Full disclosure: I'm no more religious than a cat.
Oh, I've read extensively on the topic. I've read several versions of the Bible, I've read the Quran, I've read Sir James George Frazer's "The Golden Bough," which remains one of the best tomes on comparative religion I've ever found. I have friends and family members who are religious - Christians, Jews, Buddhists, and even Shintos - and their faith brings great comfort and meaning to their lives. I understand and respect that - and am happy for them. My not having any religion of my own in no way minimizes my understanding of the great meaning religion has to so many people.
That's in large part why I found some of the more notorious aspects of the Paris Olympics opening ceremonies to be deliberately hateful, hurtful, and motivated by spite - no one will ever convince me otherwise.
Nicky Doll was among the drag queens to carry the torch of the Olympic flame but also performed during one segment of the ceremony. Doll reposted an image on his Instagram Stories, claiming the image depicted was not of the Last Supper but the feast of Dionysius.
"The opening ceremony did ruffle some feathers… and I LOVE it," Doll wrote on his Instagram Stories on Monday morning. "You know why? Because the Olympics are the biggest stage in the world and us queer people have always been the audience of other people’s life and achievement and it is time that we are welcome in the space."
On Sunday, Doll called it an honor to perform at the opening ceremony.
"It was my absolute honor to perform in front of billions of people around the world, and celebrate our Olympians," Doll’s post continued.
"And remember, to the ones that had their feathers ruffled seeing queerness on their screen: WE AIN’T GOING NOWHERE."
I have some thoughts, aside from "Nicky Doll's" marginally literate misuse of a double negative.
Yes, the opening ceremony did ruffle some feathers. It was meant to. The image was not of the feast of Dionysius - and I've read Greek and Roman mythologies, as well. No, this was clearly intended to resemble da Vinci's famous work.
This resemblance was deliberate; it was done out of spite, it was intended to be hurtful, to provoke anger and disgust, which it did.
That's not only spiteful, it's petty and childish, a petulant cry for attention, and unworthy of the Olympics.
My good friend and colleague Brandon Morse had this to say:
See Related: The Paris Opening Ceremony Was a Perfect Example of How the Left Has Gotten So Boring
If they wanted to strike at the heart of intolerance and bigotry, their "art" would be directed at themselves, as leftists are the most intolerant people on the planet. Don't be fooled by all the "love and acceptance" they say they're pushing, the insult was the point. It's the same point they've been making for years now. Remember "Piss Christ?" It's the same mentality.
Peel back all the public chatter, and you'll see that nothing creative actually happened. It's the same anti-Christian "art" the left's been doing for ages now. They aren't making any new statements. They aren't saying anything that hasn't been said before. They're just holding up a middle finger to Christ and Christians and then patting themselves on the back for being brave.
Brandon is skeptical of the excuses and is right to be so.
Another good friend and colleague, Bob Hoge, also pointed out the weakness of the response and that some European leaders had had enough.
See Related: Paris Olympics Organizers Apologize for Opening Ceremony Fiasco, and It's As Lame As You'd Expect
The show was clearly intended to provoke, and provoke it most certainly did, even in France. Here's Marion Maréchal, a member of the European Parliament:
To all the Christians of the world who are watching the #Paris2024 ceremony and felt insulted by this drag queen parody of the Last Supper, know that it is not France that is speaking but a left-wing minority ready for any provocation. #notinmyname
— Marion Maréchal (@MarionMarechal) July 26, 2024
À tous les chrétiens du monde… pic.twitter.com/GusP2TR63u
Marion Maréchal is correct. This was done by a left-wing minority and intended to be deliberately hurtful. And can you imagine the hue and cry had the opening ceremonies mocked Islam in this manner? The response from artistic director Thomas Jolly, also referenced in Bob's piece, was the weakest of sauces as well; he seems to be trying to soft-pedal his reply to attempt to split that baby, but Christians are ticked off, and they are right to be so.
As stated above, I'm not a believer. But I live in a nation that, while it has a secular government, is based on a Judeo-Christian culture and guarantees freedom of conscience to all, and I'm glad for that, as the Judeo-Christian culture has brought about the most successful and most free (I consider those linked) society in human history. I understand the meaning that religion brings to the faithful, and I respect the beliefs and commitment of the religious, even though I don't share those beliefs. And I abhor spectacles like this part of the Paris Olympics opening ceremonies, which were intended to shock and dismay a large portion of the viewers who have done nothing to deserve it.
This kind of thing is unworthy of the long traditions of the Olympics. It's unworthy of the viewers, it's unworthy of the athletes, it's unworthy of the history of the Games. The Olympics should, in the future, have no further truck with such spiteful people - and if they do, then perhaps the viewers should have no further truck with the Olympics.
