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opinion:
our view
Olympics no place
for patriotic zealots
The Winter Olympics are upon us. Friday night we were witnesses
to an opening ceremony that was poignant and exciting. President
Bush tried to portray himself as a man of the people, sitting
in the stands among America's athletes and even speaking to
one athlete's mother.
The Olympics are the greatest showing of athletic prowess that
the world knows. But, the coverage of the events on NBC show
that this is more America's Olympics. This is wrong.
On the rebound from Sept. 11, Americans feel that we need to
show that we are still the top nation in the world in all aspects.
We are.
But the Olympic Games should not be looked at as some sort of
showcase of America's superiority. The Olympic's should be a
showcase of the athleticism of the greatest athletes of all
nations.
With medal counts and human interest stories about American
athletes, NBC is trying to show that America is still the best.
This remains to be seen though and when the final medal count
is tallied it is doubtful that America will be on top.
The Olympics are a showcase for amateur athletes from all nations,
not just ours. It is important that Americans recognize the
Olympics not as America's games but as the world's games.
The mish mash of patriotism and rhetoric only helps to detract
from the idea that the Olympics were built on: that the world
can come together as one for 16 days and everyone will be happy.
At the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Adolf Hitler hoped that
his German team would solidify the superiority of the so-called
Aryan race. American hero Jesse Owens proved Hitler wrong, winning
four gold medals.
The situation now is much different but somewhat the same. In
both circumstances the host nation is at a great turning point
and is trying to show their national unity and superiority on
the track or the ice or the slopes.
But, there is no place on the track or slopes or ice for national
superiority. There is only room for honest competition between
the best athletes in the world. A showing of the physical and
mental potential and dedication that everyone can strive for.
The Olympics should not be America's attempt to display
any sort of overt superiority, but to bring to light the fire
of athleticism that resides in all athletes.
The Olympic Games are the best chance for our world to come
together as one, unhindered by pre-conceived notions and armed
only with power and wits of the worlds greatest athletes.
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