Munich 11
MUNICH 1972: THE OLYMPIC TRAGEDY
On the 5th of September, 1972, the ancient spectre of anti-semitism raised its ugly head to strike again at the Jewish people and the State of Israel. Eleven sportsmen, members of the Israeli team to the Munich Olympics, were murdered in cold blood, because they were Israelis, because they were Jews.
Israel's finest sportsmen had set out with a song in their hearts, imbued with the Olympic spirit, to participate in the international fellowship, only to die as the helpless victims of an inhuman bloodlust. At one fell swoop the mores of civilization were blotted out. For thousands of years humanity has nurtured the Olympic meet as the epitome of fair play, decent behavior and understanding among all nations.
How foul then to have the Olympics abused by the forces of evil in a malevolent bloodbath of the innocents. We shall never forget the Munich Olympics. We shall not erase from mind the cruel transformation of the world sport arena into a slaughterhouse. The blood of the victims cries from the earth.
We mourn with King David: "How are the mighty fallen- they were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions."
As a tree in a storm, so shall the the Jews survive yet this onslaught. But there is no forgiveness. the pain and anguish that is felt by the loss of the eleven Israeli sportsmen will give future athletes the power to press forward ever higher, ever faster.
