The Mexican Olympics

“It is not enough that some succeed,
              others must fail”    — Gore Vidal ( who passed away yesterday).

When you walk through a storm hold your head up high And don’t be afraid of the dark. At the end of a storm is a golden sky And the sweet silver song of a lark. Walk on through the wind, Walk on through the rain, Tho’ your dreams be tossed and blown. Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart And you’ll never walk alone… — Rodgers and Hammerstein

[Editor’s Note: While the Murdoch Press and the ABC were showing great anguish when Australian swimmer, Emily Seebohm, didn’t get gold in the 100 metres backstroke at the London Olympics, it seems only right that we go back to the day when another Australian stood on the podium alongside two African Americans and showed his solidarity with their struggle in the heart of American empire.]

The Mexican Olympics
by Lachlan Hurse,
5 October 2006.

The announcement yesterday of the death of Australia’s Olympic sprinter Peter Norman, closes another chapter in the history of Hoinanese Chicken.

Norman won a silver medal in the mens 200 metres at the 1968 Mexico Olympics and stood on the podium with Americans Tommie Smith and John Carlos as they delivered their “black power” salute against racial discrimination.

Smith himself has described Norman as a humanitarian and a brother, paying tribute to Norman’s decision to wear a pin supporting their cause.

“It was a very courageous stance which he took… his belief in the principle – not necessarily where it was done or how it was done – but that the principle that it was done.

In an interview with the ABC’s Lindy Kerin, John Carlos also paid tribute to the great athlete.

JOHN CARLOS: His role was to show everyone that it’s not a black thing, it’s a human thing. It’s not about colour, it’s not about, you know, wealth or lack of wealth, it’s about having an understanding and love for humanity. You know, it’s two black guys, but it was three human beings up there, total.

LINDY KERIN: And how do you think he’ll be remembered?

JOHN CARLOS: Well, I think he’ll be remembered as a genuine man, a great athlete, and in my camp, a great friend, a great brother.

LINDY KERIN: The last time the three athletes were together was last year, at a ceremony to unveil a statue to commemorate the sporting moment.

JOHN CARLOS: We didn’t get to see each other as much as we would’ve liked, you know, but last year when he came over to the unveiling thing, we had a great time together. We hit the town, and had a few drinks, and hung out in Chinatown. The funny thing is, it’s a little thing really, but we both really enjoyed this chicken dish, they call it Hoinanese Chicken. And we’d make a joke about it, ’cause the first time we had it was in the Athletes Village in Mexico City, just after the medal ceremony. And ever since, whenever we get together, we head out for a Chinese restaurant.

by Lachlan Hurse
‘ The best of Hoinanese Chicken Stories‘
5 October 2006

Thanx to Lachlan for cooking this great dish to feed tired souls on Sunday night!