Olympics and the Arab-Israeli conflict

On the Washington Post website, Sally Jenkins wrote:

Sally Jenkins: Hi. I agree with you: this is the most egregious violation of the Olympic ethic that I've ever seen, and it's my fifth Olympics. They should cut down the Iranian flags at every venue and Fed Ex them back to the Iranian governement. And they should revoke Iranian membership. Period. End of debate. There are no ifs ands or buts about this one.
however, the IOC is notoriously shy of controvery. [sic]

And this (from an article on the Post):

During the Opening Ceremonies on Friday, the Israeli team received a tepid reception from the 77,000 spectators. In contrast, the much smaller Palestinian team strolled around the stadium to rousing cheers.

That is just so goddamn sad. Berlin '36, Munich '72. And now this. In the scheme of things, that kind of insult isn't so bad--it just really bothers me that the spectators have no historical perspective at all. That there is even an Israeli team at all is a miracle, since many of them were murdered in cold blood by the countrymen of these "cheered" athletes, and were given a hero's welcome. I don't begrudge the Palestinian team getting cheered--maybe they can find a way to bridge the gap--but I would be kissing the hands of the Israeli athletes. I would be embracing them.

(no subject)

I don't get the Tall Poppy Syndrome. I remember reading about this during the last Summer Games in Sydney--how Australians resented it if they felt you were holding yourself too high. What is too high--and how does that affect anyone else? It just reads as insecurity and envy to me--"you think you're so smart!" I guess I have more in common with Ayn Rand than I thought.

I'm musing on this because I'm thinking about the reaction Michael Phelps got when he announced his ambition to score 8 golds (and now is trying for 8 medals). Ambition is good--right? If we didn't strive to better ourselves, we'd stagnate--right? If Phelps had been arrogant in his pursuit of this goal, if he'd trash-talked or denigrated his opponents, that would be objectionable but he didn't do that--he simply announced this was what he was trying to do, and then set about trying to do it. How can anyone have a problem with this? And why would they try to stand in his way (other than, of course, his opponents in the water who are trying to swim faster)? I just don't get it. If it offends you somehow, then let it challenge you to be a better swimmer. But to try to squash ambition--it's pathetic.