i(don't)c

Perhaps I'm setting out to be unpopular here. Of course, that means I would have to be popular in the first place.

Anyways.

I don't like the Olympics. If I were in Vancouver, I would be protesting. Every time the 'Olympic report' comes on the news, complete with obnoxious fanfare, I get a bit angry. Forget the Olympics, is what I say. But why, oh why?

You would think, what with the UBBT and all, I would be stoked on individuals pushing themselves to peak levels and join in the celebration of that. And if the Olympics were just about that, I would be fine with it. I completely acknowledge the power of sport and individual achievement. The games sure aren't about that, though.

I'll even ignore the sanitized and corporate controlled image, the long history of politically (re: capitalist) motivated IOC dealings, the issue of Native land rights connected to these games, the 750 units of low income housing that were scrapped to build the athlete's village, and the enormous efforts which amount to trying to convince tourists they need to buy more useless stuff. Along with all the other problems.

I won't even take issue with the money being funneled into the games, because I know that those holding the purse strings wouldn't have spent it on anything of value anyways.

No, what I dislike most about the Olympics is that instead of celebrating individual achievement it promotes a mindless nationalism, a rabid need that most people have to see their country do better. Because if Canada doesn't get at least 10 golds, the terrorists win. I think. That's why it's such a big deal, right?

Ok, I get it. When you're watching a sport, it's more fun if you've got someone to cheer for. But once the closing ceremonies are done nothing will have changed on the world stage--no matter how many shiny medals we get. People are still starving and dying in various parts of the world and us blindly waving our little flags does nothing except subtly promote the worldview that our country is somehow better and dissent is a bad thing.

I just want to slow the rampant patriotism for a bit and try some perspective instead.