Nothing but the best
July 30, 2012 (Monday)
The Olympic games are in full swing now in London, England. It is estimated that one billion people watched the opening ceremonies, reminiscent of a 1936 German cartoon that pictured the 2000 Olympics as being watched only by radio and television. The science fiction scenario of complete absence of human observers obviously did not come to pass, but the prediction of viewers around the world is a present reality.
Although the games began in Greece in 776 B.C., they faded away from 393 B.C. until shortly before the 20th Century, after which their popularity increased to the present world wide mania. Nearly every nation of the world now participates in the games.
The Olympics represent what is best about humanity. They demonstrate individual and team efforts to win competitive events only after years of intense training marked by remarkable self-discipline. Through television, they provide vicarious thrills for the viewers as they subconsciously imagine themselves performing before cheering crowds.
Wouldn’t it be great if nations decided to settle their difference with games instead of wars?