Should someone be condemned for representing their country if their country has done some questionable things? (1 Viewer)

[athenaaa]

Whether it be in something like Eurovision or other show of that type or something like Miss Universe, should the individual be condemned for representing their country if their country’s government has done horrible things, either currently or through the past? Does this bring into question that person’s morals and beliefs?​

 

[Ahsoka]

I think it has more to do with the fact that they have representation. There are probably people who make it personal about the representative, but more often than not it feels to me that people think the country should be punished by eliminating its representatives. And I also feel that sometimes people view such cases as unevenly implemented, for example, pointing to a country that was eliminated from its representation and then pointing to a country that wasn’t but is deemed by the person to be equally egregious from a moral perspective. And in cases where said representative is targeted, I think it’s more about those kinds of feelings of unfairness and the representative is just the easiest target.

 

[catonkatonk]

Consider the 1936 Olympics. It was understood by the Nazi party that it was an opportunity to launder Germany's reputation on the world stage. That's part of the thinking behind these events: It's about mutual recognition and respect, but there are times when countries do not deserve respect, they deserve condemnation.

Which isn't to say that representatives themselves automatically deserve condemnation. Tommie Smith and John Carlos doing a black panther salute during the 1968 Olympics moment was a powerful moment, a signal that they did not intend to go up there and represent the institutional power of a country that had been weaponised against them. They reclaimed their victory not for America but for the civil rights movement.
Of course, the International Olympic Committee condemned their statement and wanted them to be suspended, despite having no issues at all with the Nazi salutes in the 1936 games. Shocked Pikachu.

Which is to say that if you're going up there wearing and glorifying the flag of a nation committing atrocious crimes and not pushing back on it, then, yes, you deserve condemnation. Absolutely. In small part, you are granting legitimacy to illegitimate acts.

 

[Belgizen]

No, BUT
If the person's actions or words support what their country is doing, they should be.
As long as they're neutral, I'm ok with it.
That being said, they will still get hate from many people.

 

[Selfmate]

personally no...

every person has enough problems of their own without being judged by the actions of who they are associated with or their race/country/ethnicity etc etc

we don't punish or reward people for being part of a group - you don't commit a crime just because your fellow countryperson or family did...you don't win the lottery because your aunt did...

Collective punishment - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org