- Joined
- Nov 19, 2010
Verner puzzled by North Korea controversy
by P J Kwong
by P J Kwong
If a dictator is detested and hated for brutality against his own people, why are his victims vilified as well such that any association and communication with them is deemed wrong and dispicable? Why don't they deserve some joy, comfort, and inspiration?
The villains are the haters who jump at any chance to judge, hate, and condemn. They uglify kindness and sharing.
Bravo, Tomas.
The only opportunity to perform for the N Korean people was by invitation from the regime. Kim is an avid figure skating fan and he's at least promoting the sport and sharing the enjoyment instead of buying private performances like some ultra rich people including unethically wealthy rulers. A few famous entertainers are now revealed to have received $1M each for performing for Kadafi so now they are donating the money. Verner was doing it openly, not just for the ruler, with permissions from relevant authorities and I'm sure his monetary rewards are far from what those singers received in secret.
Vener was not hiding anything because there was nothing to hide or to be ashamed of. He was caught off guard by the hostile reactions because he didn't expect such assignments of motives and intentions.
Bravo, Tomas.
tHe may have been caught off guard, but please remember that the Czech people themselves have direct experience with that type of government (although I suspect live there was a picnic in comparision to what the N. Koreans experience). Its very possible many Czechs might be very sensative in regards to this.
The reason people are offended (not that I agree with them just stating the reason) is that the events Tomas took place in were specifically billed as being in honor of Lil' Kim, so they took it to mean Verner was honoring a horrible dictator.
i agree with skatefiguring. it is too much to expect a skater to have a full PR team to do prior research on every possible engagement he might sign up for. it's possible that the people verner trusted to advise him didn't look at all possible angles, but come on, being a figure skater is a tough enough endeavor, and expensive enough--how many skaters have the resources and mental energy to devote to avoid offending every possible sensibility in the world?
people who oppose kim aren't necessarily in the wrong, but i don't believe the action of those who lambast verner are defensible.
well, I am not here to judge anyone. but it is clear to me he should have been made aware of this potential after the massacre of 1968as anyone who has taken a world history class - especially if you grew up in the Czech Republic.
well, I am not here to judge anyone. but it is clear to me he should have been made aware of this potential after the massacre of 1968as anyone who has taken a world history class - especially if you grew up in the Czech Republic.
1968? Maybe we shouldn't skate in Germany either. Give the kids a break and move on. It's 2011
Who is to say how nations should remember acts of brutality?
Some people and some nations have longer memories than you. To be honest I can't say if that is good or bad.
Watching the recent uprising in Egypt and seeing how the army refused to use tanks on unarmed civilians is a sight I won't soon forget.
That was not the case back in '68 in Prague.
Who is to say how nations should remember acts of brutality?
To take it out of a figure skater who is only 24 is a tad overboard. KJL wasn't even at the rink nor was any of his cronies. Sometimes someone has to take the first step in healing. I'm sure those people who were allowed to watch those skaters for only a few hours had a really good time and I for one wouldn't take that away from them.
It's not about having longer memories it's about learning to move on...43 years later.