Is the Olympic torch relay becoming absurd? (It is said it is a unifying symbol, but all it is causing is disunity!)
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singwell-is off researching a lot
ANSWERS: 5
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I think it was absurd to start with. So far as the Olympics have value, it is in the achievements of the athletes themselves. The torch relay always was a bit of absurd publicity which had nothing to do with the athletes themselves. Likewise, I think the opening and closing ceremonies have gone over the top as well, though I can see the point of some form of ceremony. The athletes are getting hidden behind nationalistic posturing.
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I don't think it's the torch itself causing disunity.
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the olympic torch was originally created in nazi germany in the berlin olympics. it was to show how "powerful" the aryan race were. most people think it is an age old tradition but evidently it is not. so to be honest i dont really know why we should have it as it causes all this turmoil.
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The previous points granted, it seems as though the torch is not 'causing disunity' but 'reflecting' disunity. Nobody is suddenly disagreeing with anyone simply because the torch passes nearby - people are using the fact that the torch is nearby to voice their disagreement. Besides, unity has no intrinsic value anyway: it's a useful condition for effective group action, but that's an instrumental consideration at best and as such is clearly trumped by the moral prerogative to protest unjust circumstances.
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it has de-evolved into an advertising campain, nothing more
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