Olympic Theme Was One World - So Let's Be a Part of It Again

I am personally glad that President Bush didn't bow to the pressure to boycott the Beijing Olympics. I have to admit my first thought was that it was a good idea, but on reflection I decided that it would accomplish little positive, and more than enough negative. It would not help to boycott what turned out to be an American success story, or indeed, many of them.

I do think the Chinese really tried to impress the world with their hosting and they too succeeded as well, especially in the Opening Ceremony. I still shake my head at the accomplishments and precision of those thousands of "volunteers". It took far more practice and unpaid volunteers than the U.S. or likely any other free country could muster. And how many U.S. cities could virtually shut down their smokestack industries or tell half the people that they could not drive during the run up to the Games? I guess Communist or other totalitarian countries could order this kind of compliance, but most free countries could not.

Yet China was saying nearly all the right things - One World, Openness, Teamwork, Friendship, and on and on. Maybe if they keep saying it to themselves more and more...well, practice makes perfect. We can only hope.

Of much bigger import is that the U.S. continue its openness and commonality with the other nations and peoples of the world. It is tempting right now to isolate because it seems so many countries "do not like us". We could stop our foreign aid to those who would vilify us for various things. We could even rattle a few more swords to try to get some regimes to comply with our wishes. Some of that might work, but a better angle might be to keep providing aid to starving countries; send $1 billion to Georgia for reconstruction after their mini-war with the big bear, Russia. We need to keep doing what's right (and more if it - Darfur, anyone?) and to hell with the America-bashers. Once we get disentangled from Iraq after we are successful at "Iraqification", we can raise our world standing to what it once was by being strong and firm to dictators, friendly to struggling pre-democracies, and kind to the people everywhere. Yes, kind to the people who, as I have said before, are not our enemies even in those countries where the government leaders may be hostile to us.

We may have to share the high rank of "superpower" sooner than we think, but we can enhance our chances to retain the first position by smart diplomatic efforts backed up with a strong military and humanitarian force. Let's hope whoever wins our Presidential Election in November has the smarts and determination to not give in to bullying anywhere, while helping to the extent we can, everywhere.

RV Resort Olympic Winner!

I don't often bang my own drum, but this week is different. After my retirement as a Police Chief in October, Diana and I picked a very nice RV Resort Park in which to spend the winter. As it turns out, this was a very good choice this year - to get out of Wisconsin, that is. With record snowfalls and record low temps, we were happy to be warmly ensconced in our gated, 55+ community in Arizona.

The people here are wonderful, albeit a little more aged than we are, so we smiled at the quaint activities in the park such as bingo (every Wednesday), Men's Coffee, shuffleboard, dirty board, pickle ball, and the like. After a few weeks we deigned to play bingo (daubers ready) and even won a couple of times. We still smile as we pass the shuffleboard court, however.

This last week the park celebrated the Chinese New Year, complete with Chinese lantern contests on each street, an authentic Chinese dinner one night, and finally an international competition of sorts in a Park Olympics. The categories were many, from the aforementioned shuffleboard and pickle ball, to more sublime whooshing and smooshing (Don't ask, I haven't a clue).

With our athletic prowess, we signed up for a couple of events not wanting to be thought of as anti-social. We showed up at the appointed times, eying our adversaries in the auditorium. It began to get tense. The games began and we finally took our turns (it was all individual competition).

We waited with bated breath (whatever that is) for the Friday night awards. The opening ceremony for the Olympics was brief but poignant. We all sang O Canada, followed by the Star-Spangled Banner. The medals were displayed on the stage, hanging from a PVC pipe holder askew under the weight. We sat through the awards for best pickle baller, pocket pooler (really!), and shuffleboarder. We applauded the bean bag competitors (divided by age group, over 60, 70, and 80), the water volley ball spikers, and the best putters.

Finally, our events were about to be called. I looked at Diana and she smiled back nervously. Did either of us make the cut? In our first event, alas, we did not earn a medal. We were not fastest in the Cup Stacking competition. We smiled wanly and applauded graciously as three others took the Bronze, Silver, and Gold. One more event to be called and yes! I heard the announcer man call, "Jerry Jansen" and I marched to the stage to stand with the other winners as the camera flashes momentarily blinded us.

I was so proud as I bowed my head to allow the short little medal-giver lady place the Silver Medal around my neck. Second place in the Men's Crossword puzzle. Not bad, huh?