RULES are rules. The reason why they are there is for people to have guiding principles on their conduct and actions including their rights.
Lawyers will probably dispute this but there should be room not for interpretation because that can lead people astray. Instead, there should be room for right. Emphasis on this statement—what is right is right.
A few weeks ago, I lambasted the referees of the English Premier League for not stopping the game between Tottenham and Liverpool in order to correctly award a goal to Liverpool. But because the match had restarted, they didn’t because the laws of the game prohibit it.
It wasn’t like a full 10 minutes had elapsed. Seconds only. The referees should have done the right thing and that is to award the goal. As it is, Liverpool lost and that could be a huge difference in the title race.
Now, here’s this—lacrosse is coming to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. And the people who invented the game—Native Americans cannot compete.
The Native Americans are competing under the name Haudenosaunee (formerly the Iroquois) have won bronze medals in the lacrosse men’s world championships. But they cannot compete because the United States has a team (and they are the reigning champions) and they are 11-time champions.
I have a proposal.
If Russian athletes competed under the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) tag instead of Russia due to the doping sanctions, why can’t the Haudenosaunee compete?
Athletes have been allowed to compete as “Independent Olympians” for the following reasons—political transition, international sanctions, suspensions of national committees, and here—compassion.
So why not the Haudenosaunee?
In the last few years, I have followed Native Americans in music and sports. I saw this documentary Rez Metal about the band I Don’t Konform and the challenges in making music as well as to get away from drugs, alcohol and crime. And there’s the inspiring Netflix series Rez Ball that has got to be one of the best basketball if not sports stories ever.
RULES are rules. The reason why they are there is for people to have guiding principles on their conduct and actions including their rights.
Lawyers will probably dispute this but there should be room not for interpretation because that can lead people astray. Instead, there should be room for right. Emphasis on this statement—what is right is right.
A few weeks ago, I lambasted the referees of the English Premier League for not stopping the game between Tottenham and Liverpool in order to correctly award a goal to Liverpool. But because the match had restarted, they didn’t because the laws of the game prohibit it.
It wasn’t like a full 10 minutes had elapsed. Seconds only. The referees should have done the right thing and that is to award the goal. As it is, Liverpool lost and that could be a huge difference in the title race.
Now, here’s this—lacrosse is coming to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. And the people who invented the game—Native Americans cannot compete.
The Native Americans are competing under the name Haudenosaunee (formerly the Iroquois) have won bronze medals in the lacrosse men’s world championships. But they cannot compete because the United States has a team (and they are the reigning champions) and they are 11-time champions.
I have a proposal.
If Russian athletes competed under the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) tag instead of Russia due to the doping sanctions, why can’t the Haudenosaunee compete?
Athletes have been allowed to compete as “Independent Olympians” for the following reasons—political transition, international sanctions, suspensions of national committees, and here—compassion.
So why not the Haudenosaunee?
In the last few years, I have followed Native Americans in music and sports. I saw this documentary Rez Metal about the band I Don’t Konform and the challenges in making music as well as to get away from drugs, alcohol and crime. And there’s the inspiring Netflix series Rez Ball that has got to be one of the best basketball if not sports stories ever.
Speaking of Netflix, how about that awesome fifth installment of the Predator film franchise, Prey, featuring Native Americans? That was such an awesome film. And it did bring some awareness to the Native Americans.
Having said that…so why not the Haudenosaunee in Olympic sports?
Think about how uplifting and empowering this would be for the Native Americans. And rightfully, if they make it, competing under the flag of the United States of America.
Seriously, this is a no-brainer. If the International Olympic Committee can allow the Summer Games help in countries that have dictators and authoritarian governments, surely, you can allow these people to compete.
It is the right thing to do.
Speaking of Netflix, how about that awesome fifth installment of the Predator film franchise, Prey, featuring Native Americans? That was such an awesome film. And it did bring some awareness to the Native Americans.
Having said that…so why not the Haudenosaunee in Olympic sports?
Think about how uplifting and empowering this would be for the Native Americans. And rightfully, if they make it, competing under the flag of the United States of America.
Seriously, this is a no-brainer. If the International Olympic Committee can allow the Summer Games help in countries that have dictators and authoritarian governments, surely, you can allow these people to compete.
It is the right thing to do.