"Boston Strong" phrase parodied by Maple Leafs fan

[Mr Saturn64 742]

http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/story/maple-leafs-fan-brings-toronto-stronger-sign-to-game-3-against-boston-bruins-050613 So this Bruins-Maple Leafs game had this Toronto guy say "Toronto Stronger" on a sing relating to the "Boston Strong" phrase after the bombings. Peronslaly, I think this is a disgrace. I know Boston and Toronto are rivals in hockey, I mean, I live in one of the more competeive cities myself, but that's just rude, obnoxious, uncalled for, and just plain ignorant.

[lhrob 213]

Pretty disrespectful and tasteless, IMHO.

[Mr Saturn64 742]

Agreed.  There is a differeance between friendly rivalry and disrespect for the dead.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Considering the overblown brouhaha over the Boston bombing with only five fatalities (one of them a perp), compared to the debacle of 9/11, I think all this is just PR nonsense.  As for sports teams, they are generally not known for political sensitivity.

 

Anybody for a visit to Aleppo or Damascus?

[lhrob 213]

Overblown brouhaha??  You're not serious...?  What is it like to live in a country (under America's nuclear/military umbrella, I might add) that doesn't have to worry about fending off terrorist attacks?  And what's this about the 9/11 "debacle"...?   Did you lose anyone close to you on 9/11?  Do you know anyone who was affected by the Boston bombings?

 

Why don't you contact the families of the victims...and not just the ones who were killed, but also the nearly 200 who were injured (ie. lost legs, arms, feet, hands)...and tell them you think the "brouhaha" over the Boston bombings was overblown.

 

And no, I'm not being "moody" when I write this, nor do I need a "thick skin".  I'm actually quite insulted.

[VanGioRobNelli 29]

Though I am not insulted, I do partially agree with Ihrob's statement on "What is it like to live in a country (under America's nuclear/military umbrella, I might add) that doesn't have to worry about fending off terrorist attacks?"

 

The Boston Bombings has only amplified a growing problem.  PR/Media wise and the growing hate/spite sentiment across the World towards the American Gov't and unfortunately... the citizens.  Attacks like Boston could happen ANYWHERE.     

 

Though in short term I am not worried, but I wonder what it will be like for my children and their children.  It is becoming increasingly more dangerous for an American to travel abroad.  Mexico, certain parts of Europe, the Middle East, etc...  All in all, it does not leave me feeling too positive about the future.

[Cockatoo 2,256]

What is it like to live in a country (under America's nuclear/military umbrella, I might add) that doesn't have to worry about fending off terrorist attacks?

 

That was unnecessarily provocative and deviates from the point anything discussed so far.

 

I completely agree that using the catchphrase like that was in bad taste. Even if only a small number of people were killed, if you were one of the people affected by this... well talk about a kick while you're down.

 

But I also agree with the last point in Nonny's post. America isn't the only place in the world facing these sorts of problems. Bombings in the middle east with dozens of fatalities are all too common yet they barely make a blip on the Western media radar.

[Bipin 3,402]

Regardless of how many people died or where it happened, the very principle behind making a parody out of a phrase originally intended as respectful to those who were killed in a completely unwarranted attack against defenseless, noncombatant civilians, is abhorrent. One should not be exempt from sensitivity to these matters merely because they are a member of, or follow, sports teams; all humans should feel sympathy or at least behave accordingly/appropriately in response to such heinous acts.

 

Just because the aforementioned act happened in America, that does not make it any more or certainly and less important than if it happened anywhere else. The bottom line is, lives were lost to a senseless act of jihad which should govern a response impartial to where the act occurred  or to who, or to how many; just that it did and other humans were negatively affected to the greatest extent possible - death. 

[Wiecher 192]

I think bringing the song and anything about the bombing in general into a hockey game was a mistake in the first place. Everywhere they go it's 'oh we got bombed, pity us, but we're still gonna kick your ass in this game'. It's more disrespectful to scream about the bombing in the face of everyone you see, while they can't say anything back because that would be 'politically incorrect'.

What just happened here is the logical result of the hard core of opposite teams saying the usual disrespectful words to each other, and they should have known something like this would happen.
The whole Boston Strong thing is fake anyway, because it implies the people of Boston are one community, and its people are all affected. But in a city like that people barely know each other, it's not even a single city anymore. It takes a bombing to make the city 'one' (but only for the media). After a couple of weeks this will be over. It's just picked up by people who happen to live in the Boston area, but who have never probably even watched the marathon, ever.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Perhaps that was a little strong, but I really think it is too much media attention considering everything else that is going on in the world.  These criminals certainly got what they wanted, terror and publicity.

 

Now, consider the average family living in say, Damascus.  They are caught in a cross fire between factions to which they don't belong, are in serious danger of being shot or blown up, and have nowhere to go.  America is lucky that we don't have these events as daily occurrences.  When does terror become the norm?  Ask the Syrians, for example.

 

In Boston, the authorities have handled the event in exemplary fashion.  What kind of authority exists to protect people on the streets of Damascus?

 

Today's news also reports a war crimes tribunal has convened and convicted someone of mass murder.  Guess where? 

Bangladesh.

  And there was another factory incident there yesterday as well, as the death toll in the building collapse continues to climb.

 

Are Americans too parochial?

[VanGioRobNelli 29]

I wouldn't apply that term to ALL Americans... because a lot of us, especially the younger generations (20's-30's) have quite a different opinion on issues regarding religion and government.  We ACTUALLY believe in  "Separation of Church and State" which is basically non-existent in parts of the US.

 

I think you are talking about the Evangelicals, extreme right wing conservatives.  Yes, they have a giant voice, but they absolutely do not reflect the majority opinion across the country.  They are quite loud though... obnoxiously in my opinion.  It's their way or the "hell" way 

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

There has definitely been a change for the better in America, but you still have that loud shout of "Brother, have you been saved?!".  Eventually it will die down, but expect it not to go away for decades.  And BTW, you can never know if you've been "saved".

[FreewayofFlight 41]

I'm not really shocked and shaken about the 'Toronto Stronger' thing. Sporting events aren't exactly the best spot for sensitivity, and since this was done by only one fan (as far as I can tell), I would just let it go. It's not like the entire city of Toronto were collectively mocking Boston. Sure it was in poor taste, but yet, so are their body paint and wigs.

[Duke87 1,070]

Sports rivalries should not stop just because one subject city suffers a tragic event. All the "Yankees NY logo ribbon Red Sox B logo" paraphernalia made me sick, quite honestly. What happened in Boston was horrible, and emotional support is appropriate, but keep it out of sports. New York can heart Boston, but the Yankees should never be shown hearting the Red Sox.

 

So, you know what? Bravo to the Leafs fan who made that sign. In day to day life we can be human beings and show sympathy for each other when something bad happens. But in the sporting arena we are bitter rivals and there is no mercy.

[Bdub01 201]

Sports rivalries should not stop just because one subject city suffers a tragic event. All the "Yankees NY logo ribbon Red Sox B logo" paraphernalia made me sick, quite honestly. What happened in Boston was horrible, and emotional support is appropriate, but keep it out of sports. New York can heart Boston, but the Yankees should never be shown hearting the Red Sox.

So, you know what? Bravo to the Leafs fan who made that sign. In day to day life we can be human beings and show sympathy for each other when something bad happens. But in the sporting arena we are bitter rivals and there is no mercy.

So true. Read this...

http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/history/2012/03/blue-versus-green-rocking-the-byzantine-empire/