Olympics Offer Chance to Pull Together
Aug. 8, 2024
Good ‘ol Team USA is once again piling up the medals at the Olympics. Across the country we’re cheering.
Cole Hocker Wins the 1,500
Steph Chambers / Getty Images
We exalted as swimmer Bobby Finke valiantly led the grueling 1,500-meter freestyle from start to finish in world-record time. Familiar faces Simone Biles and Katie Ledecky again came through in the clutch, adding to their story tale careers. Cyclist Kristen Faulkner surprised everyone by suddenly breaking away from more seasoned competitors as they raced toward the Eiffel Tower. On the track, it seems like every day another USA runner is sprinting from behind to win. Gold, silver, bronze, at last look the medal count is approaching 100.
Holding our breath in suspense as each event unfolds is another of those instances when we as a country are able to set aside our political differences to pull in the same direction. The Games show we Americans are perfectly capable of coming together when we want to.
When asked in one of the Our Common Purpose polls to evaluate whether we are united or divided by each of a potpourri of 28 national institutions, values, services and events, “rooting for American athletes in the Olympics” was among the top finishers.
On the poll’s 201-point scale from minus 100 for divided, 0 for neutral, going up to plus 100 for united, there was no partisan difference on the Olympics. Those who voted for Trump in 2020 rated it at plus 52, those who voted for Biden at plus 51.
The composite of plus 51 was just a couple of points behind Thanksgiving, liberty and our patriotic holidays, and a few points ahead of how we respond when the country is attacked, the opportunity to vote in regular elections, and national symbols such as the American flag. Truly, an Olympian performance.
By comparison, politicians from both political parties finished far back in the pack at minus 25.
Not to say we’re totally together. Our most-pressing differences have nothing to do with Republican versus Democrat but which Olympic sports we’re following. Some of us stick with the tried and true. Foil fencing, anyone? Some are more inclined to experiment. Skateboarding? Sport climbing? Kayak cross? Breaking? To each his own. That’s part of the beauty. Athletes of all persuasions get their moment to excel. We can enjoy the competition on our own terms without anyone forcing their views upon us.
Too bad that the Olympics come along only every four years.
Couldn’t agree more. And while I understand the need to second-guess some judging or people’s efforts, every athlete competing, for whatever country, seems passionate about doing their best and cheering each other on. What’s better than that? Just wish Russia would clean up its act so it truly could be a world coming together. Meanwhile, we can watch the Paralympics next week, but what do we do for feel goods after that? 😉
What an important, timely reminder that we can come together as a country, as neighbors, as political adversaries, as people with differing perspectives as Right versus Left. We can do it! Thank you for reminding us. It does make me a a bit more hopeful.
Thanks, Richard. I think this is the first non-political article I have read today. It made me smile; it also reminded me of the wonderful range of Olympics sports and achievements. I personally was delighted to see Sunni Lee, the Minnesota gymnast, overcome serious, debilitating health issues to win medals in Paris.
We needed this perspective in the midst of such divisive times and has inspired me to be more hopeful about someday somehow we do come closer together as a country. We HAVE to.
Thank you