Offensive as that program was, I don't see how the Olympics should be about policing program content, let alone kicking people out of the games for it. I mean, who gets to decide? If I decided as a Jewish person that nobody should be doing Schindler's List because it offends me to see the Holocaust trivialized, do I get to ban that? If D/W had struck a wrong note with the Bollywood program - and they took a risk there - should that have gotten them in trouble?
The only body that could institute a ban would be the ISU, although an organization or country might request that it do so.
If Jewish people took offense at a program that trivialized the Holocaust, they would certainly be entitled to speak up. The film with Robert Begnini arguably trivialized the Holocaust, and some fuss was made about that.
But in the case of D/S, they were claiming to do an Aboriginal folk dance, but did not consult with any Aboriginal people about that IIRC. Then they went and included some very offensive gestures (i.e. the hair pulling) that painted Aboriginals in a negative light. This happened in a country with a sizable First Nations population that during the colonial era was oppressed and not even allowed to create their own cultural products. And these are
their cultural products. And that population was represented in the Opening Ceremonies - IDK for sure but this was probably the first Canadian Olympics at which First Nations were represented.
So it's not surprising that First Nations took issue with the dance. They are entitled to be sensitive about their own cultural products, and to ask that those who use them at least make an effort to understand them.
It's about intent and that program was not meant to offend. Unless you think they are racist, which I do not believe.
But they did not show respect, which is in itself offensive. And I do think they were racist, though probably out ignorance, not hate.
What does it matter? The Indigenous people of my country were offended and upset, and I was offended and upset with them. I could never be offended on the same level because I am not of their culture, but I was still offended.
The dances that are done of another culture should be carefully researched and consultation made with that culture. That was how Davis and White did it, was it not? And that was certainly, absolutely, how O'Brien and Merriman did it - over a year's worth of careful consultation with Indigenous elders to ensure that their Aboriginal program, that their costumes, were not offensive.
ITA.
The why didn’t domnina and shabalin get banned by Canada from entering due to violations of their hate speech laws? Canada and British Columbia both have laws that could have banned d/s for displaying hateful images!
Because the First Nations people of the province decided to use the situation as an opportunity for dialogue and to share their culture with D/S and therefore with the figure skating world/Olympic TV-watching audience at large.
I think that shows them to be very gracious and forgiving hosts.
And IMO although D/S looked silly bringing the Indigenous blanket that they were given as a gift into the Kiss N Cry with them, it was a gesture of respect and an apology of sorts, so therefore appropriate.
Many people would not have handled the situation so graciously as First Nations, and there's a lesson in that.
That wasn't the reason we attended the show (which we mostly loved). A friend of mine who follows figure skating was watching the show on TV (it aired as it was taking place). Her mom, who generally appreciates the sport, walked into the room, and just couldn't believe her eyes that he went THAT far.
