They Might Be Games, but They Won’t Be Fun

Following terrible sacrifice in world war and a heroic commitment to morality and civility at the Geneva Convention, America emerged as the greatest and most loved nation on earth.

Half a century later, Olympic athletes are warned not to wave the U.S. flag at this summer’s Games for fear of provoking crowd hostility. Americans are more vulnerable than ever to retributory acts of terrorism.

America, how did we get here? Where do we go?

Bill Russell

Santa Monica

Let’s hear it for the U.S. Olympic Committee. Athletes train all their lives, and on the threshold of world glory they are cautioned about celebrating victory. Such a policy strikes any proud American as sick.

Who is it we are afraid of offending? Our friends or our enemies? Our friends will lose respect for us if we act ashamed of winning, and our enemies generally don’t go in for Olympic sports anyway. Their idea of a champion is a suicide bomber. Are we trying to be nice guys to impress them?

Barry Cohon

Los Angeles