Log in to become a member of Patricia Grace's Fan Club!
As I watched the beauty and precision of the opening ceremony of the Olympics, I was filled with conflicting emotions.The sheer magnitude of the event, and the amount of planning that went into making it work like clockwork, was incredible. How many great minds must have worked together to plan and carry out such an undertaking? What if we put that kind of planning and organizational skill to work dealing with world hunger? Surely minds that were able to design and coordinate the events of the opening ceremony could design and coordinate plans to be certain food and other necessities were evenly, and fairly, shared by the world's population.
The beauty of the dancing, music, fireworks and other creative performances was awe inspiring. So many talented people joined together to produce a wonderland of sights and sounds. So many performers, many of them ordinary citizens, worked together to produce the beautiful effects. What if we put all of that creative ability to work designing ways to eliminate smog, pollution and slums? What if those highly creative people were given the task of making every city, every hamlet, every spot on our planet a place of beauty for its inhabitants?
The huge number of competitors was mind boggling. Many thousands of athletes, coaches, family members, fund raisers and other supporters joined together to develop plans that would insure each athlete was in top form and had the financial backing to compete. Each athlete had the benefit of the best training available in order to pursue the dream of Olympic Gold. What if we put those people to work designing a system that would provide each and every child on this planet a quality education? What if the fund raisers and supporters came up with ways to eliminate lack of income as a barrier to obtaining an excellent education for all children? What if every child born on this planet had an equal chance to pursue a dream?
Watching the smiles, enthusiasm and energy of the competitors was heart warming. For the rest of the Olympic Games, they will forget politics and differing beliefs. They will accept each other as worthy opponents. They will compete but will do it with honor and good sportsmanship. They will represent their countries, but they will do so as one body - as Olympic athletes. What if we took all of those other young people on all the battlefields in every corner of the world where there is turmoil, terrorism or war and let them compete by playing ball, running races or swimming laps? What if a way were found to eliminate the hatred and bitterness that lead to war and replace it with the acceptance and comraderie we will see in the Olympic Games? If it can be done for the Olympics, why not forever?
Patricia Grace is a retired teacher, mother of four and grandmother of nine. She has a BS in Psychology and an MS in Early Childhood Education. Many of her stories were "field tested" on her kids, grandkids and students. Although she enjoys writing in many different areas, her favorite is writing for young children. She, especially, likes to write stories that teach a lesson through the use of animals and subjects that appeal to very young readers. Her primary reward for the writing is the way small faces light up when they "get" the point of the story.
This author of this Article has choosen to make this article available with free reprint rights. Click here to copy this article.
Amen, and well said. It all comes down to priority. This is nothing compared to world issues, but even in high school it was the same. The drama team got no school funding and the athletic dept got it all. People take care of what they feel is most important. Our prayer should be that all people everywhere would believe that hungry and homeless children and working together is a priority. Make this happen, and then it will be forever.
Thank you. It is hard to understand why people don't see how the same talent used to develop athletes could be used to solve world problems. I fear we have really lost the sense of community we once had - back when barn building or house raising was an opportunity for neighbors to get out and help each other. Too many people now are focused just on their own little world. Maybe one day.......
very well written, and the point stares you in the face. i have often thought if all the billionaires could get together, and give one billion dollars each, to clean up our world, build apartment complexes for those who need a place to live, create more jobs, and on and on, but, it doesn't seem to be happening as i don't see your visions happening,although i wish they would, maybe our ideas are too simple for complexed minds.
Thank you, Sue. I'm afraid as our world has expanded to include instant access to everyone and everything by TV and internet, many people have narrowed their focus to just their own little world. If it doesn't affect them - right now - they see no reason to get involved. We can just keep our fingers crossed that one day others will see what we can see so plainly.
Wonderful article, Patricia. And you are right. The Olympics are a wonderful display of what this world can do when it puts its mind to it. But, however, it's the behind the scenes issues that tend to destroy the beauty they have worked so hard to create--I'm alluding to the fact that the Chineese pulled a little girl who was to sing their country's opening anthem and replaced her with a little girl that 'was much prettier' and would lip-sync the song of the original little girl because she was not so pretty. To me that was the ultimate disgraceful act of a country!
None-the-less you have written a great article about a beautiful sight.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
