Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Olympics

Talking politics usually opens a can of worms, but let me just give my two cents about the Olympic controversy.

I am not a sports person.
It's the first section of the newspaper I throw away.
Ironically then, I absolutely love the Olympics, both summer and winter games.

I suppose because, at its best, the Olympics is hope and inspiration and aspiration.
It is uniting, and fairness, and setting aside differences.
It's pride in one's country. In the flag.

Regardless of anyone's view of China versus Tibet, the Olympic games are not the place to talk politics.
Athletes dream their whole lives for this chance.
They work for years and years. They sacrifice. They hope.
It's not fair to take that away from them.

Let the Olympic Games be games. Sport. Athletes competing.
Period.

Enough of the rhetoric, the grand standing, the trying to douse the torch.
Dreams flicker in those flames.
These are flames of passion, of heart, of soul.
Cheer on the athletes.
Cheer on the games.

Labels:

3 Comments:

Blogger The Calico Cat said...

I agree with you on so many points, but China is bad is so many ways beyond Tibet (Darfur - they support Sudan, the environment, etc.) & this is one time when the whole world is looking...

While I am not going to actively detract from the games & all thst surrounds them, I am hoping that this time in the spotlight will bring about some kind of lasting change in China & in their policies.

I know we & other countries are far from perfect, but China is so bad in so many ways...

4:04 AM  
Blogger Bean said...

The torch run was born of political rhetoric - it started for the '36 Olympics, Hitler's propaganda officer thought it would be good for business (and two years later they invaded Austria.) China's government is trying to use it in the same manner, now (a nationalist PR tool) and all I really have to say is: Free Tibet! Free China! Free Humans World-Wide! :)

11:03 AM  
Blogger Gina E. said...

i agree 100% with you, Barb. Yes, China has a bad record with human rights, but the world has had all this time to object, and can still do so after the Olympic Games, but for goodness sake, just let it rest for these few special weeks...as you so rightly point out, it's not just China, it is the rest of the world's athletes who have so much at stake. Give them a break, people!

9:17 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home