Hi
I am forwarding this whole message concerning the removal of the Olympic
Rings from the Sydney Harbour bridge, prior to the Paralympics in a few
days.
Please excuse any cross postings.
Patsy Wakefield
University of Otago
Sent: Saturday, October 09, 2094 8:29 PM
Subject: Re: An average state of affairs
>
>
>> > As I was travelling to work on the ferry this morning I noticed that
>> > > > overnight
>> > > > workmen had begun to remove some of the Olympic rings. As you all
>> > > > know, the
>> > > > Paralympics are now only 2 weeks away, yet Mr Knight has decided to
>> > > > slap the
>> > > > athletes of the world in the face by removing this great unifying
>> > > > symbol!
>> > > >
>> > > > I am very angry.
>> > > >
>> > > > The paralympians deserve our respect and our support equally as
much
>> > > > as their
>> > > > able bodied counterparts. Indeed most of them have had to surmount
>far
>> > > > greater
>> > > > obstacles to reach the pinnacle of their sport than most of us will
>> > > > ever face.
>> > > > Just imagine that you had not only spent considerable time
>overcoming
>> > > > a physical
>> > > > or mental disability, but then years training so that you could
>> > > > compete in front
>> > > > of your home crowds. Then imagine you had witnessed the last two
>weeks
>> > > > of the
>> > > > Olympics and felt the
>> > > > huge generosity of spirit that overcame us all - you'd be so
>inspired
>> > > > at the
>> > > > thought of what lay ahead, wouldn't you? Then imagine that with a
>> > > > fortnight to
>> > > > go you saw the symbol that had burned brightly on the bridge torn
>> > > > down, the
>> > > > symbol for which you have been spending our soul in training every
>> > > > day, the
>> > > > symbol that is meant to overcome the barriers of race, religion,
sex
>> > > > and
>> > > > disability. How would you feel?
>> > > >
>> > > > The wet weather that has spread across the city will mean that no
>more
>> > > > can be
>> > > > done until the heavens clear. Accordingly, given that email can
>spread
>> > > > like the
>> > > > wildfire that has surrounded Sydney over the past few days, can you
>> > > > please place
>> > > > your name on the petition below and send it on to those you think
>may
>> > > > do
>> > > > likewise (hell, forward it to those who won't - it will only take
>them
>> > > > 10
>> > > > seconds to press delete and get on with their day).
>> > > >
>> > > > If you are the 20th / 40th / 60th etc person on the petition,
please
>> > > > also
>> > > > forward it back to me ([log in to unmask]). I will be
>> > > > contacting the
>> > > > media through some paralympic
>> > > > sources to see if there is any interest in this issue.
>> > > >
>> > > > Please do this small thing to support those that have overcome so
>much
>> > > > and who
>> > > > stand on the verge of the time of their lives.
>> > > >
>> > > > Please don't let petty political decisions marr the great
generosity
>> > > > of spirit
>> > > > that has blossomed in our most beautiful of cities over the past
>> > > > weeks.
>> > > >
>> > > > Please act.
>> > > >
>> > > > PETITION
>> > > >
>> > > > We the undersigned urge the NSW Government to retain the Olympic
>Rings
>> > > > on the
>> > > > Sydney Harbour Bridge as a symbol of excellence and unity for the
>> > > > Paralympic
>> > > > Games.
>> > > >
>> > > > Matt Keogh - Mosman, NSW
>> > > > Amber Cerny - Paddington, NSW
>> > > > Andrew Perry - Castle Hill, NSW
>> > > > Poppy Drekis - Earlwood, NSW
>> > > > Alison Francis - Narraweena NSW
>> > > > Beba Brooks - Pendle Hill, NSW
>> > > > Antoinette Pholi - Potts Point, NSW
>> > > Venesssa Ahern - Kirrawee, NSW
>> > > Claire Ahern - North Sydney NSW
>> > > Matthew Williamson - North Sydney, NSW
>> > > Sholto Macpherson - Glebe, NSW
>> > Steve Thornton - Camperdown, NSW
>> Alison Parkinson - Stanmore, NSW
>Andy Parkinson, Auckland, NZ
Andy Roche
>>Dot Wilson, Invercargill, NZ
>> >Patsy Wakefield Dunedin NZ
>
>
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