The Cellar - Love those Aussies

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Love those Aussies

Everybody has seen the picture, everybody knows the story.
Tommie Smith and John Carlos gave a gloved Black Power salute on the Olympic podium in October 1968 in Mexico.

http://cellar.org/2012/carlos.jpg

But what about the third guy, the silver medalist? That's Aussie Peter Norman, and he was just there, watching history unfold, right? Nope.

Quote:

The silver medallist was a laid-back Australian, an up-and-coming runner called Peter Norman who, in the words of his coach, "blossomed like a cactus" when he got to Mexico. While observers expected the Americans to make a clean sweep of the 200m medals, Norman kept them interested by breaking the world record in the heats.

An apprentice butcher from Melbourne, he had learned to run in a pair of borrowed spikes. More significantly, he had grown up in a Salvation Army family, with a set of simple but strong values instilled from an early age.

As his nephew Matt Norman, director of the new film, Salute, remembers: "The whole Norman family were brought up in the Salvos, so we knew we had to look after our fellow man, but that was about it."

In Mexico, that was enough for Norman, who felt compelled to join forces with his fellow athletes in their stand against racial inequality. The three were waiting for the victory ceremony when Norman discovered what was about to happen. It was Norman who, when John Carlos found he'd forgotten his black gloves, suggested the two runners shared Smith's pair, wearing one each on the podium.

And when, to the crowd's astonishment, they flung their fists in the air, the Australian joined the protest in his own way, wearing a badge from the Olympic Project for Human Rights that they had given him.

He did what he felt was right, stood up his beliefs... and paid dearly.

read more

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce (Post 813083)

Everybody has seen the picture, everybody knows the story.

actually, not true.

But I've seen it and read it now.

As per Monster, don't forget some of us on this global website are not American :)

I know part of the story, but had never seen the picture.
It's not as I expected, actually.

I knew about the Australian's input because BBC Radio ran a feature length review of the film Salute a few weeks back.
I agree it's a fascinating story.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundae (Post 813112)

As per Monster, don't forget some of us on this global website are not American :)

and weren't born then......

Agree.

I asked the 'rents about Jonestown and I might as well have been asking about what happened during the Seville Mayoral Election in 1978.

I did my research in the County Reference Library long before the internet was a reasonable option..
But you can't research what you have never heard about - especially if it happened in the white-out between being bona fide history and being old enough to have your own perception of world events.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundae (Post 813115)

Agree.

I asked the 'rents about Jonestown and I might as well have been asking about what happened during the Seville Mayoral Election in 1978.

Do you know why there aren't any jokes about Jonestown?

The punchline is too long.

Thanks folks, I'll be here all weekend. Try the jungle juice.

Australia has a history just as shameful as any other conquering nation when it comes to human rights and indigenous populations. Things I've learned over the years that more than likely my ancestors participated in or at least gave tacit agreement to are the reason I believe so strongly in equality and understanding of different cultures, particularly indigenous ones.

We still have massive social issues surrounding our indigenous population and no one seems to have the right answer, but at least people are starting to listen, and more are starting to care. We have a long way to go, and if not for people like Peter Norman, we'd have a lot further still to go.

We salute YOU Peter Norman!

eta: I saw this post yesterday, but I've been thinking about what I wanted to say. It's nice that I've learned not to just blurt out what first comes into my mind sometimes these days isn't it? ;)

Foot, that was terrible.

I've seen the picture but honestly never thought much about the other guy. It is very interesting.

I love Aussie hair care products. ;)

Smells like grapes. :yum:

(Pic needed)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundae (Post 813112)

As per Monster, don't forget some of us on this global website are not American :)

The Olympics is global. Although the TV coverage wasn't as wide spread, that picture made the front page around the world.

Quote:

Originally Posted by monster (Post 813114)

and weren't born then......

'Bout time you whippersnappers got some history learnin'. :p:

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZenGum (Post 813133)

Foot, that was terrible.

I miss you too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by footfootfoot (Post 813119)

Do you know why there aren't any jokes about Jonestown?

The punchline is too long.

Thanks folks, I'll be here all weekend. Try the jungle juice.

Dude, you need to spend more time here.

I found this on the net, with no explanation as to whether it was real, or a joke, on a comment on the economy. Anyway, it made me wonder is the Australian minimum wage really $15.51?

This site is interesting: http://www.minimum-wage.org/minwage/international/

But has the US amount more than doubled :eyebrow: