What Do You Take Away From The Olympics?

Recently, while trolling threw the endless scrolls of daily social media updates, I came across a childhood friend's post that stuck with me. The quote read:

"Watching the Olympics and my daughter says: "that guy had metal legs, but he can run and rollerskate. He is so cool. He is just like my friend at my old school who had a helper hand. She was cool too."

The eyes of a child can often set life back to a kinder, gentler reality.

Since the  days of the Greeks, the Olympics have endeared the hearts of man. Athletes from every nation compete for the honor of returning home with a gold medal. American pride reigns strong. According to NBC, the 2012 Games has been some of the highest rated programing in television history. Yet, there still exist small minded  ignoramuses who ignorantly comment: "That's a sport?" or "The Olympics suck, I'd rather watch preseason football". The amount of blindness circulating in this instant gratification era of man is scary.  To not find any pride in watching Michael Phelps dominate in the pool, or engaged when Murray took down Federer in tennis is ludicrous. How about the most obvious story line, the same story rather man that led to this whirlwind rant. Oscar Pistorius the South African runner with metal legs? A double below the knee amputee, but yet, still a track star. 

I will admit, there are some games that do seem a little foolish, but so is arguing over meaningless football games. The Tebow - Sanchez argument's repitition alone is mind numbing.

My point is simple. In a world with such racial, social and religious intolerance; our fast food, instantaneous society... the Olympics, at least for a moment unite us all in the spirit of good will and competition.

-Pal

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