Olympic Fanfare

There is the rare person, or the rare moment in life that will compell me to lay aside my cynicism and my skeptical nature. Though I have a soul that wishes to see the beautiful and best in everything, and a conscience longs for the possibility of choosing what is just, and a heart that would believe in altruism, I have a mind which is hardened by the truth of living in a world where the fittest survive, and competition and incentive are the devices of progress. I live day to day wondering how we will address the greatest challenges of our age: climate change, extreme poverty, disease, and the distribution of wealth and resources.

The Olympic season, insipid though it may be for some, is one of those times where I can hope in the human phenomenon, and for a brief moment, allow myself to hope with the wonder of a child that our emergent cultures, collective intelligences, and common experiences that set us apart from the entirety of creation will not ultimately be deemed unfit by the forces that govern our survival as a species. For me, this season emphasizes much of what is good and beautiful about being human. The trial, the sacrifices, and ever so rarely, the realization of dreams. Most of all, though my mind dwells on a Tibet that is not free, and on the prevalence of elitist forms of government, and on discrimination of religion, race and creed... my heart trusts briefly to hope in the potential of what we can accomplish together, and how, even for a brief time we are able to "put our differences aside and celebrate all that we have in common." So for once, the pageantry, the spectacle, and the ritual is not empty for me. It is the small glimmer of hope, the evidence of things that are worth fighting for, and a motive that can lend passion to that fight.

Below are images from the Olympic Opening Cermonies in China. They are stunning, and for me, are a beauty that compells me to marvel at all that is lovely about humanity.