The International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision to NOT offer a tribute to the Israeli victims of the 1972 Olympics massacre in Munich is wrongful, and panders to the worst political elements for all the wrong reasons.
The eleven men murdered by the Black September terrorists were athletes representing their country, not soldiers in any army. They were there for the competition, camaraderie, and Olympic spirit.
Because the nation of Israel has done many terrible things to Palestinian people, and violated international laws at the same time, most of the world's leadership endorses the human and territorial rights of the Palestinian people that Israel has denied. But to use that as warrant and justification for ignoring the very obvious opportunity to make a historical tribute to the greatest tragedy in Olympic history, is grossly misplaced anger and retribution.
The International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision to NOT offer a tribute to the Israeli victims of the 1972 Olympics massacre in Munich is wrongful, and panders to the worst political elements for all the wrong reasons. The eleven men murdered by the Black September terrorists were athletes representing their country, not soldiers in any army. With the Olympics opening in London this week, it would be appropriate to remember what happened in Munich 40 years ago during the opening ceremonies. To ignore this landmark anniversary because of displaced political motivation would be a travesty.
Black September was a reference to the 10,000 Palestinians who died or were expelled from Jordan in September 1970 by King Hussein. Palestinians have been brutally victimized by both Israel and subsequently Jordan. In 1967, 10,000's of Palestinians were expelled from Israel during the Six Day War, with most fleeing to Jordan. The Olympic massacre was a response to both Israel and Jordan; including King Hussein's brutal repression of the Palestinian people.
The motivation for the IOC's decision is founded in wrongly misplaced political correctness, based in a global popular sentiment against Israel. Because the nation of Israel has done many terrible things to Palestinian people, and violated international laws at the same time, most of the world's leadership endorses the human and territorial rights of the Palestinian people that Israel has denied. This is often perceived as an attitude of anti-Semitism rightly or wrongly. But to use that as warrant and justification for ignoring the very obvious opportunity to make a historical tribute to the greatest tragedy in Olympic history, is grossly misplaced anger and retribution. Those men were Olympic athletes, coaches and a wrestling referee with no chances to medal. They were there for the competition, camaraderie, and Olympic spirit.
I was a senior in high school in 1972. Until September 5, the Olympics were an unqualified "great joy," as Herman Hesse said in Narcissus and Goldman. Other than the colossal scheduling error that led to the disqualification of Eddie Hart and Rey Robinson for not making their 100M heat, it was as much fun as any Olympics. I followed both Summer and Winter Olympics closely since 1964 in Tokyo and Innsbruck.
Mark Spitz had established himself as the hero of the American swimming team with 7 gold medals. In the Jewish communities all over America, Spitz was our hero especially at the Jewish Community Center swim programs. At the time, I also happened to be lifeguarding at the Memphis JCC as a part time job. Because there was a gap between coaches, I ended up running many of the workouts for the JCC swim team, and sometimes working out at the same time. Spitz was our hero and we had the same star spangled suit for the team suit.
Olympic euphoria ended for JCC swim teams and the world on the morning of September 5, the Olympic Black September. Jim McKay's brave and insightful broadcast on ABC of that global tragedy was perhaps the greatest journalistic accomplishment of its time, along with Walter Cronkite’s broadcast of the Kennedy assassination news. McKay was the host as we experienced all the drama, adrenaline and emotion LIVE of that awful day into night. When he said, "They're all gone," no one was surprised and everyone was saddened and traumatized to the core. For a brief moment, Israel had the world’s sympathy, as America did after 9-11.
In the age old dispute between Israel and Palestine, people often confuse Judaism the religion with Israel the country, and its broad spectrum of political ideologies. In the Middle East, politics and religion are necessarily intertwined. In that context, blame and anger is often misplaced and displaced - that's why this hasn't resolved itself in nearly 100 years. After the pogroms in Russia of the 19th Century, Jews settled peacefully and organically in Palestine through the break up of the Ottoman Empire and post World War I conferences. When the influx of Jews into Palestine dramatically increased because of anti-Semitic persecution in Europe, the natural organic balance was upset and conflicts resulted.
Logistically and realistically, it’s too late for the IOC to make a production change for the opening ceremonies. It might be even more appropriate to have this tribute in the closing ceremonies, which carries poignancy anyway. The phrase "terrorist" is often overused and misapplied. What occurred in Munich in 1972 defined the word for the American media at the time - innocent athletes murdered because of their religion and the country they represented. Terrorists don’t think about the differences between religion and nationalist ideology. The International Olympic Committee is expected to rise above that. There is still time to get it right for the closing ceremonies.
In 1972, Frank Shorter's surprise victory in the marathon salvaged the feel good Olympic spirit after the great tragedy, and not just for Americans and track and field fans. The IOC should correct this error in judgment and planning, and include a tribute to the victims of the 1972 Olympic tragedy in the closing ceremonies. They don't have to play Hativka, but it wouldn’t hurt