Bahrain GP situation: postponed, reinstated, cancelled

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."

Were that a strict law worldwide and not a verse from the Bible, you'd never have to worry about being hit the head with a rock.

(First time I've ever quoted the Bible. Feels weird.)

Lets not get into a psuedo/religous discussion!
I think its time to wheel out a Mahatma Ghandi quote.....

Honest differences are often a healthy sign of progress.

Lets get back on the topic, Shrieker you cannot force your opinion to johnson and vice versa, you gave information he decided to not take it on board he has that right.

Amen! [-o<

[Shrieker]

Political discussions are banned in this forum and the mods try doing their best to ensure it doesn't happen, yet some posters see no shame in blatantly mudslinging other nations, as if they come from a place only angels live.

Turkey is not the place where angels live.

Yet it hasn't taken part in crimes such as invading other nations without reason, slaying millions of civilians without blinking an eye.

Neither Bahrain.

Nor India.

Nor China.

Nor The UAE.


So when you're discussing the situation regarding the Bahrain GP, your cause for concern should be the safety of the F1 circus as a whole, and not the human right abuses taking place etc. etc. As you can see, it inevitably leads to a political debate. If you really do love and care for humanity, you can take a step by trying to clean your doorstep first.

But how sweet it is getting on your warhorse and swinging your flail towards "lesser nations" as you'd love to label them.

And Hail22 who only a few days ago had accused another nation for commiting genocide against two other nations asumes the mantle of arbitrator.

How touching.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

Shrieker please move on.

You are accusing everyone of everything, seems you have real trouble living up to your own high standards.
You criticize others for political debate then go off on one yourself.....

The mods need to clean this mess.

[Shrieker]

The mods need to clean this mess.

Thanks to your shameless mudslinging attempt.

[Hail22]

And Hail22 who only a few days ago had accused another nation for commiting genocide against two other nations asumes the mantle of arbitrator.

How touching.

Unlike you i learn to move on from my past, maybe you should otherwise prohibit yourself from participating in this section as your making it highly untenable/unfruitful.

If you reply with one more argumentative comment and something not in the spirit of the topic i will raise a complaint.

Move a long and get over "Two days ago".

On Bahrain I heard a rumour the FIA will send a delegation before making a firm decision (similar to how they played it last year).

[Shrieker]

Am I?

You accuse anyone you wish with political intent, yet I'm the one who's making it "untenable" ?

The mods remove posts involving political propaganda; until they arrive I'll be spoiling your party.

If you reply with one more argumentative comment and something not in the spirit of the topic i will raise a complaint.

Go ahead, it'll at least test the impartiality of the admin/mods.

[bhall]

(If anyone should ever wonder why people wage wars, it's right here. The only difference is magnitude.)

[Richard]

Back to topic. As I mentioned before....

Two issues make this relevant to F1:

Firstly, safety of teams and fans. Bahrain is a small place and last time around there were protests and machine gun fire in the city centre. This has continued on and off since then, so could easily re-occur if protests flare up when F1 comes to town.

Secondly, a large number of circuit staff were summarily dismissed from their jobs on account of their ethnicity. A report I heard on the radio (or perhaps TV)interviewed many of them and they have not got their jobs back.

In a nutshell, the unrest in Bahrain has a direct impact on the running of the event.

[Shrieker]

(If anyone should ever wonder why people wage wars, it's right here. The only difference is magnitude.)

If I weren't here they'd be filling unknowing minds with animosity towards my country. Not that my country is better off in the eyes of others with my rambling. But I just can't take it. Every time there's an opportunity they jump in and let loose their venom.

You said it yourself on another topic you found it hard not to post anything if some people posted gibberish about your country, and that you had to learn it with time. Maybe I'll go through the same process and not mind every senseless post I come about.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

(If anyone should ever wonder why people wage wars, it's right here. The only difference is magnitude.)

Well your right of course. It's almost a microcosm of what's happening in Bahrain.

With people being labeled all sorts of insults for expressing their opinions. Quite shameful in both instances.

[Shrieker]

Yeah, like once being labeled as a "caveman" by a certain "evil" person just because where I come from.

Yeah, like once being labeled as a "caveman" by a certain "evil" person just because where I come from.

Really? How long ago was that?

If you really want to dredge up history... Shall we talk about Armenia or something equally distant from the topic at hand?

[jenkF1]

My Dads from Istanbul, Besiktas area, I used to go often and love the city. I grew up in the UK but I have a little bit of understanding of Turkish issues. One major difference I find is if im walking around a non tourist area random turks can just walk up to you and start a conversation. This friendliness is rare in most places in the UK Im immensely proud of my Turkish routes, but im slightly less proud of things like the genocide denial and some Kurdish issues.

True, the West does pick and choose what it wants to hear. Like Kurdish terrorist groups causing havoc, my cousine in Turkey was pretty traumatised from his stint in the army where he was engaged by a group of Kurdish militants. And I understand that Turkey has done things like building Kurdish towns up and giving some support.

But equally, things that went on with the Turkish military in the 70s in Kurdish towns is pretty horrific and hasn't done anything but fuel the problems now. Things have changed signficantly, but laws limiting Kurdish TV viewing and Kurdish language teaching I don't like at all.

Its important on these things to use the perspective your nationality gives you, but not not to let it cloud your judgement and stay balanced. As much as I am aware of Turkish culture, I grew up in the UK so I don't claim to know everything someone growing up in Turkey would, but I try and be logical about things.

[bhall]

It's almost a microcosm of what's happening in Bahrain.

I'd say more than almost.

If I weren't here they'd be filling unknowing minds with animosity towards my country...You said it yourself on another topic you found it hard not to post anything if some people posted gibberish about your country, and that you had to learn it with time. Maybe I'll go through the same process and not mind every senseless post I come about.

I understand the frustration. No nation on the planet inspires as much hatred/reverence as the U.S. (I can't tell you how weird that is.) It does take time to adjust. But, it also points to a universal paradox: love it or hate it, you're correct either way.

Incidentally, that's also why there's no fundamental difference between a terrorist and a freedom fighter.

All you can really do is gently guide elsewhere those who might scorn the place. Fighting philosophical fire with more philosophical fire very rarely does anything but entrench both sides that much deeper.

In other words, "Kumbaya, my Lord..."

(Though I've responded to individual quotes, I'm not pointing a finger toward anyone in particular. This is for all.)

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

All you can really do is gently guide elsewhere those who might scorn the place.

There was no scorn for either Bahrain or Turkey in my posts. My point was that Turkey did not offer the same rights to Kurds as they do to naturalised Turkish people.
This is an inescapable fact.

Its getting better mind, but still not what you'd call fair or right.

I used this comparison to make people getting whipped up over a GP in Bahrain and using politics as a reason not to go there, to think of other places F1 goes to that are hardly shining beacons of righteousness.

You mention China, look at their Human rights record. America? Geneva convention contraventions at Guantanamo bay. Britain? Going to war on hear say costing 1000s of lives? Hell look at Turkey and their treatment of Kurds!

Why take offence at one but none of the others. I wasn't singling out any specific nation, and Hell I could probably add to this list.
I think bunnin some zoot would remedy this here situation, if only as a temporary measure.

[bhall]

I haven't blamed anyone for anything. That's why I said I'm not pointing a finger at anyone. My comments addressed only generalities.

More than anything else, I wanted to convey the idea of gentle guidance. That, in my mind, is paramount.