Opening Ceremony London 2012: Did director take shot at US on health care?

[onehandle]

Source: Christian Science Monitor



Of all the things to laud in Britain's long history, the director of the opening ceremonies for the London Olympics chose for his second act ... universal health care. Yes, that "NHS" spelled out by hospital beds in Friday's opening ceremonies stands for Britain's National Health Service – the government-run universal health-care system that director Danny Boyle called an "amazing thing to celebrate." Bob Costas, you're not in Kansas anymore.

It is more than a little bit presumptuous to imagine that Mr. Boyle was sending coded political messages to American voters who can't here the words "universal" and "health care" in the same sentence without invoking the Commerce Clause. But that doesn't mean Boyle didn't have a message. He insisted that message was not political, but rather a reflection of the values that British society holds dear and emanates to the world.

"One of the reasons we put the NHS in the show is that everyone is aware of how important the NHS is to everybody in this country," he said at a press conference earlier in the day. "One of the core values of our society is that it doesn't matter who you are, you will get treated the same in terms of health care."

But not everyone agreed that the message had no hint of politics. "NHS beds dominated the infield for so long that it seemed more a political message than a tribute to our hardworking nurses," wrote the Daily Mail, adding that the spectacle "at times bordered on left-wing propaganda."

Read more: http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Olympics/2012/0728/Opening-Ceremony-London-2012-Did-director-take-shot-at-US-on-health-care

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Our idiocy was clearly being schooled.

Heh.

[dipsydoodle]

1. Not wilfully

Its ours and it deserved celebration.

[Firebrand Gary]

2. Well, considering the Tea Parties rhetoric in 2010 about "Obamacare" I am not surprised!

They literally insulted every ally of our who has universal health insurance. Boyle's response is more defensive than offensive.

[supernova]

3. So what if DB was taking a shot as us?

Are our righties not big enough to take it? What better place to celebrate the NHS than in a sports festival that celebrates the health and vibrancy of the human body. And if I'm not mistaken, it'll be that same NHS that will treat athletes when they are injured in the next two weeks.

[bulloney]

5. But, but other countries only use leaches, voodoo and witch doctors in their health care systems.

Amurka has the greatest health care system in the world, doncha know?

USA! USA! USA!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

9. Right Wingers really bought that whole "America is #1" crap.

They sound like the old Soviet jokes of claiming, "We invented it first!".

[MADem]

36. I don't think he was taking a crack at us at all.

I think it was what it was--a celebration of British values and themes and cultural touchstones.

If Mitt RMoney got offended from his perch in the stands, well, good.

The NHS WILL take your insurance though if you are wounded, and they'll expect payment if you aren't on their rolls--they don't treat non-citizens willy-nilly anymore, otherwise everyone and their mother would land on their shores.

[Va Lefty]

4. As difficult as it may be for believers of "American Exceptionalism" to hear...

Not everything is about us (US)!

[sarge43]

21. Thank you.

Probably more a middle finger salute to the Conservatives who want to defund it.

[AmyDeLune]

50. Bingo!

That was my thought as well.

[applegrove]

49. Exactly.

[Ineeda]

6. Cheese and rice - it's not ALWAYS about us.

They're proud of their over-sixty-year-old health care system, as they should be.

[BlueJazz]

7. We deserve all the Shots they've got. The Brits have an un-American way...

...of dealing with the sick and injured. They heal them in such a way that the patients
don't go into bankruptcy.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

8. "at times bordered on left-wing propaganda."

Oh,...you mean like "How cool is this?" as opposed to right-wing propaganda that all government is evil?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

10. It's about time Britain boasted about its NHS

Fabulous health system

[marmar]

11. If so, good for him.

nt

[1monster]

12. Getting a strange feeling of deja vu here...

Don't know why...

[mountain grammy]

13. It's just our Anglo Saxon heritage folks

nothing to be afraid of. In 'Merica we could celebrate medicare.. beds filled with old people who finally can get health care without having to resort to starving to death like the good ole days. Younger 'Mericans can only dream about comprehensive care that doesn't bankrupt the family.. but, what the hell, we're number one! That stands for the one percent who get the best of everything.

[AllyCat]

16. Yes...spot on.

[florida08]

14. it was wonderful

made me feel like I lived in a 3rd world but I shared in the pride of their forward thinking and participation.

[AllyCat]

15. What's not to take a shot at? Our health care system is laughable

in most of the civilized world. ACA is a small step in the right direction, but it still leaves the rest of the world scratching their heads that we insist on this profit model off the illness and misery of others.

[frazzled]

17. More likely a dig at their own government

The NHS has faced heavy cuts since the conservative government of C ameron entered office.

This seemed to be aimed doubly at highlighting another contribution of Britain to the world, and to underscoring the theme of workers.

[flamingdem]

24. This sounds closer to the point, it's about their own situation n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

39. No, no, no, it had to be about US

the world revolves around the US...

DO I really need this?

[flamingdem]

40. ha ha ha

It was probably not on their minds, well maybe a little, but it was great!

Now we just need to figure out how to create the USBrit leftie confederation and get funding for trips to London

[Bluenorthwest]

18. It was about Britain, not about us. Note the comments from the Daily Mail, if anyone was being

'schooled' it was their own right wing. The idea that a global celebration of the UK was just a 'coded message to the US' is a theory founded in hubris.
Personally, I took great joy in the segment, particularly the elements about Great Ormand Street Hospital, a place near and dear to my heart because they took great care of someone I love. So this American was also celebrating the NHS for being the NHS.

[yellerpup]

20. You've got it.

They have a health care system to celebrate. No reason for them to slap at anyone when they are celebrating themselves.

[rocktivity]

19. You can look at it as a "shot"

or as a way of England congratulating the U.S. on taking its first step TOWARDS universal health care!

Must EVERYTHING be a consipriacy?


rocktivity

[ck4829]

22. 'Liberal' Media at it again. It's not a "shot", people there see our system and they are in shock

They think we're masochists that we have this system of putting money before health and we call it the 'greatest healthcare system' in the world.

[Solly Mack]

23. Bother.

[Historic NY]

25. Great Ormond Street Hospital........since 1852

http://www.gosh.nhs.uk/news/press-releases/2012-press-release-archive/first-child-to-receive-stem-cell-trachea-transplant-doing-well-after-two-years/

http://www.gosh.nhs.uk/news/press-releases/2012-press-release-archive/incredible-honour-for-great-ormond-street-hospital-at-london-2012-olympic-opening-ceremony/

http://www.gosh.nhs.uk/

IMHO it was to spotlight the work & contributions.

[Ruby the Liberal]

26. More likely a shot at their own RW who wants to chip away at it.

But if the RW here takes exception to it, thats the cherry on top.

Good on Boyle for his tribute to that institution. Besides, the kids were obviously having a BLAST dancing on the beds during the show.

[Gormy Cuss]

30. Wha??? Isn't everything about US?

I thought it was clever, bold, and totally in character for Danny Boyle.

[CanSocDem]

31. Yes indeed.

"Besides, the kids were obviously having a BLAST dancing on the beds during the show."

I noticed that.

.

[LeftishBrit]

57. Yep!

[Thinkingabout]

27. It is probably a dig at Rmoney who tripped and fell on his face talking about their preparation.

I can see how Rmoney will be a as a leader of our nation, everyone needs to take heed, he will fall on his face on every facet. Even if I had ever had any hope of Rmoney being a decent representative he has blown the opportunity. Talking about needing a teleprompter, he needs a voice maker who does the talking for him. They perhaps was telling our "leaders" how stupid they really are and how behind we are in health care.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

43. No, it had nothing to do with Romney--You can't prepare a number like that in a couple of days

It was a jab at their own Conservative government, which wants to "reform" the NHS with the participation of U.S. insurance companies.

[Betty Jo]

53. HERCULES II LLC

Google "Hercules II LLC " .See that shows Bain owns a third of HCA.HCA means "Hospital Corporation of America ".HCA owns hospitals in England.Read the downloadable tax return of Romney.See "Hercules II LLC".That means that Romney makes money off of HCA hospitals.Some of these private HCA hospitals are in a relationship to Englands NHS.In summary,Romney is making millions of dollars off of HCA hospitals in England,which are in a relationship to the National Healthcare System of England.I hope Americas media starts reporting these facts.

[malthaussen]

28. I'll tell you how it went down...

At some time during the marathon preparations, rehersals, and chaos leading up to the ceremony, some director's assistant said to Mr Boyle, "Oh, I say DB old chap -- the Yanks may get offended by our NHS spot, as they have no health care of their own."
And DB replied: "Oh, really? Well, if they do it's their problem."

Sometimes I think the US is just a self-conscious teenager. I could only wish we were more self-aware.

-- Mal

[arely staircase]

29. yes everything is about us

Nobody anywhere in the world does anything without taking us into account.

[We are Devo]

32. Michael Moore

is saying it was a protest of sorts, as the conservative govt. wants to do away with the NHS and adopt a more American style system. Lord help them.

[MADem]

38. That's an accurate comment on the part of Moore--the conservatives HAVE been yammering about

changing the system.

[dballance]

33. NO, We're just so self-centered and arrogant we think everthing is about us

We're the self-centered, self-absorbed kid we hated in school who thought everything he/she didn't like was an intentional affront to them. We'll never learn to mind our own business and stop being paranoid that everyone is out to get us.

Of course if we did less to provoke other countries to hate us we might not have to be so paranoid.

[gopiscrap]

34. God I hope it was a political statement and I would bet the US press

either rips on it or ignores it!

[valerief]

35. Thank you, Danny Boyle and UK, for highlighting your wonderful healthcare system! nt

[myrna minx]

37. How dare they celebrate their own compassionate health care system, celebrate dedicated nurses

and celebrate their working class! Don't they realize they require approval from America's radical right wing Republicans for such matters?!11! Harrumph!

It's a huge thumb in the eye of the Tories who desire to privatize the NHS.

[Mz Pip]

41. Not everything is about us.

GB is proud of their health care system so I see it being more about showing something they are very proud of as opposed to purposely getting a dig in at the US.

Maybe someday we will be able to brag about our health care system.

[truth2power]

42. I hope he did! I would like to think we could shame our congresscritters into

legislating universal health care. But I know that's impossible because they have no shame.

[lovuian]

44. they are very proud of their healthcare system

and rightfully so
No Brit goes without health insurance and no Brit goes bankrupt over healthcare

[awoke_in_2003]

45. This makes us...

sound like an over-sensitive country with an inferioty complex.

[awoke_in_2003]

46. Oh, and like I keep telling...

my 32 old reality-show watching stepdaughter- it isn't always about you.

[YOHABLO]

47. They'd never get away with it in the U.S.

Oh hell no. That would be like if the opening ceremony were being held in the U.S and, god forbid, they spelled out Social Security and Medicare on a football field as part of of what the American people hold sacred. It would never be allowed, now would it? So take it as you see it America, a big slap in the face ... which we need.

[Scurrilous]

48. K & R

[tex-wyo-dem]

51. "at times bordered on left-wing propaganda."

Well, if "left-wing propoganda" is celebrating a system that provides health-care to everyone, no matter what your income level, then I say "propogandize away!"

[LeftishBrit]

58. Agreed. That was just the Daily Fail being the Daily Fail.

Though let's note that Romney was too much even for them!

[BeyondGeography]

52. I hope so

[dipsydoodle]

54. Aside from anything else our NHS is the world's fifth largest employer

So why not celebrate it anyway.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17429786

[suffragette]

55. Love Alan Cumming's tweet about it

"I can't get over the NHS being so celebrated in the Olympics opening. It really is amazing. Don't be scared of free health, America!"


Agree with him entirely.
Though I think the segment was likely done more to celebrate the NHS and as to counter the the way the Conservatives there have been cutting it.

Thousands of nurses cut from the NHS: official figures

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9423559/Thousands-of-nurses-cut-from-the-NHS-official-figures.html


Janet Davies, executive director of nursing and service delivery at the Royal College of Nursing, said: “The Government has laid bare the effects of its own austerity drive in the NHS.
"Despite our repeated warnings, the pressure to save £20 billion in the NHS in England is resulting in cuts to jobs, hitting the front line hard.
"You can’t lose more than 4500 nurses, midwives and health visitors without seriously damaging patient care. We know through our Frontline First campaign that the NHS is creaking under the strain of rising demand, fewer staff and short-sighted cuts to patient care.
“Despite Government rhetoric, these cuts are real and have been ongoing for some time. The RCN will continue to identify where posts are under threat, and will work both nationally and locally to oppose short sighted cuts that damage patient care.”

[LeftishBrit]

56. Don't think so - but it might well have been partly directed at Lansley our Health Secretary, and

his desire to make our Health Service more like America's.

In any case, the NHS is greatly valued by most Brits, and many have personal reasons for gratitude to it. Me for one. A lot of the health workers and patients were linked to Great Ormond Street Hospital, which basically saved my life as a kid. I was very moved by their involvement in the ceremony.