Peter Norman, Tommie Smith, John Carlos

The so-called "values" touted by politicians like John Howard are hollow and meaningless, useful only for the black art of wedge politics and the pursuit of conformity.

But for Peter Norman, who died at age 64, values were real.

On the victory dais of the 200m event at the 1968 Mexico Olympics, Norman, who came second, stood willingly with winner Tommie Smith and third place runner John Carlos as the latter two protested injustices against black Americans. LIFE magazine and Le Monde have declared the photograph to be one of the 20 most influential images of the 20th century.

Directly after the award ceremony Smith and Carlos were withdrawn from the relays and expelled from the Olympic Village. Things got worse after they returned home.

On their way to the medals ceremony, Carlos had asked Norman if he believed in human rights. Norman said his mother and father had raised him in the Salvation Army and he had been taught to take care of all people who could not take care of themselves. He proudly donned a human rights badge in support of the civil rights protest.

At Norman's funeral yesterday, John Carlos and Tommie Smith, who flew in from the States, talked about Norman.

Smith told Norman's family: "Peter Norman's legacy is a rock. Stand on that rock."

Carlos said, "As we stand here thinking about Peter Norman, think about the courage of a man who said, 'I'm standing with you'."

He spoke of the hatred they knew would be directed at them. "Not every young white individual would have the gumption, the nerve, the backbone, to stand there."

Carlos recounted the conversation they had before going out for the medal ceremony. They asked Norman if he believed in human rights. He said he did. They asked him if he believed in God. Norman, who came from a Salvation Army background, said he believed strongly in God.

"We knew that what we were going to do was far greater than any athletic feat. He said, 'I'll stand with you'." Carlos said he expected to see fear in Norman's eyes. He didn't. "I saw love. Peter never flinched (on the dais). He never turned his eyes, he never turned his head. He never said so much as 'ouch'. You guys have lost a great soldier." Carlos said that Norman deserved to be as well-known as Steve Irwin. "Go and tell your kids the story of Peter Norman."

Peter Norman still holds the 200m record for the fastest Australian. What a mensch.

LINKS
Quotes above come from these two articles:
Martin Flanagan: 'Tell your kids about Peter Norman'
Michael Davis: Final salute to a courageous athlete of Olympian values
SUBSEQUENT LINK
Greg Baum: Athletes' final salute to an Australian great

And here is a letter to The Age (11 October):

Not a 'Howard hero'

Did I miss something or am I correct in thinking the death of an Australian who really stood for something other than driving very fast or teasing dumb animals did not get the usual trembling bottom lip eulogy from John Howard that he evidently reserves only for his special Australian "heroes".

Perhaps Peter Norman's 1968 stance in support of Tommie Smith and John Carlos does not rate as significant in Howard's scheme of things, but I feel positive millions of ordinary Australians admired him for his actions and mourn his premature death.

Richard Couper

-- Olney Garkle