel after 1982, inspired by Danny’s act. I never knew, but many Jews from Cleveland have done so. One friend told us that Danny had once said, “It will take my being killed to persuade you all to make aliyah.”
I am sorry for Danny and his family and for the loss of your friend but I am at a loss to understand why you are criticising what took place in Hackney. It was a memorial service after all, like the one you attended. I don’t get why all the criticism always. I am sorry Amie wasn’t there. I almost feel guilty I went now, but it was a small place. It would be nice if amie kinked to her son’s book also.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
One again, I am not criticizing what took place in Hackney. I think the initiative was wonderful and worthy of much admiration.
I would like to say that I am at a loss to understand why it was more important for the organizers of the event to have characters like Sebastian Coe in attendance than their fellow Jews.
I agree with Michael that to grieve or mourn is a sensation that one either feels or one doesn’t. What would have been gained by persuading someone, who doesn’t want to be there to pretend to be upset about the death of people that he does not really care about.
I am not criticizing what took place in Hackney. I think the initiative was wonderful and worthy of much admiration.
It doesn’t matter what Coe feels. It is what the IOC shows the world; that they don’t discriminate, that they show respect, that they sympathise with the bereaved, that they show the world what is right, to show future terrorists that their actions will bring sympathy for the victims and not respect for the murderers. As I said ask Ankie Spitzer. We will, please G-d, never know what she, and the rest of the bereaved, feel. We can only follow their lead on this.
because for “us” who “don’t really care” something else that should be very dear to us was killed that day – for me besides the horror following events on TV together with a Jew from Texas and one from Argentina who had dropped by by chance on just that evening it was the start of the Olympics starting to turn into the shambles they are today.
If Boris Johnson found the right words that day then he did so in my name also.
Daniel
because “we” should care – “we” are extremely stupid not to care, to let it slide – as I keep saying, even if I were the worst anti-semite imaginable I still hope I might be smart enough that to not say unequivocally leave Israel alone endangers my comfortable life.
Clans and are said to have taken over part of Berlin-Neukölln. They have successfully established their own jurisdiction outwitting courts by witness intimidation etc.
http://www.dradio.de/dlf/sendungen/tagfuertag/1803013/
and my guess is that every time we blink on Israel they see more wiggle room.
(My preferred dream is of aircraft carriers parading your coast outside your territorial waters of course with a distinct “don’t you dare” message written all over them)
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I’ll ask that everyone on this blog devotes one minute asking him or herself why it is so important that those who don’t care spend one minute pretending that they do.
Denied
Richard,
IN DEFENSE OF PESSIMISM
The truth is that I have lower expectations when it comes to receiving sympathy or support from Non-Jews than you. It may suggest a pessimistic outlook, but it saves me from much disappointment. Every time I meet a decent goy like Silke or Oy Voy Goy I am shocked and surprised and I bless G-d for having created them.
Interestingly there were many suicides among German assimilated Jews with the rise of Hitler, but very few among Polish Religious Jews when he conquered their country. The former had believed in the natural good of mankind and couldn’t believe what was happening. The latter were not in the least disillusioned, they didn’t believe in the good of Western culture to begin with. To them Hitler was just another anti-Semite. Tragically, it was that belief and their feeling that they’d survived other pogroms so they’d survive him too that was their downfall.
No, I don’t believe in the intrinsic good of politicians or sportsmen or sportsmen who have become politicians. They didn’t boycott Berlin on the eve of the Holocaust, they didn’t stop to wait for the hostages to be released in 1972 and they don’t want your mini-bagels, your chocolate croissants or your minute silence today.
It’s no misunderstanding or mistake and I don’t blame the Arabs. These are the countrymen you have chosen for yourselves and these are their leaders. They didn’t do anything about dead Jews- 6,000,000 so what will a dozen more do? Apparently, they aren’t even prepared to play the game and pretend to care anymore. Maybe it’s for the best. At least you know where you stand.
Get used to them my friend, and don’t expect too much.
recently Harald Welzer a sociologist who works on the “3rd Reich” mentioned on radio talking about a conference that took place in Berlin that his kind know of 6000 helped (helped he said, I hope he meant saved). He didn’t specify which area those 6000 documented cases belong to. From the context I hope he meant Germany only which means the 60 million citizens of the time found it in them to save 6000 – even if there should be another undocumented 6000 it is still I mind-blowing figure.
And as to being decent, I prefer to be described as extremely selfish.
“Richard are there any known instances of a Jewish memorial meeting being disrupted? I seem to remember you getting your collar felt trying to disrupt a memorial meeting but thats about it.~
Rich, why do you always try to put yourself down by making inane comments? The reason why Jewish meetings – memorial or otherwise – rarely get disrupted is that precautions are taken to minimise the possibility of this. You’re obviously not aware of the threat to the Jewish community and the reason why we need an organisation like the CST to help protect our schools, synagogues etc. Perhaps you should educate yourself before you make silly comments – unless, of course, you’re only doing it to wind people up.
Public Radio tells me that the Jewish High School in Berlin is patrolled by heavily armoured police – they wouldn’t do that for nothing – the radio also tells me that the Jewish school in Berlin has become very desirable not only for Jewish parents but for German ones also because there is no hard-score school yard harrassment there
Radio also tells me that Jew and Victim have become popular swear word amongst youngsters and yes I think that as remote as the Olympic dream may sound from that it has something to do with our nonchalantly being willing to give up all ideals in favour of whatever the latest fashion tells us to adore.
Even one of the convinced atheists I “know” has said during this year’s BBC Reith Lectures (Niall Ferguson, don’t listen it’s a waste of time) that he is beginning to realise that religion has something beneficial to offer to society (or could it be that he is just sucking up to the US-book-market?)
Well I guess that was a bit of a wind up. My fancy was tickled by the vision of Richard being appointed door duty to stop disrupters. Koff. But let’s not go there.
It is just amazing how Danny’s blatant and shameless racism is quietly accepted and tolerated. Imagine……
” Every time I meet a decent Jew I am shocked and surprised.”
You would all be going nuclear.
I wouldn’t because it is all a question of the record
me thinks rich isn’t aware that there is a long long history of goy-behaviour
If I were a Jew I’d find it exceedingly hard to trust a goy, any goy.
What gets me is all your indignation
Michael Cohen:
“Sebastian Coe’s response seemed to be about “me” being busy rather than anything constructive about the ceremony. As for The Miliband’s and Liberal Democrat’s ..what a shower !”
BPC:
But Michael, you mustn’t criticise Lord Coe. After all, according to his spokesman he is going to have his ‘moment of private reflection’ to remember this atrocity and we should all be beholden unto him and eternally grateful for that. What an odious little ……….. (fill in the blank yourself).
And Sorry Sharon K
Just coz Coe went to one memorial it doesn’t mean he has to go to another.
Look boys and girls it’s like this:
They probably don’t care very much just like most of us don’t give a second thought to the many atrocities that go on around the world.
If you feel the need to invite them that in itself is a little sad but behaving like spurned lovers when they say they can’t make it is completely pathetic.
So what would you say to Ankie Spitzer who started all this off and who yesterday labelled the IOC �chickens and cowards� for not holding a 1 minute silence?
Michael’s got a point, here.
Yes and no
in a perfectly sane world Michael’d have a perfect point but since we and probably all humans at all times live and have lived in a culture that measures the importance of an event by the number of celebrities who were there, he doesn’t have one.
Richard: the first 6 pages may be sampled at amazon.
I just meant to post a discreet link- I didn’t realise amazon embeds an ad, sorry.
Michael how do you feel when you meet a decent goy ?
Which naturally excludes you.
Rich
I meet them all the time.
Today I met three decent Arab accountants one decent passerby who explained how to get to one of the offices and one secretary.
I don’t feel anything.Just part of lifes experience.I meet decent Jews and non Jews all the time.
RichardMillett
I really don’t understand why I should change my opinion if Ankie Spitzer or anybody else asks for it.
I think it is pathetc to feel the need to have British celebrities endorse our pain or suffering.
By the way was it Ankie Spitzer who wanted the celebs to attend?
I guess Daniel must just be unlucky
No but she wants the to hold a 1 minute silence on friday during the opening ceremony. Why do you call them �celebrities� with obvious intent to disparage the memorials? They are the IOC!
Richard you should not feel any guilt about going. You walk the walk more than most anyone.
Yup, I guess I ought to clarify what I meant, in case any goyim were offended.
I did not mean that most goyim are not decent honest people when it comes to dealing with each other or even Jews individually. They may be great sons and daughters, parents, siblings, etc. They might give Goldman fantastic directions or be superb doctors and gardeners.
However, regarding their attitude to Israel and their treatment of THE Jewish People, etc I expect nothing, but am always happy to be pleasantly surprised.
It goes without saying that there are plenty of crappy Jews, “half-Jews” and so on. I have no idea which category the character who posted at 2:40 falls into, but to my mind he and all his idiotic opinions are worth less than what I saw my neighbor’s dog doing on the grass this morning.
At least Vladimir had the good sense to pick it up and put it in a bag.
Wriggle, wriggle. Too late BUSTED
That of course is the saving grace about fascists. No need to argue with them, no need to prove them wrong. Just keep them typing. Never is a man more effectively condemned than by is own words.
That of course is what I mean by being here being a learning experience.
And just to remind people once again, there’s a gathering planned for FRIDAY 27th JULY in TRAFALGAR SQUARE at 10.45am to commemorate the murder of the 11 Israeli athletes in Munich in 1972. I don’t think the purpose is to grieve, but you can if you want. I’ve been led to believe that the prime purpose is to show that we care, that we haven’t forgotten and that unlike the IOC we consider this atrocity deserves to be marked in such an appropriate manner.
Like many, I am appalled by the refusal of the IOC to incorporate some sort of commemorative gesture into the official programme of the 2012 Olympics especially since they had no problem in dedicating the opening ceremony in Vancouver 2010 to the Georgian athlete who died in training.
The Trafalgar Square event is the only opportunity you will have to demonstrate publicly that we will never forget this atrocity although the IOC seem quite happy to kick it into touch.
The extraordinary measures being taken to protect the London Olympics show that the Islamist terrorist threat from 1972 still exists.
Daniel
I am totally with you in this matter.Maybe us ex-pat Brits can now see with an unprejudiced eye what our parents saw when they first came to England – toleration but not much else.
I was unfortunate (fortunate?) not to get into the High School of my choice. I was made to attend an interview on Shabbat – my late father telephoned the school when we got the letter to attend the interview to explain that as Orthodox Jews I could not possibly attend an interview on a Saturday morning. The answer given by the Headmaster through the school secretary was that if I wanted the place I had to attend when they said so. So my father asked a shayla and was told that so long as I did nothing prohibited on Shabbat I could go. So my father and I walked to the School for nearly two hours. When I got there the interviewees were given a written maths test which obviously I could not do – so they asked me to work out the questions in my head – yeah long division and all. There was also an essay to do (forget that) and a comprehension test which I was told I could do orally. Before my personal interview the headmaster came out of his office and had the gall to tell my father that despite what he might have heard they did not operate a quota for Jews – I can still remember what my dear father called him under his breath.
Unlike the 104,000 petitioners I am not sure this one minute’s silence is a good idea – just another “victim-hood” stick to beat us with.
From usual suspects we know what the Arab/Muslim States will demand and we will get the visceral amoral posturing from the chattering classes about legitimate resistance and justification for terror which will make the whole exercise a hollow gesture.
So I think we Jews should just bow our heads and on the eve of the blackest day in our history (9th of Av this year falls on this Shabbat) remember 11 of our dear brothers who were killed simply for the crime of being Jewish and who thereby join the other myriad martyrs of our people who were slaughtered for the same reason. The IOC and the British Olympic Committee can take what I wish them!
I have to go with Norm here.
The minute silence seems a bit pretentious or maybe even a lot.
As BPC said there will probably not be much grieving but I cannot express strongly enough how important it is that Jews have gathering for Jewish reasons.
Anything that keeps Jewish identity alive is a blessing.
RichradMillett:
By celebs I was refering to Seb Coe and Miliband who didn’t attend the ceremony in Hackney.
“So my father and I walked to the School for nearly two hours”
Normie/advsr/jose/mitnachel/anthony/blackie you forgot to mention barefoot in the snow.
and this year it is also another anniversary concerning the Olympics for Israel – very interesting, it is a pity that the link to the British Foreign Office document in the last paragraph doesn’t work for me.
http://israelsdocuments.blogspot.de/2012/07/60-years-since-first-appearance-of.html
60 Years Since Israel’s First Olympic Appearance — and a Government Inquiry into its Performance
I hope one athlete, any athlete has the gumption to do what Tommie Smith, John Carlos and Peter Norman did in ’68. In this case, stand for an extra minute after their particular national anthem has been played, in solidarity with their murdered and fallen brother Olympians.
Problem is Israel has to win a gold for that!
Hope springs eternal!
Doesn’t follow at all, Richard: “any athlete … in solidarity with their murdered and fallen brother Olympians”. Where does it say that Israel has to win a medal for that, let alone gold?
Anyway, I am sorry to see so many posters not getting the point at all, and preening the themselves in a ‘it’s a;ll about me’ mode.
What are you trying to say Leah?
That the “Palestinian” invasion, hijacking and ultimate murder of Olympic athletes, Israeli Olympic athletes, 40 years ago should be forgotten?
I have absolutely no idea how you came to that bizarre conclusion from anything I wrote. I was criticising those who don’t get the point that the IOC as a body and the odious little shits Rogge and Coe personally should be shamed and pilloried loudly and publicly for their hypocrisy, cowardice and mendacity.
Here, here Leah, well said.
Both as a Palestinian and as a woman I support Leah completely here. It is another clear case of Zionist hypocrisy.
Almani is a clear case of someone with a brain bypass.
Almani,
I’m a little confused by this recent conversation. What point exactly are you both trying to make? And what do you mean by, “preening the themselves in a ‘it’s a;ll ..”?
Although you’re right that it is hard to understand her English, Leah said, “that the “Palestinian” invasion, hijacking and ultimate murder of Olympic athletes, Israeli Olympic athletes, 40 years ago should be forgotten..” I could not agree more.
Hard to understand MY English, you ludicrous prat? I never said any such thing.
Almani
do not be fulled by Leahs’ bad English and rudeness. She has been supporting the Palestinian people very strong and would not make pee on a bleeding finger.
Wellcome back Leah!
now Gamil your remark about pee on a bleeding finger is interesting because when I was still very young some people who had worked in a circus told me that artists do that to their hands get sore from too much practice on the trapeze.
Why is it interesting? Because now I wonder is it a worldwide practice and if so has it been invented once or several times and if once where was that genius from?
For this camel molester with his pathetic attempts to write in English to criticise MY English takes some chutzpah, I’ll give him that. Pity he lacks any other positive attributes as a multicellular organism, from intelligence through honesty to morality.
This is getting more and more confusing. I ask again; Almani, Leah, Gamil – what exactly are you guys trying to say?
Read my posts, they are crystal. And ignore the nonsense emanating from those idiots.
I would argue that the Palestinian participation in the Olympic Games has considerably increased in quality: http://andreasmoser.wordpress.com/2012/08/15/palestine-olympics/
Ye, they do clean up nicely, don’t they?
Quality of what?
quality of behaviour when abroad and Israelis (hopefully) too well shielded for them being able to send them some Qassams et al
OTOH who likes colour in peoples’ dresses certainly preferred them in 2012 and maybe that is enough for Happy Hermit Commenter.
Strange to call a blog Happy Hermit when there apparently also is a business that needs running.
Those presumptionists begin to really bore me
Billy Wilder possibly said it in German: Du sollst nicht langweilen! (thou shall not bore)