Comments on: Hunger-striking Bahraini dissident Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja near death; Formula One president still plans to run races in Bahrain http://boingboing.net/2012/04/12/hunger-striking-bahraini-dissi.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:43:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: teapot http://boingboing.net/2012/04/12/hunger-striking-bahraini-dissi.html#comment-1394278 teapot Fri, 13 Apr 2012 02:55:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=154216#comment-1394278 <a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/motor/story/f1-boss-bernie-ecclestone-will-not-force-teams-to-race-in-bahrain-041012" rel="nofollow">"F1 boss won't force teams to race Bahrain"</a> (Sorry for the link to fox news) “F1 boss won’t force teams to race Bahrain”

(Sorry for the link to fox news)

]]> By: teapot http://boingboing.net/2012/04/12/hunger-striking-bahraini-dissi.html#comment-1394274 teapot Fri, 13 Apr 2012 02:50:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=154216#comment-1394274 Yeah... the guy's proven himself time and again to be a douche of immense proportions. When Jensen Button got held up by guys with machine guns in Brazil in 2009 he quipped: "They look for victims, they look for anyone that looks like a soft touch and not too bright...The people that look a bit soft and simple, they will always have a go at. All the people who have been robbed seem to be people outside the top 10 of the grid." So he thinks robbers pay attention to F1 grid positions as a means of determining who to rob. Then the fucker got mugged himself in London and lost $300,000 worth of jewelry... who's soft and simple now you old fool? Makes me kinda wish the assailants had beaten him to death. http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tomcary/100014008/bernie-ecclestone-mugged-in-london-maybe-it-is-as-dangerous-as-sao-paulo-after-all/ Yeah… the guy’s proven himself time and again to be a douche of immense proportions. When Jensen Button got held up by guys with machine guns in Brazil in 2009 he quipped:

“They look for victims, they look for anyone that looks like a soft touch and not too bright…The people that look a bit soft and simple, they will always have a go at. All the people who have been robbed seem to be people outside the top 10 of the grid.”

So he thinks robbers pay attention to F1 grid positions as a means of determining who to rob. Then the fucker got mugged himself in London and lost $300,000 worth of jewelry… who’s soft and simple now you old fool? Makes me kinda wish the assailants had beaten him to death.

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tomcary/100014008/bernie-ecclestone-mugged-in-london-maybe-it-is-as-dangerous-as-sao-paulo-after-all/

]]> By: teapot http://boingboing.net/2012/04/12/hunger-striking-bahraini-dissi.html#comment-1394272 teapot Fri, 13 Apr 2012 02:46:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=154216#comment-1394272 Nuthin' but tumbleweed so far... surprise surprise. Nuthin’ but tumbleweed so far… surprise surprise.

]]> By: teapot http://boingboing.net/2012/04/12/hunger-striking-bahraini-dissi.html#comment-1394264 teapot Fri, 13 Apr 2012 02:36:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=154216#comment-1394264 They cancelled the race last year and they should be indefinitely removing Bahrain from the schedule until their Government stop being assholes. Diplomatic isolation and sanctions on oil sales are also in order. I suppose you think the world should've just let South Africa join international sporting contests during apartheid? There is precedent for this and your analogy is pretty far off the mark: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sporting_boycott_of_South_Africa_during_the_Apartheid_era#Motor_sport Can't find a contact for the fucktard at the top of F1 (Bernie Ecclestone) but we can always bombard his daughter as a means of  getting through to him: https://twitter.com/#!/TamEcclestone They cancelled the race last year and they should be indefinitely removing Bahrain from the schedule until their Government stop being assholes. Diplomatic isolation and sanctions on oil sales are also in order.

I suppose you think the world should’ve just let South Africa join international sporting contests during apartheid? There is precedent for this and your analogy is pretty far off the mark: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sporting_boycott_of_South_Africa_during_the_Apartheid_era#Motor_sport

Can’t find a contact for the fucktard at the top of F1 (Bernie Ecclestone) but we can always bombard his daughter as a means of  getting through to him:
https://twitter.com/#!/TamEcclestone

]]> By: Matt Van Mantgem http://boingboing.net/2012/04/12/hunger-striking-bahraini-dissi.html#comment-1394160 Matt Van Mantgem Thu, 12 Apr 2012 23:00:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=154216#comment-1394160 Far be it from me to correct anyone's misperception, but, as a former resident of Bahrain, and as someone who actually knows several of the people involved, I don't think things are quite as simple as anyone in the west wishes this situation to be.  A few things to consider- you really think that Bahrain acts independently? You really think that moving the ASU away from Bahrain has never been on the table? That no other States have made attractive offers? You really think that neither Iran nor Saudi Arabia might be involved? If so, I imagine that the situation makes you either very baffled or very bitter...  Far be it from me to correct anyone’s misperception, but, as a former resident of Bahrain, and as someone who actually knows several of the people involved, I don’t think things are quite as simple as anyone in the west wishes this situation to be.  A few things to consider- you really think that Bahrain acts independently? You really think that moving the ASU away from Bahrain has never been on the table? That no other States have made attractive offers? You really think that neither Iran nor Saudi Arabia might be involved? If so, I imagine that the situation makes you either very baffled or very bitter… 

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/04/12/hunger-striking-bahraini-dissi.html#comment-1394056 Antinous / Moderator Thu, 12 Apr 2012 20:29:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=154216#comment-1394056 His daughter spent £12,000,000 on her wedding.  She'd give them a run for their money. His daughter spent £12,000,000 on her wedding.  She’d give them a run for their money.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/04/12/hunger-striking-bahraini-dissi.html#comment-1394030 Antinous / Moderator Thu, 12 Apr 2012 20:07:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=154216#comment-1394030 If Barack Obama personally owned Guantanamo and all the MLB venues and was President for life, that might be a good analogy. If Barack Obama personally owned Guantanamo and all the MLB venues and was President for life, that might be a good analogy.

]]> By: Navin_Johnson http://boingboing.net/2012/04/12/hunger-striking-bahraini-dissi.html#comment-1393917 Navin_Johnson Thu, 12 Apr 2012 17:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=154216#comment-1393917 Actually, I'm going to ask you to defend your comments and explain how Ben Ali, Mubarek, Saleh, "King" Hamad etc. are "Heros Of The Left" [sic] with pesky facts and stuff... You can chime in too "Guido" since you liked his bizarre comment. Actually, I’m going to ask you to defend your comments and explain how Ben Ali, Mubarek, Saleh, “King” Hamad etc. are “Heros Of The Left” [sic] with pesky facts and stuff…

You can chime in too “Guido” since you liked his bizarre comment.

]]> By: Navin_Johnson http://boingboing.net/2012/04/12/hunger-striking-bahraini-dissi.html#comment-1393905 Navin_Johnson Thu, 12 Apr 2012 17:33:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=154216#comment-1393905  <i>Anyone criticising a Muslim dictator was shouted down as a racist and a Zionist dupe.</i> You have a curiously bizarre view on events.  Most of the Arab spring dictators were/are subservient to The West and its military/business interests while brutal to its citizenry.   Anyone criticising a Muslim dictator was shouted down as a racist and a Zionist dupe.

You have a curiously bizarre view on events.  Most of the Arab spring dictators were/are subservient to The West and its military/business interests while brutal to its citizenry. 

]]> By: F1 Fanatic http://boingboing.net/2012/04/12/hunger-striking-bahraini-dissi.html#comment-1393875 F1 Fanatic Thu, 12 Apr 2012 16:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=154216#comment-1393875 Let's not get sidetracked onto the question of whether F1 should expand beyond its traditional heartland; there's clearly a much more important issue at stake here. Let’s not get sidetracked onto the question of whether F1 should expand beyond its traditional heartland; there’s clearly a much more important issue at stake here.

]]> By: philipb http://boingboing.net/2012/04/12/hunger-striking-bahraini-dissi.html#comment-1393863 philipb Thu, 12 Apr 2012 16:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=154216#comment-1393863 Exactly - most F1 fans I talk to are not happy at all about the running of the Bahrain GP (myself included) and I guarantee that no F1 fan has any liking of Bernie Ecclestone.  Hopefully the sponsors will decide that the risk to their image is too great to appear at the race.  Although BE can force the teams to participate it would be an interesting scene with un-adorned cars.   News is that the pit crews have direct tickets from China (the previous GP) to Bahrain & also tickets from China back home. Exactly – most F1 fans I talk to are not happy at all about the running of the Bahrain GP (myself included) and I guarantee that no F1 fan has any liking of Bernie Ecclestone.  Hopefully the sponsors will decide that the risk to their image is too great to appear at the race.  Although BE can force the teams to participate it would be an interesting scene with un-adorned cars.  

News is that the pit crews have direct tickets from China (the previous GP) to Bahrain & also tickets from China back home.

]]> By: VicqRuiz http://boingboing.net/2012/04/12/hunger-striking-bahraini-dissi.html#comment-1393861 VicqRuiz Thu, 12 Apr 2012 16:39:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=154216#comment-1393861  Can I correct your phrasing? Bahrain Grand Prix ..... is all about money It's not like there is a national tradition of F-1 fandom and historic race teams in Bahrain as in Britain, France, Italy, Germany etc......  Can I correct your phrasing?

Bahrain Grand Prix ….. is all about money

It’s not like there is a national tradition of F-1 fandom and historic race teams in Bahrain as in Britain, France, Italy, Germany etc……

]]> By: Dave Lloyd http://boingboing.net/2012/04/12/hunger-striking-bahraini-dissi.html#comment-1393844 Dave Lloyd Thu, 12 Apr 2012 16:28:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=154216#comment-1393844 Do all you right winger believe your self-invented mythology about what left wingers believe? On the other hand I can understand your confusion: on the one hand we have a good totalitarian fascist state that rightly oppresses the lower orders as far as possible, but on the other hand it's done by brown people. You want to approve but cannot! Do all you right winger believe your self-invented mythology about what left wingers believe? On the other hand I can understand your confusion: on the one hand we have a good totalitarian fascist state that rightly oppresses the lower orders as far as possible, but on the other hand it’s done by brown people. You want to approve but cannot!

]]> By: angusm http://boingboing.net/2012/04/12/hunger-striking-bahraini-dissi.html#comment-1393841 angusm Thu, 12 Apr 2012 16:27:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=154216#comment-1393841 <i>"Champagne, crystal bathtubs, trips to Paris for shopping and the like."</i> It sounds as if Ecclestone and his family have a lot in common with the rulers of Bahrain and other Gulf states. No wonder they get on so well. “Champagne, crystal bathtubs, trips to Paris for shopping and the like.”

It sounds as if Ecclestone and his family have a lot in common with the rulers of Bahrain and other Gulf states. No wonder they get on so well.

]]> By: Nadreck http://boingboing.net/2012/04/12/hunger-striking-bahraini-dissi.html#comment-1393829 Nadreck Thu, 12 Apr 2012 16:17:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=154216#comment-1393829 Just as they ignored the conditions leading up to the Arab Spring until it was in full swing.  Genocide, rape camps, police states - all got a free pass and still do in a lot of circles. Anyone criticising a Muslim dictator was shouted down as a racist and a Zionist dupe.  They were all Heros Of The Left with twinkling halos above their heads until they started to burn their own cities to the ground whilst shopping for Louis Vuitton handbags. Just as they ignored the conditions leading up to the Arab Spring until it was in full swing.  Genocide, rape camps, police states – all got a free pass and still do in a lot of circles. Anyone criticising a Muslim dictator was shouted down as a racist and a Zionist dupe.  They were all Heros Of The Left with twinkling halos above their heads until they started to burn their own cities to the ground whilst shopping for Louis Vuitton handbags.

]]> By: Nadreck http://boingboing.net/2012/04/12/hunger-striking-bahraini-dissi.html#comment-1393817 Nadreck Thu, 12 Apr 2012 16:10:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=154216#comment-1393817 Speed Racer needs to take this guy down a notch or two. Speed Racer needs to take this guy down a notch or two.

]]> By: Deb Johnson http://boingboing.net/2012/04/12/hunger-striking-bahraini-dissi.html#comment-1393789 Deb Johnson Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:45:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=154216#comment-1393789 I think Bernie Ecclestone is the epitome of greed, wealth, avarice and uncaring human being.  He has one purpose in mind:  make as much money as absolutely possible with Formula 1.  Holding sway over racetracks to make sure they pay F1 enough money to have the right to hold their races.  His daughter is just as bad, as evidenced by a report in an Australian newspaper about her excess lifestyle.  Champagne, crystal bathtubs, trips to Paris for shopping and the like.  It is so sad to see Bahrain being held hostage by their corrupt leaders that pander to Ecclestone.  Sickening, in fact. I think Bernie Ecclestone is the epitome of greed, wealth, avarice and uncaring human being.  He has one purpose in mind:  make as much money as absolutely possible with Formula 1.  Holding sway over racetracks to make sure they pay F1 enough money to have the right to hold their races.  His daughter is just as bad, as evidenced by a report in an Australian newspaper about her excess lifestyle.  Champagne, crystal bathtubs, trips to Paris for shopping and the like.  It is so sad to see Bahrain being held hostage by their corrupt leaders that pander to Ecclestone.  Sickening, in fact.

]]> By: Navin_Johnson http://boingboing.net/2012/04/12/hunger-striking-bahraini-dissi.html#comment-1393784 Navin_Johnson Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=154216#comment-1393784  Basically, notice how both the media and "liberal" sites have pretty much ignored Bahrain for months and months.  Basically, notice how both the media and “liberal” sites have pretty much ignored Bahrain for months and months.

]]> By: F1 Fanatic http://boingboing.net/2012/04/12/hunger-striking-bahraini-dissi.html#comment-1393775 F1 Fanatic Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:28:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=154216#comment-1393775 Ecclestone may be avarice personified but don't assume that all F1 fans think the same way. I run an F1 blog called <a href="http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">F1 Fanatic</a> and this has been a major talking point since the Arab Spring last year when the previous Bahrain Grand Prix was (eventually) cancelled. Naturally there are strong views on both sides of the debate, especially from Bahraini F1 fans. But I would say most people I've heard from are unhappy with the situation and don't think it reflects well on F1 to be racing there. Here's what I wrote on the subject on Tuesday: <a href="http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2012/04/10/f1-brinkmanship-bahrain-grand-prix-money/" rel="nofollow">F1′s Bahrain Grand Prix brinkmanship is all about money</a> Incidentally, Ecclestone is not the "president of Formula One", he's the commercial rights holder. Jean Todt is president of the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the governing body responsible for motor racing including Formula 1. Note that Sheikh Abdulla Bin Isa Al Khalifa of the Bahrain royal family is a member of the FIA World Motor Sport Council which ratifies the Formula 1 calendar. Ecclestone may be avarice personified but don’t assume that all F1 fans think the same way.

I run an F1 blog called F1 Fanatic and this has been a major talking point since the Arab Spring last year when the previous Bahrain Grand Prix was (eventually) cancelled.

Naturally there are strong views on both sides of the debate, especially from Bahraini F1 fans. But I would say most people I’ve heard from are unhappy with the situation and don’t think it reflects well on F1 to be racing there.

Here’s what I wrote on the subject on Tuesday: F1′s Bahrain Grand Prix brinkmanship is all about money

Incidentally, Ecclestone is not the “president of Formula One”, he’s the commercial rights holder. Jean Todt is president of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the governing body responsible for motor racing including Formula 1. Note that Sheikh Abdulla Bin Isa Al Khalifa of the Bahrain royal family is a member of the FIA World Motor Sport Council which ratifies the Formula 1 calendar.

]]> By: angusm http://boingboing.net/2012/04/12/hunger-striking-bahraini-dissi.html#comment-1393768 angusm Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=154216#comment-1393768 Bernie Ecclestone? The man famous for saying "women should be dressed in white like all the other domestic appliances"? Or for publicly expressing his admiration for the way that a certain German leader "got things done"? I am shocked, just shocked to learn that he could be insensitive to the state of (or rather absence of) human rights in Bahrain. I'm sure he admires the Bahraini government for their efficiency as well. Bernie Ecclestone? The man famous for saying “women should be dressed in white like all the other domestic appliances”? Or for publicly expressing his admiration for the way that a certain German leader “got things done”?

I am shocked, just shocked to learn that he could be insensitive to the state of (or rather absence of) human rights in Bahrain. I’m sure he admires the Bahraini government for their efficiency as well.

]]> By: phisrow http://boingboing.net/2012/04/12/hunger-striking-bahraini-dissi.html#comment-1393759 phisrow Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:11:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=154216#comment-1393759 I suspect that as long as Bahrain is hospitable enough to host the 5th fleet, there will be no 'human rights problems' worthy of drawing 'serious' attention to... The fact that Formula One has a taste for money and considers it to have no scent is just icing on the cake. I suspect that as long as Bahrain is hospitable enough to host the 5th fleet, there will be no ‘human rights problems’ worthy of drawing ‘serious’ attention to…

The fact that Formula One has a taste for money and considers it to have no scent is just icing on the cake.

]]> By: tylerkaraszewski http://boingboing.net/2012/04/12/hunger-striking-bahraini-dissi.html#comment-1393753 tylerkaraszewski Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:05:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=154216#comment-1393753 Turns out they haven't cancelled major league baseball this year here in the US either, despite Guantanamo still being open and the whole Bradley Manning situation. Obviously the person to spotlight here should be an MLB official. Turns out they haven’t cancelled major league baseball this year here in the US either, despite Guantanamo still being open and the whole Bradley Manning situation. Obviously the person to spotlight here should be an MLB official.

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