How very strange with all the racism, hate and bigotry in this nation that all is placed aside for the moment at the Olympics. There they were people, no not whites, blacks, orientals, people of every ethic background who are Americans first, fighting for their nation, their flag their fellow countrymen.
Yes and so I'm going to say so very bluntly, isn't it a damn shame we forget this as soon as the torch is passed. Do we have to wait until every Olympics to understand it is not about race, color, religion it is about America and what is best about her. It is about people. In fact it is really about people everywhere but I am speaking to my fellow Americans.
Well sadly we see it in all sports as well. We cheer the athlete while ridiculing them. They can score the wining touchdown but right after the game the negatives come out. Yes we see it in politics for those who vote for someone simply because of race and yes those who vote against someone because of race. Yes and we think nothing of it.
Hey don't get me wrong, for years the Italians didn't get along with the Irish, fact. The blacks, well they rarely got along with whites. Hispanics, well they are the new hated. Chinese, never made it up to full scale bigotry, they just remained in one spot, hated, low end worker types. Arabs, of course have moved to the number one slot.
Well much of the blame has to do with us all, yes everyone. Why because we fail to understand we are all just people. Yes and when we see these athletes representing us, our nation, we take pride that hey, he is a real American, one of us, no not from another nation, our very own, one of ours. On the battle field we recognize them, we share our blood, our food, our souls. Yes and then they and we come home to hate. No, not in every case, just most.
Yes blacks, whites and all races wrapped in OUR FLAG. Yes what's in a flag, well my friends if you do not know then what the hell good are you? That flag should and does represent all that is good, just, right as far as what our forefathers hoped it would be, for the general welfare of us all and OUR posterity, all AMERICANS. Hey even Abe Lincoln could not free the slaves, even though morally wrong, until he won his first battle of the Civil War and then, by fact, he only freed those slaves in the proclamation that were in those states fighting the north, fact. Think not read it.
However, what that did was give purpose to the deaths. The north was then fighting for a just and noble cause. Yes many hundreds of thousands of white and people of all races fought and died for that cause. The fact Americans fighting for other Americans, for the General good of the nation.
Certainly we can share with the world but NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF AMERICA or personal greed and ambition our way of life. yet we can never instill or foster that upon them. Yes and many do not want our way of life. It is a unique way and not acceptable to all this notion of equality and freedom.
No there is no other America, there is no other place like America and there will never be one. Why because of the people, fierce, determined, warriors, caring and decent. I'm talking We the People. No not business, government, social systems, people and change, real change can only come from the people one act of kindness, respect, compassion at a time.
So, now as this event closes let us hope we Americans can run the race in the Olympics of life. Where freemen, made up of every nation on this planet who became and are Americans first can truly change the face of America once and for all, as men, people, brothers and sisters, all created equal and doing for the general welfare of us all as it was intended to be.
Now we are at the start of what is the greatest race this nation has ever known. Where are your interests, on America, or are they on yourself? Do you vote for the reasons given, or for the general welfare of us all? Do you wish to vote for those who have given away, squandered, pillaged this land. Yes harsh words seen in the faces of our poor, our average citizens, from sea to shinning sea, no longer shining. Sure no real choice or do we have one. It is on the ballot that you make you pleasure or displeasure known. What is your choice? What will your works be?
Hey from one American, to another, form one MAN to another, from one Female to another, who represented us all and wore the colors proudly and represented your, our nation, in honor, thank you and God Bless you and America. Yes and to my fellow Americans where will your race end?
Now I might add that I and we would all be remiss if we did not recognize those Americans who are in the greatest Olympics and race of all times, fighting, dieing, being injured and in harms way each and every moment of each and every day, you are the epitome of the term American. Yes and you who are not yet Americans by legal process, you need none. You are far and above any of us born here who have not served in similar situations. God bless you and our nation.
May the God of mercy look after you all and may he sway the minds of those leaders who do not do justice to you by handicapping your efforts, placing you in harms way and by placing burdens upon you far and in excess of what is right and just. Come home safe, we need you. We need your courage and spirit.
Robert T. Melaccio Sr. 2008 Copyright ©2008 Robert Melaccio Sr.
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