Mighty Mannschafter Midget Speaks Up: Sky Is Blue, Pope Is Catholic, Philipp Lahm Is Amazing...
Mighty Mannschafter Midget Speaks Up: Sky Is Blue, Pope Is Catholic, Philipp Lahm Is Amazing...
"I do not find my views of democratic fundamental rights, human rights, personal freedom or freedom of the press to be found in the present political situation in the Ukraine..."
Modern day hero Philipp Lahm
Philipp Lahm (the man who is shorter than I am, hasn't aged a day since he was 16, and secretly rules the world) has done something no other German National team player has managed in quite a while. He's made the Canadian press in the nation's capital.
And, as Raphael Honigstein pointed out this evening on Football Weekly's podcast: "He could have taken the easy way out and said 'you know, I'm just a footballer. Football and politics don't mix' and it's a wonderful thing to see a player taking a stand and saying: 'there are human rights abuses going on...'"
The Ottawa Citizen writes up the following:
BERLIN - Germany captain Philipp Lahm has slammed Euro 2012 co-hosts Ukraine for their government's treatment of jailed ex-prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko.
Tymoshenko was jailed for seven years last October on charges of abuse of power and last month went on hunger strike after claiming she had been beaten by prison guards.
Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych is coming under increasing political pressure over the imprisonment of the former opposition leader, with governments of EU countries threatening to boycott the tournament.
Lahm says the political situation there is of huge concern.
"I do not find my views of democratic fundamental rights, human rights, personal freedom or freedom of the press to be found in the present political situation in the Ukraine," Lahm told German news magazine Der Spiegel.
"When I see how the regime is treating Yulia Tymoshenko, it has nothing to do with my image of democracy."
Lahm called on Michel Platini, the president of European football's governing body UEFA, to also put pressure on the government in the Ukraine, who will co-host the European Championships from June 8-July 1.
"I think he should take a stand and I am curious to see what he has to say," said Lahm...
Well damn it - I love him!
.
.
"I do not find my views of democratic fundamental rights, human rights, personal freedom or freedom of the press to be found in the present political situation in the Ukraine..."
Modern day hero Philipp Lahm
Philipp Lahm (the man who is shorter than I am, hasn't aged a day since he was 16, and secretly rules the world) has done something no other German National team player has managed in quite a while. He's made the Canadian press in the nation's capital.
And, as Raphael Honigstein pointed out this evening on Football Weekly's podcast: "He could have taken the easy way out and said 'you know, I'm just a footballer. Football and politics don't mix' and it's a wonderful thing to see a player taking a stand and saying: 'there are human rights abuses going on...'"
The Ottawa Citizen writes up the following:
BERLIN - Germany captain Philipp Lahm has slammed Euro 2012 co-hosts Ukraine for their government's treatment of jailed ex-prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko.
Tymoshenko was jailed for seven years last October on charges of abuse of power and last month went on hunger strike after claiming she had been beaten by prison guards.
Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych is coming under increasing political pressure over the imprisonment of the former opposition leader, with governments of EU countries threatening to boycott the tournament.
Lahm says the political situation there is of huge concern.
"I do not find my views of democratic fundamental rights, human rights, personal freedom or freedom of the press to be found in the present political situation in the Ukraine," Lahm told German news magazine Der Spiegel.
"When I see how the regime is treating Yulia Tymoshenko, it has nothing to do with my image of democracy."
Lahm called on Michel Platini, the president of European football's governing body UEFA, to also put pressure on the government in the Ukraine, who will co-host the European Championships from June 8-July 1.
"I think he should take a stand and I am curious to see what he has to say," said Lahm...
Well damn it - I love him!
.
.