Blogger "Cranmer" asks Why does the BBC ignore Usain Bolt's God? It is a good question. Usain Bolt always makes the sign of the cross before each race, offers a prayer and then openly gives thanks to God after he has won. As Cranmer says:
The BBC have known for more than four years what Usain Bolt always does, before and after each race, without fail: how he chooses the moment the camera is on him to make the act of humble worship, as a very public witness that it is the Creator who made him fast. They have been briefed to bits by Bolt's PR team and by members of his family: Usain Bolt is a Bible-believing, God-honouring, Jesus-worshipping Christian. But not a whisper from the BBC; not a word of explanation of the real significance of these 'moments to himself'.Thanks to the censorship of Bolt's Christian identity, many people might simply assume that because his name is a bit like "Hussein", he must be Muslim.
There may well have been some talk on the radio about his faith, but it is excluded from the multi-billion viewer coverage.
8 comments:
It is a legitimate conclusion that the BBC has an anti-Catholic, anti-Christian agenda.
There is only one question: WHY ?
Ronnie Delaney, the Irish runner who won the 1500 metres in Melbourne in 1956 and a devout Catholic, said that before that race 'I resigned myself quietly to the will of God and prayed not so much for victory but the grace to run up to my capabilities'. He knelt down after the race because 'I had to say "thank you" to God for the gift I was given'. [http://www.bangortobobbio.blogspot.com/2012/07/olympic-gold-medallist-i-had-to-say.html]. Katie Taylor, the Irish boxer who won a gold medal the other day, is a Pentecostal Christian whose pastor's name is Sean Mullarkey, suggesting he comes from a Catholic background. On on interview on RTE Katie said that her faith in God and Jesus had helped her win. 'Praise God, thank you, Jesus' she added, according to the Irish Independent.
Well the sign of the Cross before the race might give a clue that he's not Moslem - at least they've shown that - but I did wonder why he didn't appear to give any thanks at the end of the race - glad to hear he does.
In all fairness to the Beeb, I have seen Russians in various sports make their traditional triple sign of the Cross over the course of this Olympic Games.
The first time was Tatyana Chernova in the last event of the Heptathlon, as she was introduced before the race. I did expect the BBC to cut away before she could finish, but they stayed on her for the whole thing.
So who knows what goes on in the BBC's decision-making process for these things? They're at least being inconsistent, and all the unfairer to Usain Bolt for it.
Doesn't he wear a miraculous medal? I couldn't find anything more on t'internet, besides "Protestant". All I COULD tell on my lowly 720p screen, was that he seemed to make the sign + incorrectly! I guess he wanted a public sign, and without being 'Catholic' didn't quite know how to do it. Also; where does the kiss come from in the sign +? I asked a Priest once and he assumes it's lapsed Irish who tend to do it.
I used to wonder about the kiss after the sign of the cross. I was told by someone that the thumb and forefinger form a cross and that is kissed as a sign of reverence.
Dear Fr. I found the question of a kiss, after making the sign of the Cross, most interesting.
I have always assumed that it derived from the practice of kissing the crucifix, whilst holding a rosary, after making the sign of the Cross.
When one doesn't have a rosary in one's hand, then the kiss on the Crucifix (imaginary) is still maintained.
I have seen many footballers, on the television screen, bless themselves when entering the field of play (and when leaving same). Inevitably, they always effect a kiss on an imaginary Crucifix.
Sadly, almost all the footballers are from abroad. It would appear that our British superstars do not have the same devotion.
Needless to say, the BBC never comment on the blessing or the kiss.
In defense of the BBC I think a lot of the Olympic coverage although shown on the BBC was provided by Olympic Broadcasting Services a wholly owned subsiduary of the Olympic Organising Committee.
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