The Beijing Olympics

Significant events matter, long after they have occurred. We all know it. That’s why we always ask the question, "What where you doing when thus-and-such happened," and we always know that we’ll get an answer. It’s how we connect to one another and make ourselves part of the event itself.

I actually remember men landing on the moon because my mother got me out of bed and sat me in front of the TV. I wasn't even 4 yet and I couldn't have cared less at the time. But I remember her saying, "you'll be glad you saw this someday." And it's true! I am. Not only because it’s really cool, but also because I have a story that connects me to the event and the other people who remember it too.

These Olympics are that significant. They are so significant because they're in China. Remember when it wasn't just "China", but "RED China"? Remember 1972 when Nixon went to Red China and what a big deal that was? I don’t even remember why he went (I was only 6), but I remember how important it was at the time. There was no way that having the Olympics in such a place could be envisioned then. I do vividly remember almost 20 years ago when students were protesting and dying in Tiananman Square. Olympics? NO WAY!

Now see this place - the world has gathered in relative peace, cooperation, and harmony. The Chinese people cheer for their own athletes, but they cheer for ours as well. The Iranian contingent got a fairly large ovation when they entered the Bird’s Nest on opening night. So did the United States. The bronze winning kayaker from Togo gets interviewed in French and U.S.’s best basketball player gets interviewed in Italian. Just like that funky rainbow of footprints that was made when the nations walked across the giant stamp-pad, the color and culture lines are blurring spectacularly.

The world is connected now in ways that only sportsmanship can accomplish and it's a beautiful thing. I mean, who isn’t cheering for Michael Phelps right now? As these spectacular people win with grace, lose with dignity, and embrace each other regardless, my wish is that our world leaders are paying attention and taking notes, yet the Russia/Georgia skirmish tells me they are not.

I wonder if the leaders were paying attention when Phelps DIDN’T take the American flag he was offered and DIDN’T drape it around his shoulders as he was walking around The Cube after his seventh medal ceremony. It’s like he was saying, "No, dude, it’s about the swimming. It’s about the sport." It wasn’t two Americans and a Serb posing for the papers, it was three guys that swim like dolphins – Phelps was the one with the gold around his neck.

Here and now, in front of our faces in streaming video, is the living example of the difference between Patriotic Pride and Nationalistic Fervor, and the people who need the lessons the most are sleeping in the back of the classroom. It makes me want to set them all down in front of the TV and tell them, "I know you’d rather sleep, but someday you’ll be glad you saw this."