The World Beyond BetterMost > The Culture Tent
The other man on the podium (1968 Mexico Olympics)
Katie77:
Kelda, I honestly have never heard the story of Peter Norman, and cant even remember it being mentioned back in 1968 (but I was only 16 then and may not have taken any notice).
I just asked my hubby if he knew about him, and he did know a little bit, but not the whole story.
Back then, without satellite TV and live news telecasts from overseas, I think us Aussies were a little bit naieve as to the goings on in the black movements in America. To tell you the truth, my vague thoughts on what happened back then when i heard about or read about those black men raising their arms, I thought they were radicals, bad people, who should not have used the Olympics to protest, whatever they were protesting. I dont ever remember reading that an Australian was there.
At that time the Australian Government was hand in hand with the American government. Our prime minister of the time made the slogan ALL THE WAY WITH LBJ.....we were fighting in the Vietnam War along side Americans.
I am glad that that film documentary has come out, and I hope Australians will now see The whole event in a more positive way and feel proud of that man Peter Norman for standing up for what he believed in.
I have not seen the documentary or even heard of it, it is not likely to be shown at theatres here in the town I live in, but maybe Kerry or Rob have seen it advertised in Sydney. Hopefully it will be shown on TV, and more Aussies will get to know the story.
I have copied the story you have here in your fiirst post, and intend to email it to all my Aussie friends and ask them to forward it on, so hopefully more Aussies will become aware of what did happen back then.
Thank you for tellling me the story of PETER NORMAN.
I look forward to hearing from Kerry and Rob to see what they knew or read about the events.
Kelda:
Thanks for replying Sue!
Its intersting that many fo the reals Auzzies hadn';t hear about poor Peter, he got a really raw deal from the Oz olympic committee
I didn'r know about the Ozzies being with USA with regards to the Vietnam American War. It's sad to say but I know little about it.. its not something we covered at school even though I did history to a high level at school.
Katie77:
--- Quote from: Kelda on October 19, 2008, 05:49:34 pm ---Thanks for replying Sue!
Its intersting that many fo the reals Auzzies hadn';t hear about poor Peter, he got a really raw deal from the Oz olympic committee
I didn'r know about the Ozzies being with USA with regards to the Vietnam American War. It's sad to say but I know little about it.. its not something we covered at school even though I did history to a high level at school.
--- End quote ---
I dont want to lose the topic of this important thread, so I wont elaborate too much......but I am just as amazed that you didn't know that much about the Vietnam War.
It was a huge part of our lives back then, our friends were being drafted or enlisting in the army, and shipped off to war, and even now, those friends are in their early sixties and some still feeling the affects it had on them. To think now, that it may be taught as "history" lessons, when it is still something real to people today, is quite amazing.
Kelda:
--- Quote from: Katie77 on October 19, 2008, 06:26:45 pm ---I dont want to lose the topic of this important thread, so I wont elaborate too much......but I am just as amazed that you didn't know that much about the Vietnam War.
It was a huge part of our lives back then, our friends were being drafted or enlisting in the army, and shipped off to war, and even now, those friends are in their early sixties and some still feeling the affects it had on them. To think now, that it may be taught as "history" lessons, when it is still something real to people today, is quite amazing.
--- End quote ---
heh, I'm just a baba! Obviously I know the very basics, eg have seen this image plenty of times..
but I didn't know (or at least didn't remeber that the Ozzies were allies - I must do more reading about vietnam.
Kerry:
--- Quote from: Kelda on October 19, 2008, 06:33:02 pm ---but I didn't know (or at least didn't remeber that the Ozzies were allies - I must do more reading about vietnam.
--- End quote ---
Many beautiful, young Australian boys lost their lives in the wretched Vietnam War. They had no choice in the matter. They were draftees. The had to go, whether they wanted to or not. It was a despicable time in Australian history. :'(
(I have heard about the documentary, "Salute." Will respond shortly.)
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