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Dead Constitution See other Dead Constitution Articles Title: Rage in Rio Rage in Rio by Stephen Lendman Held during dire economic times amidst massive corruption scandals, the Rio 2016 XXXI Olympiad began with a bang, its flamboyant opening ceremony blackened by justifiable street rage. Sponsored by an illegitimate US-supported coup detat regime, the events dark side was exposed before competition began. Russias entire track and field team was unfairly banned. Washingtons failed attempt to have all its athletes excluded over doping allegations against some showed the politicization of Olympic competition. At its best, its more spectacle than sport. Police attacked hundreds of protesters near Maracana Stadium, site of Thursday nights opening ceremony. They expressed justifiable anger against a coup detat regime, rife with corruption, attacking social justice, force-feeding neoliberal harshness, serving Brazils monied interests at the expense of most others. Billions of dollars were spent on an extravaganza while millions of Brazilians languish in abject poverty. Favela slums near the Olympiad site reflect one of the worlds most unequal countries economically, its illegitimate regime making things worse, enriching themselves and their cronies at the expense of the nations most vulnerable. Earlier on Thursday, thousands marched toward Afonso Pena Square. Others massed in front of the Copacabana Palace hotel, one of the citys best, hosting some of the athletes. Thousands supporting illegally suspended Dilma Rousseff protested against interim coup detat president Michel Temer, Wall Streets man in charge, reviled by the vast majority of Brazilians - hooted and jeered when he said I declare open the XXXI edition of the Olympic Games. Rousseff was absent Thursday night, saying I dont think its appropriate that the ousted president should attend a ceremony that is led by an illegitimate president. Days earlier protests forced the Olympic Games Organizing Committee to change the events torch final route to Maracana Stadium. Protests continue rocking Brazil following Rousseffs illegal suspension last May. The nation was militarized leading up to and continuing for the duration of the games, concluding on August 21. A raucous three weeks ahead is likely, police state harshness attempting to prevent public anger from interfering with Olympic competition - more about profiteering and exploitation than sport. Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III." http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com. Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network. Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
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