The Hardest Word
‘IF London does win the Olympic Games in 2012, the demonstration sport should be shooting, specifically shooting ourselves in the foot.
| ”So long as we beat the ruddy Germans, it’s ok, mein fuhrer” |
For all the talk that the IOCs technical committee, currently here to evaluate the capitals bid, will not pay any attention to the spat between Ken Livingstone and an Evening Standard reporter, they would be hard pushed to miss it.
The Times has it across its front page, which suggests that the mayor is under intense pressure to apologise for an allegedly anti-Semitic remark.
Supporters of the Olympic bid, it says, fear that the Mayors refusal to do so is distracting attention from the four-day visit which climaxes with a dinner hosted by the Queen at a draughty Buckingham Palace.
It is hard to feel a lot of sympathy with Livingstone in this whole affair, but the accusation of anti-semitism is as grave as it appears unfounded.
The point he was making to reporter Oliver Finegold was about the unquestioning obeying of orders, not about the Holocaust per se.
However, even he agrees that his remarks comparing Finegold to a concentration camp guard – may have been offensive, which is surely reason enough to swallow his pride and say sorry.
We wont hold our breath…’
Posted: 16th, February 2005 | In: Uncategorized Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
