golden dreams

I'm OBSESSED with the Olympics.

There.  I needed to say it.

I never cared about the Olympics in the past, even told anyone who would listen exactly how neutral I felt about them.  But now I can't get enough of them!  I watch them all the time!  It started with a few men's snowboard cross highlights, and quickly escalated into a full day of women's snowboard cross.  Now I'm staying late at work to watch the finals, and scrounging for any live event I can find.  I feel like a junkie!  I'm even watching figure skating... it's getting out of hand.

I was taking with lil'k the other day about patriotism, and she mentioned a quote by Oscar Wilde; "patriotism is a virtue of the vicious".  While I can see how that may be considered true, I have to disagree, as I think there are 2 types of patriotism; good and bad.  Wars and terrorism obviously being examples of bad or misdirected patriotism, but I don't want to get into that negative side.  I think that the Olympics (even if they are commercialized and extravagant and usually ridiculously pricey) are a fantastic example of positive patriotism.  You are cheering for your country and your athletes out of pride, and wanting your country to do well, not out of hatred for others.  It's not about making your nation the ONLY nation... it's about winning at something.  It's 'YAY Canada!', not 'Boo France/Germany/Brazil/Uzbekastan'.  It's about normal, healthy competition... about sportsmanship.  It's about respect for the competing countries and their athletes.  It's not about killing or discrimination... it brings people together, and puts them on equal ground.

...maybe there is some sort of subliminal messaging in these online live feeds or something... but my mind has changed when it comes to the Games.

Oh, and watch for me and my board in 2014... I'll be the one winning the gold.