Doreen Lawrence and the Olympics

[PickandMixisthefuture]

Am I the only one who thinks it was very unreasonable and was rather bemused thought wtf on seeing Doreen Lawrence walking into the Olympic arena helping to carry the Olympic flag?! Has she done something to embody the spirit of the Olympics that I have missed? Did she win first prize at her primary school sports day when competitive sport at that level was allowed? She's not even an elected politician and I didn't see Dave or Boris in the arena. They stayed firmly in their seats where they belong. Also saw that woman from Liberty. Am in about the whole thing. Nice to see them when many of our previous Olympians had the 'starring' role of just standing around. Daley Thompson anyone?

Doreen Lawrence was IMHO the perfect choice for the job.

Sharmishta Chakrabarti on the other hand...

Oh I had my message deleted by Mumsnet! First time ever
I only gave the OP a
So here's another one

She has campaigned tirelessly for justice for her murdered son.

She set up a charity in her murdered sons name (Stephen Lawrence) to help young people achieve what her murdered son never could.

She fought against ingrained institutionalised rasism within the British Police Service and brought about some changes.

She stands for everything the Olympics does and is a lady I have massive respect for.

It was wonderful to see her smiling and waving and looking joyful.

What a very unpleasant thread. :(

Someone from TOWIE/big brother- showing their true worth as a British person

She has campaigned tirelessly for justice for her murdered son.

She set up a charity in her murdered sons name (Stephen Lawrence) to help young people achieve what her murdered son never could.

She fought against ingrained institutionalised rasism within the British Police Service and brought about some changes.

She stands for everything the Olympics does and is a lady I have massive respect for.

It was wonderful to see her smiling and waving and looking joyful.

I was relived to see some real role models and not the cast of TOWIE

Clearly some posters were at the back of the queue when the Olympic ideals were handed out. I just thank god I don't need this stuff explained.

Oops .

Like to make my point.

X posts

Yes elizaregina, that's what I mean.

I don't really have a problem with her being there, I hadn't even thought about it until I read the op. And like i said, she deserves credit for what she has done. But there are a lot of people that do a huge amount of voluntary work and do an equal amount without all the media attention, and without any reason other than the fact that they want to.

Personally, I think those who are most worthy of celebration are those who get the least in return for the voluntary work they do, and who do it because they want to, not because they have had to face tragic circumstances.

I don't know if DL would have done what she has done had she not lost her son. If she would, then great. If not, then that's a shame.

You are completely and utterly wrong and totally unreasonable. You also come across as rather ignorant.

"She fought against ingrained institutionalised rasism within the British Police Service and brought about some changes"

It wasn't just the police, every public sector was changed and new laws were introduced. All departments across the board had to examine the way that they functioned and the thought process behind their fuctioning.

YABBVU OP

She is there because she is an amazing person!

Doreen Lawrence did not choose to be in the media spotlight.

It was thrust upon her and she has chosen to use that to do good.

Shame on those here who slate her for that.

Because she changed policy

No she didn't. She spearheaded a drive and as a result politicians rewrote the law to place an explicit responsibility on public bodies to ensure they adhered to the spirit of the principles of British justice - that every person is equal and should be treated equally.

There was not a pre-existing policy of 'racist practices are ok' - it just was not enshrined in explicit legal language.

Sensual. I agree with you about her.

Let's say the Olympics were being held in Libiya or Zimbabwe. And a tyrant was was given a major role. We'd all be up in arms that the Olympics isn't the right environment to allow them that time in front of an audience.

Don't all yell, Doreen is entitled to an audience. She is perfectly capable of getting her own.
I simply find it strange that her, and others holding that flag were chosen.

I see the op has disappeared.

A fuckwit? Because I see it differently to the majority?

"I don't know if DL would have done what she has done had she not lost her son."

It couldn't have been done without a kick start of a personal experience.

It went beyond volutary work and still does, after the Anthony Walker murder here in Liverpool, she travelled down in a bid to keep the peace, whilst educating youngsters against revenge.

I'm off to watch some sport.

She was chosen because she is someone we should be bloody proud of in this country.

We are hostsing the games ffs - she isn't competing .

There is no way on earth that some obscure volunteer with little or no media coverage and no particular reason to receive public attention could possibly have achieved what Doreen Lawrence has done. She took a personal tragedy and turned it into a universal benefit when no one would have blamed her for staying in bed for twenty years.
Are you really aware what you are saying? Do you mean to sound so thick uninformed?