Another repost of one of my all time favorite TBB posts. A wonderful story that deserves to be heard again, especially in these tumultuous times with so much divisiveness in the United States and all over the world! I am, you know, traveling these days…
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The article is here: “The White Man in That Photo”
For the youngsters here, a history lesson. Back in the 1968 Olympics this happened:
It was a historic moment in sports and the fight for human rights. The two Americans were immediately suspended from the US Olympic team and expelled from the Olympic village. They received more punishment, even death threats after they returned home. But over time they were proved right and became champions of human rights.
But whatever happened to the white guy among them? Well, this is the story of that white guy and is truly extraordinary (and new to me!). He was Peter Norman and faced even more severe punishment when he returned to Australia! He and his family were treated as outcasts and had trouble finding a job because of what he did. He refused to condemn his co-athletes in exchange for a pardon and a chance for a normal life. He still holds the Australian record in the 200 meters! He died suddenly in 2006 and here he is being carried by his co-athletes in that podium to his final resting place:
Finally, in 2012, the Australian Parliament formally apologized to Peter Norman and rewrote him into history with this statement:
This House “recognises the extraordinary athletic achievements of the late Peter Norman, who won the silver medal in the 200 meters sprint running event at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, in a time of 20.06 seconds, which still stands as the Australian record”.
“Acknowledges the bravery of Peter Norman in donning an Olympic Project for Human Rights badge on the podium, in solidarity with African-American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos, who gave the ‘black power’ salute”.
“Apologises to Peter Norman for the wrong done by Australia in failing to send him to the 1972 Munich Olympics, despite repeatedly qualifying; and belatedly recognises the powerful role that Peter Norman played in furthering racial equality”.
Here is what Peter Norman said himself:
“I couldn’t see why a black man couldn’t drink the same water from a water fountain, take the same bus or go to the same school as a white man.
There was a social injustice that I couldn’t do anything for from where I was, but I certainly hated it.
It has been said that sharing my silver medal with that incident on the victory dais detracted from my performance.
On the contrary.
I have to confess, I was rather proud to be part of it”.
Well, I don’t know about you…but some things in life are much more important than stuff we usually deal with in this blog. Remembering and honoring these men and standing up for what you believe is bigger than us. So, don’t be an asshole, we are all humans!
Enjoy the rest of your day.
No funny pic/gif. Respect!
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Holy shit, First!
This silver won’t be costly.
If Brenton starts reading TPG, I quit!
Why don’t you have a like button the way facebook does?
I don’t know, it wasn’t there 🙂
In Yazd now. Had a camel burger last night, which was interesting. Staying at a hotel and my room has no windows with super sucky wifi.
Have TWO Buzz type posts coming this week. And two old trip reports never posted before. Only one repost. Nothig scheduled for next weekend. Trying to keep this baby going….until I collapse….loke Eminem says.
Missed drinking some wine…along with seeing womens’ hair and legs…Other than that, Iran is great. Super safe.
George,
Are you telling people you’re Greek or American when asked? I’m guessing that could shift the social dynamic considerably depending on your reply.
Mostly Greek…mostly because I was apprehensive as well. Last night in Shiraz at a pastry shop, the owner asked if any of us was American and then…you won’t believe what happened next! 🙂
“Thank you for being here”, “you can come and have anything you want anytime free”, we posed for pictures, etc. I was a bit taken aback by it…so I am saying American from now on because I like freeeeee.
He is younger. Typical conversation with an older man outside a mosque when I told him I am American:
Oh, America people good, America government bad.
George Bush very bad, Obama little bad.
You can sense the huge gap in almost everything between the old guard and the younger generation, which consists something like 60% under the age of 25 ( or maybe 30). When the old mullah/clerics/very religious older generation dies…this will become a normal country. It certainly feels like it in so many ways…u take away the more traditiomal Muslim dress code for women and the Islamic photos/flags/banners…and you could be in almost any other country, especially in the big cities. People are wonderful all around, do not mind you coming in at any mosque and just sit with them, geniuenly like that you are visiting and want to help you get a better experience of them and their country and it’s just been a unique experience all around!
Whenever anyone heard my accent or that I was American, they would come up to greet me, shake my hand, get a picture with me. The regular people were very warm and welcoming. It was the military/police/clerics that were not quite so welcoming to me as an American.
Strange – I kept hearing that George Bush was very good. They loved him for Iraq.
The conv was abt people, good and bad/evil.
No doubt, geopolitically, Bush was a god send for Iran.
Yeah, kids’ reactions when I kearn I am from America is priceless.
Your comments about Iran so far: “lovely”, “interesting” – translation – it sucks.
Thanks for the warning! I would never go there anyway to be honest.
Just had the most amazing egg plant based dish!
Correction: Yazd, not Shiraz above.
I would rather be here than Vendoming in Paris. We are all different.
More pics coming, follow me on Twitter and/or follow #TBBonIran
George,
Thanks for the follow up. Don’t answer the below until you get back to the states:
Do you think the younger generation will indeed take power (and keep it) for a moderate Muslim society? Or do you think the jihadists, fundamentalists, and radicals will keep power through methods they are more than familiar with?