Russia, Olympics, Gays – What Should We do?

The question is so stupid and the answer is so easy. I don’t even want to give this topic the energy to pontificate a long response. Here’s the solution:



You Go

You Win

You Shove it in their face

History will dictate who was right.



Every time, EVERY TIME, there’s a civil / human rights issue that comes up it’s always best to respectfully and gloriously protest. Whether it’s Germany in 1938 or Mexico City in 1968 the best way to enlighten the world and change minds is for the oppressed to go, participate against the odds and most importantly win. Documentaries are made about the bold; footnotes are for the silent boycotters.

A boycott may work on a local or financial level. The Olympics are not going to loose any money by gay athletes not participating. The only people who would loose out are the athletes who’ve worked their whole lives for this opportunity and the fans who want to see sport played at its pinnacle.

Another saying that I like is ‘history is written by the winners.’ You know why we don’t know much about the Mayan civilization? Because they’re all dead. Do we celebrate “white history month” and have statues erected of great slave owners and wave the flag of the south…ok, I see this isn’t the best example. If the Crusades of the Catholic Church hadn’t been some sort of successes (I hate to muddy civil / human rights with religion) but if the Crusades had been a gigantic failure, everyone had died and the Catholic / Christian word had not spread, I don’t think the Church would have its own country and be an influential part of current society. History books are not written by the losers of the war. Little children in Kansas aren’t using chopsticks to eat their sauerkraut sausages because we lost WWII.

Quickly, name every protestor who used a boycott to win over a global decision… You can’t. Does anyone remember Kareem Abdul-Jabbar boycotting the 1968 Olympics? Or do you remember Tommie Smith and John Carlos? Who made the more historical impact? I’ll let you pick two of the three men. Did you pick the one who is arguably the best basketball player to ever live? Didn’t think so.

In sports the answer is easy. Show up and Win. There might not be a greater platform to have than to be the best athlete in your sport. Obama is only president for eight years. Michael Jordan will be Michael Jordan for the rest of his life. Lebron James and Tiger Woods will be forefront in people’s lives for the next 10 years. Even after Obama and the president after him, it’s likely we’ll still be talking about what James and Woods are doing and report on what they’re saying.

Fighting for equality is not easy. It’s hard and scary. If this was easy, you wouldn’t have to “fight” for your rights. If you’re two choices are to either boycott Russia because of their views on gays and gay rights or to go and participate in the games and win (let’s not forget, sometimes showing up to participate can be a win as well); I’m sorry, get off your gay ass and ride that rainbow to Sochi and do your best to win. You may not even have to say one word. Tommie Smith, John Carlos and Jesse Owens (before them) didn’t have to say a word to make the loudest noise.