I'm starting this thread because I am yet to find a sensible discussion on the pros and cons of the Bahrain GP going ahead, and I'm interested to hear the view of the Autocar forumers. Most of the comments on the web have been fiercely anti-Bahrain, but the arguments never seem to be cogent, and anyone in favour of the race is roundly abused for being a government/capitalist puppet or conspirator.
I, unlike most of the Twitterverse and self-appointed moral crusaders, am in favour of the event being held. I have no idea how representative the footage coming out of Bahrain is, and what the majority feeling in Bahrain about the race is, because the people pushing the footage and reports are all publicly against the race.
As far as I can see, there are two reasons for opposing the race: 1) safety and 2) political. However, the arguments being thrown around seem to merge the two into a general anti-Bahrain opinion with selected "facts" being cited to support the view and logical thought processes being bent to suit the argument.
If you are opposed to the race on the grounds of safety, then the problem is not the government - it's the protestors who are threatening to disrupt the race or cause harm to anyone who is part of it. Those making those threats are nothing more than terrorists and it surprises me that no-one has bothered to use that word to describe them, given how freely the word is bandied about these days. Safety concerns are entirely understandable, but I don't really know how real the threat is. Anyone concerned about their safety is justified in not going.
If you are opposed to the race on the grounds of the government's treatment of its people, then you are against the government and siding with the opposition. This is a purely political position, rather than a sporting or safety position.
The Bahrain GP has been on the calendar since 2004, with the exception of last year. It is not a new event that has been created to divert attention from problems in Bahrain or give a false impression that all is well, it has been on the calendar for nine years now, and has a contract until 2016 (I believe, but am not sure). Arguing that holding a Grand Prix is an indication that the FIA is allowing the race to be used by the government for political purposes may be true to a degree, but cancelling the event due to political pressure from opposition activists is just as much - if not a lot more - of a political decision. If Bahrain was trying to hold a race for the first time, it would be different. Continuing an annual event with an ongoing contract is a different thing.
Those who argue that it is inappropriate to race in Bahrain because of the behaviour of the government are conveniently ignoring the fact that other governments treat their citizens (and other countries' citizens) in much the same way as Bahrain does, but are better at keeping it quiet. I find it ironic that this argument is going on in the F1 paddock in China, where the government has a long and infamous history of brutality against its own people, yet no-one is suggesting we boycott China. No-one seems to have a problem with Russia getting a race from 2014 onwards. The Americans have a very questionable history on human rights in recent years, the Australian government has behaved badly towards its indigenous population for as long as white people have been there and the British have not been a shining light for all the world either. Turkey has all sorts of civil problems and deadly fighting, yet its race only fell over due to lack of interest rather than boycotting.
I hope and trust that all goes well next weekend, and I take issue with those who proclaim that if anyone comes to harm that it will be on Jean Todt's head. That is like saying it's your fault a criminal mugged you when you were walking down a dark street. No individual is going to lose their job if they choose not to go to Bahrain because they fear for their safety, and if F1 starts cancelling races due to the threats of terrorism then we are asking for more trouble in the future.
I look forward to sensible debate, and hope the usual childishness can be set aside for once.
12 April 2009
I think we should bring an end to this,it is getting out
of hand.
Little or nothing has been said about the race,the same as the
GP in China,a country that makes Bahrain look like a holiday
camp,if we want to go down the political path lets talk about
the break up of the union ,Scotland wants to break away,some thing
that means something to us
Something i hope we can do something about, thats a joke, the Gov'ment
will not give us the chance. .
.
27 August 2008
It is political though, the Bahrain GP - it's about the race, and the drivers to an extent but if you care about F1 you are, in this rare instance, surely totally justified in considering and posting about the political angle. The context just can't be got round here and we are, surely, talking about motor racing - specifically, was the Motor Race a good thing or a bad thing given the situation in Bahrain? To put it more bluntly - does the staging of the GP legitimise, both internally and externally, a repressive and violent regime
Myself, I'm amazed by it. To have the race running as smoke from demonstrations drifts across the track is madness. Vettel's offhand 'Hype' comment is almost without parallel in it's hideous crassness.
To say F1 did or didn't cause the situation in Bahrain is just daft. Of course not - but you have to ask about Bernie and his total lack of a moral compass. This stuff matters - the economic imperative is not enough - never was, never will be. Shame on the lot of them.
Bring back steel wheels.
29 October 2007
Well despite the media seeming desperate for something bad to happen
They did not cause the situation. It isn´t Citizen Kane at work, buying and then sinking an old gunship so that his newspaper can have a front page "scoop" stating, "War!"
The problems are not caused by F1 and 2.
You are correct in one sense, the root cause is the lack of democracy in a kingdom supported by western interests. On the other hand, you are wrong when it comes to the death of one protestor. (Talk of political change in the pipeline is so much flim-flam from politicians.) You also fail to take into account the compromised integrity and conscience of those who took part in the race. That we will learn of at a distance, when regret comes far too late.
The FIA made a killing, so did the King and his cohorts, and so did the police.
Before the mediator gets wind of this, can we all agree to disagree, this could get out of hand,and , no, i don't want the Deputy's badge.
Peter Cavellini.
17 July 2009
Well despite the media seeming desperate for something bad to happen
They did not cause the situation. It isn´t Citizen Kane at work, buying and then sinking an old gunship so that his newspaper can have a front page "scoop" stating, "War!"
The problems are not caused by F1 and 2.
You are correct in one sense, the root cause is the lack of democracy in a kingdom supported by western interests. On the other hand, you are wrong when it comes to the death of one protestor. (Talk of political change in the pipeline is so much flim-flam from politicians.) You also fail to take into account the compromised integrity and conscience of those who took part in the race. That we will learn of at a distance, when regret comes far too late.
The FIA made a killing, so did the King and his cohorts, and so did the police.
26 August 2011
Well despite the media seeming desperate for something bad to happen so they could blame F1 it was a non story given that protests and confrontation happen every day in Bahrain. The medi seemed to forget that 1. The problems are not caused by F1 and 2. F1's absence was not going to solve the problems. By Sunday night the media , after all the hype, were left desperatly trying to link something - anything to F1 fault. Some tyres got set on fire apparently.
Ironically I rather the thought F1's presence did the protest movement a favour; they have not had coverage of the situation there on that scale in months.
29 October 2007
do something in Bahrain
Oh for Gods sake. Cant people just keep to their own business and stop sending young men to far off lands so that USA can continue to reap the financial benefit of wars which are no where near their own midden. USA has 10 mill people employed directly and indirectly in the arms industry. They always need a damn war somewhere. Vietnam, Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan and of course the British puppets are no better, with Iraq, Lybia, Syria etc. It is done in the name of "demcoracy" - well blow me down with a feather - impossing your beliefs with guns, planes, rockets, tanks etc etc etc is democracy? Russia trying very hard to make things in Syria done through discussion. They dont want to get drawn into any more conflicts. It cost them too dearly in Afghanistan, and they have sufficient trouble with some rowdy nasty neighbours, so keeping the peace through dialog is better than being the mighty policeman and sending more kids to die in far off places. My brother spends 80% of his retirement handling the bodies of British personnel brought back in boxes - every day he sees destroyed families. What for? When will it stop, or are all the politicians trying hard to set about ww3 ?
end of Saturday rant
Want to talk about the race?, because you lot have gone political, the heading IS!....Bahrain GP!,it was a good race, but not as exciting as China,it was back to lead car not really challenged,a few incidents, nothing to make you jump out of your seat, and yes, the BBC coverage was just great, Gary Anderson was good too!
Peter Cavellini.
30 May 2008
WHAT A CRAPPY BORING RACE !!!
17 July 2009
That's a gem
Thank you, you are too kind.
10 April 2009
You'll need to explain your definition of "hope." It does not seem to accord with mine, or the tone of my post.
Hope? No, absolutely no parallels. To me the "tone" of your optimism was comparable to post-hallucinogenic flashback in a parallel ar5e-about-face universe:
"spread of democracy in the entire region is gathering pace"
That's a gem LA, you and Seumas Milne.
17 July 2009
Ok the country is run by 3 principal members of the Al Khalifa family .
Much obliged, Toad.
I read that Bahrain pays the FIA £25 million each time the race is held there, and in return the kingdom expects to gain £45 million in advertising revenue, plus something in the region of £25 million in tourism. The rest is western economic and political interests - what we expect: oil and military bases.