quake @ 177

Anyone wanting all the details can read this long thread on Bridge Base Forum. The short version: The issue is not that they held up an anti-Bush sign, but that they did this at the official awards banquet at the end of the World Championships. Political speech of any sort (pro- or anti-Bush or whatever) is inappropriate at such an event. That said, the US Bridge Federation has certainly made a molehill into a mountain.

And that’s bulldada. There was no policy against any sort of expression of views of any type by the Federation in China, in International play, etc. If you think it’s inappropriate then one uses YOUR speech to tell people that it inappropriate…but one doesn’t threaten expellation, banning from tournament play, compel confessions, and basically act like authoritarian pricks.

Even threatening the members for doing something that they were never told was against policy, and WASN’T against policy, could get these directors ass*s sued. Is bullying “appropriate behavior” for the Directors?

And given that the players were constantly being pummelled about questions from other contestants…where precisely was the US Bridge Federation in all of THAT? Were they saying that harassment of their players was inappropriate? Did the Chinese government take ONE STEP to stop this in this “inappropriate venue”? If the Tournament was actually a “politics-free zone” then there should have been widespread notice given that any such conversations or attacks were inappropriate BY ALL PARTIES.

No such notice by the Chinese was given. Apparently the USBF did little to intercede to the Chinese to protect their own players. The players responded to defend themselves. They players likely thought that by showing the sign, after a week of abuse, that they would gain applause for their play, rather than boos and catcalls for misconstrued ideas of their political allegiences.

Once again the people who create the conditions for such a situation ignore their role and responsibility in what happened and “punish” illegally and inappropriately people who were simply trying to shift the awards ceremony to one of celebration. But the USBF didn’t want to hurt their relationship with the Chinese and other Federations and raise the issue of inappropriate behavior by other teams. International Bridge is stressful and one can likely expect such “trash talk” to throw the players off their game and disturb their concentration. The fact the USBF didn’t stop this is reprehensible, far more so than the sign.

For most of the players on this team, playing bridge is a profession. They get hired by sponsoring players, and also play with clients throughout the year. They are the elite but if they go through with this “sentence” it is the equivalent of taking their living away.
And as far as culpability, look to the ACBL. USBF is a tiny shell, the ACBL is the driver in this, they are political and are the money people.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 36

Puppethead — Good points, all — I tried to find the by-laws and/or rules for the Bridge Federation online, but was only able to do a realy quick search because The Peanut is still home sick. (It has been one of those weeks here…) If anyone finds them and can find the pertinent sections on public expressions, etc., I’d love to know what they say exactly.

We’re working on a nap, here, so I’m in and out a little bit — but I’ll check comments as I can in case anyone finds something relevent. Thanks much…

Anyone wanting all the details can read this long thread on Bridge Base Forum. The short version: The issue is not that they held up an anti-Bush sign, but that they did this at the official awards banquet at the end of the World Championships. Political speech of any sort (pro- or anti-Bush or whatever) is inappropriate at such an event. That said, the US Bridge Federation has certainly made a molehill into a mountain.

And that’s bulldada. There was no policy against any sort of expression of views of any type by the Federation in China, in International play, etc. If you think it’s inappropriate then one uses YOUR speech to tell people that it inappropriate…but one doesn’t threaten expellation, banning from tournament play, compel confessions, and basically act like authoritarian pricks.

Even threatening the members for doing something that they were never told was against policy, and WASN’T against policy, could get these directors ass*s sued. Is bullying “appropriate behavior” for the Directors?

And given that the players were constantly being pummelled about questions from other contestants…where precisely was the US Bridge Federation in all of THAT? Were they saying that harassment of their players was inappropriate? Did the Chinese government take ONE STEP to stop this in this “inappropriate venue”? If the Tournament was actually a “politics-free zone” then there should have been widespread notice given that any such conversations or attacks were inappropriate BY ALL PARTIES.

No such notice by the Chinese was given. Apparently the USBF did little to intercede to the Chinese to protect their own players. The players responded to defend themselves. They players likely thought that by showing the sign, after a week of abuse, that they would gain applause for their play, rather than boos and catcalls for misconstrued ideas of their political allegiences.

Once again the people who create the conditions for such a situation ignore their role and responsibility in what happened and “punish” illegally and inappropriately people who were simply trying to shift the awards ceremony to one of celebration. But the USBF didn’t want to hurt their relationship with the Chinese and other Federations and raise the issue of inappropriate behavior by other teams. International Bridge is stressful and one can likely expect such “trash talk” to throw the players off their game and disturb their concentration. The fact the USBF didn’t stop this is reprehensible, far more so than the sign.

Jeebus, how treasonous can it be to say you didn’t vote for someone?

Sounds like life under Stalin or in N. Korea.

Heckuva job Dubya!

” Your rebuke of the individuals involved in the Shanghai Incident is appalling and unconstitutional violation of the United States of America Bill of Rights. This is especially offensive since it shows that your organization leadership has more in common with Communist Chinese rule than American values and rights. The financial contribution I was going to make to the USBF will not be made as a result of your actions. “

And without the permission of the CORPORATE SPONSORS, clearly unAmerican.

Sometimes the venue is all to appropriate!

PLovering @ 171

Members of the U.S. Bridge Team are as follows:

Jill Levin
Jill Meyers
Debbie Rosenberg
Irina Levitina
Hansa Narasimhan
JoAnna Stansby
Gail Greenberg (Captain)

Thanks plovering. Got a link to that site?

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11…..mp;emc=rss

Puppethead — Good points, all — I tried to find the by-laws and/or rules for the Bridge Federation online, but was only able to do a realy quick search because The Peanut is still home sick. (It has been one of those weeks here…) If anyone finds them and can find the pertinent sections on public expressions, etc., I’d love to know what they say exactly.

We’re working on a nap, here, so I’m in and out a little bit — but I’ll check comments as I can in case anyone finds something relevent. Thanks much…

Anyone wanting all the details can read this long thread on Bridge Base Forum. The short version: The issue is not that they held up an anti-Bush sign, but that they did this at the official awards banquet at the end of the World Championships. Political speech of any sort (pro- or anti-Bush or whatever) is inappropriate at such an event. That said, the US Bridge Federation has certainly made a molehill into a mountain.