Articles

On the Fence 8-2-12

Last weekend the Olympic Games in London opened and I was a bit surprised how interested my two kids were. I am a huge fan of the Olympic games largely because I get a chance to see a wide variety of competitions and stayed glued to the television to watch my favorite sport of the summer games, gymnastics but this time around I found my teenaged children glued to the set as well.

There was no arguing for the remote begging to watch some "reality" show that is anything but real or a heads up contest of another mindless computer game. No, this time around each plopped down in their favorite spots on the couch and cheered on Team USA in every and any sport that graced our screen. Honestly it was almost surreal to witness two kids reveal their patriotism every bit as passionate as any adult I have seen.

Perhaps they too understand how special the Olympic Games are in a world of strife and recent economic realities that are shoved in front of us every night on news broadcasts. Before the world wide web made it possible for us all to experience different cultures never leaving our cushy chairs which wasn't that long ago for all of us over 40 years-old, the Olympic Games was a window into other nations and their people.

As a child I remember feeling that first sense of patriotism when the U.S. men's hockey team beat the Russians 4-3 in the medal round in 1980 and ultimately went on to win the Gold medal beating Finland a day later. I remember my father, who at the time was pretty conservative, wipe away a tear to my surprise but not shock. I somehow knew that the U.S. win was bigger than anything I had yet witnessed in the world of sport and after that moment, I have never missed watching an Olympic competition.

While sitting in my recliner glued to the set this past week, my kids cheered like it was a Chicago Bears playoff game and hung on the edge of their seats as they witnessed some of the most talented athletes in the world compete in games they rarely notice on a daily basis. When the medal ceremony came on, there was an ear to ear grin on their faces as the American flag is raised and our national anthem was played. One of my kids said "Wow, the anthem seems so much more important when the whole world is watching, I love seeing our flag on top no matter the sport." Likewise my dear...likewise.

• Next >