Olympics
I’m so not into watching the Olympics. I realize there are some people that actually look forward to watching the pageantry of the opening ceremonies, and there are those that believe the games are a way of celebrating our humanity.
On the micro level of the Olympic games, there are always a handful of compelling stories of personal triumph, amateur athletes that have risen beyond the odds to succeed. But between those heartwarming stories, we increasingly hear more about steroids and illegal drug use, greedy professional athletes participating in the games, partisan judges, Wheaties-box-envy, endorsement injustice, and nasty fans allowing their nationalistic pride to get in the way of sportsmanship.
On the macro level of the Olympic games, the Olympics has become very much like the Christmas holiday; A genuine good idea at it’s core, hijacked by large corporations seeking another way to make profits.
It also feels odd to be having the Olympic games when half the world is at war. There should be a some written rule that prohibits Olympic participation when a country is at war. Seeing how the Olympics is a golden egg for many corporations, and how they would hate to loose out on the profits generated by the games, such a rule prohibiting the games during war-time might actually force corporations to pause and use their political influence to encourage governments to seek peaceful solutions rather than encouraging them into needless conflict. Who knows, we might have fewer wars with such a rule.
Some might read this post and think I’m bitter towards the Olympics because once again I didn’t make the synchronized swimming team. Well, you’re wrong! I’m over it. Really.