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When Tommie Smith & John Carlos did the Black Power thing at the 1968 Olympics, people said they were bringing politics into it. For the first time, I realized that it was already politics, in fact the essence of politics: the State taking something from the individual or group.
By now I’m used to that sort of thing, and this Olympics is showing us more individuals and groups acting admirably:
* The great Simone Biles knowing when to quit
* The women’s teams that don’t want to play in their panties
* Mutaz Essa Barshim and Gianmarco Tamberi sharing a gold medal, and thus giving whatever obscene gestures their nations favor to the idea that There’s Gotta Be One Winner.
By now I’m used to that sort of thing, and this Olympics is showing us more individuals and groups acting admirably:
* The great Simone Biles knowing when to quit
* The women’s teams that don’t want to play in their panties
* Mutaz Essa Barshim and Gianmarco Tamberi sharing a gold medal, and thus giving whatever obscene gestures their nations favor to the idea that There’s Gotta Be One Winner.
