Very Special Olympics
Ah, the 2008 Olympics starts today! Their motto, “Swifter, Higher, Stronger”, describes what athletics must do to win the gold. This phrase also happens to be a strategy in escaping from China as well. Oh sorry, let me start again …
When you think of the Olympics, you think of men and women moving with such energy and vigor that it makes me almost ashamed for getting winded when I take out the trash. For over 100 years, the summer Olympics have given us images of muscular athletics competing under bright, blue skies while deeply breathing fresh, clean air. So what better choice for a host city than smoggy Beijing. It’s one thing to level the playing field. It’s another to have the competitors laying level on the field in the midst of a hacking fit.
But the Olympics is about sportsmanship (and sportswomanship for those of you who like to get your knickers in a twist over such terms). Let everyone train to their very best potential and then let the best man and woman win. Does home field advantage matter? Probably not unless you get your visa revoked by the host government just before travel .
Of course, with all the millions of foreign visitors attending, security is very important. In fact, China has done an excellent job by bugging taxis, installing 300,000 surveillance cameras, and monitoring / restricting Internet usage. No point in allowing evidence of political oppression out, especially when everyone in the world already knows about it.**
So here’s my version of the 2008 Olympic symbol. What do you think?
**Of course, to be fair, 750 people out of 100,000 people in the USA are in prison verses 119 out of 100,000 in China. I guess strong-armed conformity works well in China verses arresting people for victimless crimes here in America.
