Henrik vs Henrik: who is the face of gay rights?

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Henrik Lundqvist is a strong advocate of the NHL's You Can Play Project, yet he chose not to comment on Russia's anti-gay laws. Henrik Zetterberg on the other hand went on record to say the laws are awful. While I agree with Zetterberg that the laws are awful, I can't say I blame Lundqvist for saying politics should stay out of the Olympics. The Olympic spirit is really about putting our differences aside for the sake of sportsmanship. Anyways, I disagree with the Russian laws, but it is Russia after all.

 

[forty_three]

Henrik Lundqvist is a strong advocate of the NHL's You Can Play Project, yet he chose not to comment on Russia's anti-gay laws. Henrik Zetterberg on the other hand went on record to say the laws are awful. While I agree with Zetterberg that the laws are awful, I can't say I blame Lundqvist for saying politics should stay out of the Olympics. The Olympic spirit is really about putting our differences aside for the sake of sportsmanship. Anyways, I disagree with the Russian laws, but it is Russia after all.

I was reading this morning that Russia is kind of backpedaling and saying being gay isn't illegal, just the "propaganda" in support of the gay lifestyle is.

Yeah, Russia has a problem with propaganda.

Lundqvist needs to come to the realization that for as long as any of us have been alive the Olympics have been about politics and little else. From Jesse Owens to Munich to the Miracle on Ice. Nothing but politics. And there isn't a much bigger stage to really stand up for something you believe in. However righteous or misguided it may be.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

I was reading this morning that Russia is kind of backpedaling and saying being gay isn't illegal, just the "propaganda" in support of the gay lifestyle is.

Yeah, Russia has a problem with propaganda.

Lundqvist needs to come to the realization that for as long as any of us have been alive the Olympics have been about politics and little else. From Jesse Owens to Munich to the Miracle on Ice. Nothing but politics. And there isn't a much bigger stage to really stand up for something you believe in. However righteous or misguided it may be.

I think politics seep into the Olympics at times, but for the most part the athletes don't speak to the media about a nation's politics. Keep in mind that Jesse Owens didn't make a political statement with his words but with his actions, he won several gold medals undermining the message of Nazi Germany.

As far as Munich was concerned, I don't think the political statement made was at all intended or helpful. It was basically a massacre, undermining the Olympic games if anything. I don't think that is at all a good example to follow.

The Miracle on Ice certainly had political connotations but it was mainly about hockey. I don't recall Herb Brooks criticizing the Soviet Union for anything besides the way they played hockey. Of course the media took it as something symbolic of the Cold War but I don't think the Cold War made a difference to the players involved.

I will say that the black power salute during the 1968 games in Mexico City does somewhat pertain to the gay rights issues in Russia, maybe if a gay athlete won gold or some athletes took the podium showing support for the gay community of Russia, that could be a very powerful moment.

Like I said earlier, I disagree with Russian laws regarding gay propaganda, but I could see why Lundqvist chose not to comment on it for the Olympics.

 

[dash]

I wish the Russians would go back to kissing each other after scoring goals like they did during the '72 Summit series.

 

[forty_three]

I think politics seep into the Olympics at times, but for the most part the athletes don't speak to the media about a nation's politics. Keep in mind that Jesse Owens didn't make a political statement with his words but with his actions, he won several gold medals undermining the message of Nazi Germany.

As far as Munich was concerned, I don't think the political statement made was at all intended or helpful. It was basically a massacre, undermining the Olympic games if anything. I don't think that is at all a good example to follow.

The Miracle on Ice certainly had political connotations but it was mainly about hockey. I don't recall Herb Brooks criticizing the Soviet Union for anything besides the way they played hockey. Of course the media took it as something symbolic of the Cold War but I don't think the Cold War made a difference to the players involved.

I will say that the black power salute during the 1968 games in Mexico City does somewhat pertain to the gay rights issues in Russia, m aybe if a gay athlete won gold or some athletes took the podium showing support for the gay community of Russia, that could be a very powerful moment.

Like I said earlier, I disagree with Russian laws regarding gay propaganda, but I could see why Lundqvist chose not to comment on it for the Olympics.

My point was that no matter whether your ideas are popular or not, if you believe in them and wish to be heard, there isn't a much better stage than the Olympics. That is exactly what Russia is doing, actually. The world is setting up a stage and they are using it to push a ridiculous agenda.

The best countermeasure is rational people speaking to the opposing view. Silence enables. If Lundy feels strongly, shutting up now is the wrong path, IMO.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

My point was that no matter whether your ideas are popular or not, if you believe in them and wish to be heard, there isn't a much better stage than the Olympics. That is exactly what Russia is doing, actually. The world is setting up a stage and they are using it to push a ridiculous agenda.

The best countermeasure is rational people speaking to the opposing view. Silence enables. If Lundy feels strongly, shutting up now is the wrong path, IMO.

I think I understand your perspective. Henrik Lundqvist is quite an advocate of the NHL's You Can Play Project, and if he really believed in what the program was all about, he should've spoken up on the anti-gay laws in Russia. Makes it seem as if Lundqvist just pretends to be about anti-bullying for PR purposes, not because he actually believes in it.

 

[Nasty_Magician]

Female Russian Athletes Kiss After Winning Gold In Possible Protest Of Anti-Gay Law

 

[sabresfaninthesouth]

I think I understand your perspective. Henrik Lundqvist is quite an advocate of the NHL's You Can Play Project, and if he really believed in what the program was all about, he should've spoken up on the anti-gay laws in Russia. Makes it seem as if Lundqvist just pretends to be about anti-bullying for PR purposes, not because he actually believes in it.

That could just be a little bit of Swedishness showing through (I know, the other Henrik is Swedish too).

Swedes are VERY supportive of gay rights (in general) but are also VERY averse to confrontation (also, in general), especially on an international stage, where Swedes are also pretty aware of their place in the world as a small nation that tries to remain neutral in most international affairs.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

That could just be a little bit of Swedishness showing through (I know, the other Henrik is Swedish too).

Swedes are VERY supportive of gay rights (in general) but are also VERY averse to confrontation (also, in general), especially on an international stage, where Swedes are also pretty aware of their place in the world as a small nation that tries to remain neutral in most international affairs.

I think Lundqvist just wants to focus on the game, as a goalie you don't want to be in the middle of a controversy, where Zetterberg can sort of get away with it. I know there's pressure on everyone to win, but no one has more pressure than the goalie. I think that's the main reason Lundqvist wanted to stay out of the controversy while Zetterberg was more willing to express his opinion. I actually don't think either guy is wrong in how they handled it. I'm sure both of them disagree with Russia's anti-gay laws, but it makes more sense for Lundqvist to keep quiet considering the position he plays.

 

[sabresfaninthesouth]

I think Lundqvist just wants to focus on the game, as a goalie you don't want to be in the middle of a controversy, where Zetterberg can sort of get away with it. I know there's pressure on everyone to win, but no one has more pressure than the goalie. I think that's the main reason Lundqvist wanted to stay out of the controversy while Zetterberg was more willing to express his opinion. I actually don't think either guy is wrong in how they handled it. I'm sure both of them disagree with Russia's anti-gay laws, but it makes more sense for Lundqvist to keep quiet considering the position he plays.

Tim Thomas has no idea what you're talking about.

 

[David_son]

I dont see how he would have to comment on Russian laws he isnt Russian. He doesnt live in Russia just because you support a program that is helping with changing locker room culture toward gay athletes doesnt mean he has to comment on all things gay.


Zetteburg on the other hand is Russian and if he supports the acceptance of gay athletes I can see why he would comment on the Russian law.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Tim Thomas has no idea what you're talking about.

LOL touche'

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

I dont see how he would have to comment on Russian laws he isnt Russian. He doesnt live in Russia just because you support a program that is helping with changing locker room culture toward gay athletes doesnt mean he has to comment on all things gay.

I don't think it was a big deal until Henrik Zetterberg commented on it. People were like, "if Zetterberg is willing to talk about it, why wasn't Lundqvist?"

 

[David_son]

I don't think it was a big deal until Henrik Zetterberg commented on it. People were like, "if Zetterberg is willing to talk about it, why wasn't Lundqvist?"

Well I guess I was wrong all this time I thought Zetterberg was Russian.......

 

[forty_three]

I dont see how he would have to comment on Russian laws he isnt Russian. He doesnt live in Russia just because you support a program that is helping with changing locker room culture toward gay athletes doesnt mean he has to comment on all things gay.


Zetteburg on the other hand is Russian and if he supports the acceptance of gay athletes I can see why he would comment on the Russian law.

He's not Russian. He plays for the Red Wings. Easy mistake.

 

[David_son]

He's not Russian. He plays for the Red Wings. Easy mistake.

I just assumed they only drafted Russian players.

 

[forty_three]

I just assumed they only drafted Russian players.

As we all do.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

I just assumed they only drafted Russian players.

That was the 1990s Red Wings, now they're all about the Swedes LOL

 

[David_son]

That was the 1990s Red Wings, now they're all about the Swedes LOL

Datsuyk is Russian I think..... I dont know all those Europeans look a like to me.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Datsuyk is Russian I think..... I dont know all those Europeans look a like to me.

Yeah, I just remember Red Wing fans being big fans of Team Sweden in 2006. I think they had Lidstrom, Zetterbergh, Franzen, & Kronwall on that team.