ChatterBank1 min ago
When Does Non-Political Become Political?
I didn't watch Eurovision but as I understand it, the organisers - the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), together with the Host Broadcaster, in this case presumably the BBC - denied Ukraine's President Zelenskyy the opportunity to speak saying that the event is non-political. The evening ended with voices raised in a rousing rendition of 'You'll Never Walk Alone', accompanied by footage of Ukrainian flags being waved with great enthusiasm. Hmmm … now I've no objection to anyone supporting Ukraine - more power to their elbow I say - and I thought the performance wonderful - a real lump in the throat moment - but it seems to me there was a bit of a contradiction going on there.
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From the BBC website (with italics added by me):
"The commitment to neutrality is so strong that, last year, organisers agonised over what to do about Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.
Although Russia was eventually banned, Eurovision's executive supervisor Martin Osterdahl said it had been a hard decision to make.
"It was, and it still is," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
But, he added: "How Europe feels very much affects the contest. When we say we are not political, what we always should stand up for are the basic and ultimate values of democracy."
Critics of the decision to decline President Zelensky will say the contest has already made a political move by banning Russia. And their argument isn't without merit.
But the EBU would counter that supporting a war-torn country is very different to allowing the leader of that country to make a call to arms."
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That final sentence basically sums up my own opinion too.
"The commitment to neutrality is so strong that, last year, organisers agonised over what to do about Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.
Although Russia was eventually banned, Eurovision's executive supervisor Martin Osterdahl said it had been a hard decision to make.
"It was, and it still is," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
But, he added: "How Europe feels very much affects the contest. When we say we are not political, what we always should stand up for are the basic and ultimate values of democracy."
Critics of the decision to decline President Zelensky will say the contest has already made a political move by banning Russia. And their argument isn't without merit.
But the EBU would counter that supporting a war-torn country is very different to allowing the leader of that country to make a call to arms."
https:/
That final sentence basically sums up my own opinion too.
