Red Arrows at London Olympics - A Petition

[dessiato]

signed the petition,

 

[Dr_Herbz]

Are we going to ban the playing of the national anthems as well, just in case it upsets someone

 

[White Lotus]

Thanks for posting the link. Petition signed.

Does anyone know if there's any truth in this story?

Does anyone actually read these things before signing them?

Firstly, the deadline to sign up was 17 September.

Secondly, the petition creator doesn't cite any name or source for this story. All they say is

The Department of Culture, Media and Sport have deemed the RAF Red Arrows as Unsuitable for the 2012 Olympics because they are too British.

This is a ridiculous decision and should be overturned in the name of common sense.

... which sounds like "a man in the pub told me" to me.

Thirdly, we do have the government response there, saying it's bollocks. Hardly conclusive, I know, but in this case it's more persuasive than the petitioner.

 

[samk]

Sod aerobatics, I want to hear nuclear bombs as percussion in a concert

 

[gnoriac]

signed the petition,

Why?

 

[mauvais]

Given that we have about as much air-to-air combat these days as Biggles gets laid, and all of that is beyond visual range, I can't imagine fancy manoeuvres and formation flying is a great deal of use in service.

 

[Sasaferrato]

I just recieved this email from a co-worker:



Now, the thing that astonishes me is that the majority of people in my office seem to be completely for having the Arrows at the Olympics, stating that it's "political correctness gone mad" that they've been banned.

It would appear that I may be the only person that thinks that having a military display at an international event that encourages such wholesome values as "togetherness" and "setting aside our differences" is blatantly wrong.

In what way is the Red Arrows display a military display?

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

You don't associate The Red Arrows, aka The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, part of the Royal Air Force, with anything overtly militaristic?

No, I see them as something amazing to watch.

 

[Sasaferrato]

No, I see them as something amazing to watch.

Indeed.

 

[chymaera]

It would appear that I may be the only person that thinks that having a military display at an international event that encourages such wholesome values as "togetherness" and "setting aside our differences" is blatantly wrong.

Given the Red Arrows probably will not exist by 2012 due to budget cuts it is not an issue worth anyone getting their knickers in a twist about.
They will go the way of the Royal Tournament and the Field Gun competion.

 

[butterfly child]

Given the Red Arrows probably will not exist by 2012 due to budget cuts it is not an issue worth anyone getting their knickers in a twist about.
They will go the way of the Royal Tournament and the Field Gun competion.

tobyjug fact!!!!!!!

 

[elliot]

erm.. but this is obviously bollocks.

I'm sure urban wasn't like this in the olden days

 

[DotCommunist]

I'm more bothered that we've got the fucking Olympics in the first place. Its wallet lining gone mad I tell you.

Wallet-lining never goes mad. It just proceeds in a calm and calculating fashion, intespersed by frantic periods of activity, when the wallet liners have to wash the blood off the money

 

[chainsaw cat]

I thought the point of the Red Arrows was a display of really cool aeronautics?

I can't say I associate them with anything overtly militaristic

Yeah. they may all be fighter pilots and that, but the Red Arrows are really just super impressive 500mph synchronised swimmers and dead impressive.

 

[beeboo]

That's the purpose of Red Arrows. They nearly crash.

Rather...it did crash, only it missed my primary school, hitting a nearby house. I saw it drop out of the sky.