Olympic Protest

I was inspired to re-think the demonstration Frank suggested and use it for a speech recored in my voice over class. The text as I read it follows.

OP-ED COLUMNIST

Striking Olympic Gold

By FRANK BRUNI

August 5, 2013

Adapted/edited/reimagined and read by Richard Buksa

August 7

Imagine this: it’s the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. A huge television event, watched the world over. The American Olympians join the proud march of nations. They’re our emissaries, our exemplars. And as the television cameras zoom in on Team U.S.A., one of its members quietly removes his jacket turns it inside out and puts it back on, displaying a bright, purple lining.

Another American follows suit. Then another, and another. Within minutes their jackets are all inside out; We see six colors. Then they organize themselves into the stripes of a rainbow flag. It’s a show of support and of honor, a gay-rights motif with a message: we’re here in Russia to compete, but we’re not here in Russia to assent. We have gay sisters. Gay brothers. Gay neighbors and friends and fans and probably teammates, and we reject the laws of a land that deems it O.K. to arrest them for speaking their truth or us for speaking up for them.

I am not sure whether the IOC assurance that they will follow rule 50 (no demonstrations or advertisements) is worth testing at this point but then we'll see. I do know that this would likely have a minimal effect on the people with power in Russia, but it would be a powerfully moving demonstration to the people throughout Russia, Africa and the world that might be living in fear because they are Gay.