A message for you all

Yours might be but mine is in a genuine spirit of global compassion and co-operation.

"You may say I'm a dreamer but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you will join us and the world will live as one"

Mark Anjuu, you try to post something nice and everyone has something different to say. No good deed...

Mark Anjuu wrote: The message for me wasn't about the finer details of the sporting practice, or about personal feelings of resentment about past experiences. It was about the fact that for a few hours, nations from across the globe could come together in a spirit of peace and brotherhood/sisterhood to celebrate trying their best to be all that they can. That sort of thing is needed more than ever in this day and age and I think it transcends any personal grievances we may have. Sometimes we just have to put our problems aside and join together.

These were my thoughts while watching the opening ceremonies while all the nations walked out one by one. I found it amazing that there are countries at war and yet they can come together in the same place without trying to fight each other. I remember thinking "When will the human race realize that fighting wars with each other is stupid? We are all one race regardless of where you live, what you look like, or religion." :huh:

I feel this is ren's point:

"This is a joke. This is all a joke." - Edward Blake (the 'Comedian' from Watchmen)

Concur, which closely aligns with my own viewpoint on the absurdity of things around us, from the mundane details of everyday existence to the utter insanity of national/international relations. You can't help but laugh a bit, albeit darkly. Gallows humour, you know...

Sure, you're welcome to your opinion on the Olympics. Mine is different and I disagree with the 'absurdity of it all' opinions out there.

I've competed at the national level and have worked with quite a number of Olympians. I spent summers at the training center in Colorado Springs dishing and taking and learning from guys out there. Our foot in the door at the OTC was my head coach in college. He was the US Olympic coach for Freestyle Wrestling. He got out of the Olympic Games for the very reasons ren mentioned: Politics. Sure, there are certain events that brook no argument about who won...but there are many that are subject to debate and are corruptible. I know that stuff is out there. It's very real. Every nation has its pride, and all the things you guys mention certainly have their merits...that's the dark side of pride. But just as sure as sure there is the horse-stable, politicking, rat-race mentality...the side Mark chooses to celebrate is there every bit as much.

Much like Christmas, the Olympics seem to be all gumdrops and smiling, waving people. That's because, despite all the garbage that IS out there, events like those afford us the opportunity to celebrate the best in us. The possibilities of who we CAN be, not just physically, but as whole people and nations. If you choose to write the whole experience off because it's 'absurd' and tainted by money, government, and national self-interest, you're certainly welcome to do that. I see the whole of it, and choose to celebrate the greatness I see in it.

Your mileage may vary.

i cant speak for everyone, but i wasnt solely picking on the olympics. being an amateur athlete of sorts myself, i can appreciate the level of commitment needed to get to and succeed at that level.

i pretty much meant everything. i have seen guys cracking ludicrous, completely out of place jokes after a firefight or with corpses, for example. did i shush them and be like 'hey, kiss the ground, we're alive'? no. we all deal with things differently. they NEEDED that release, that knowledge that they were THIS CLOSE to buying the farm and going home in a box, but for whatever stupid reason, they didnt.

THATS when you stop, take a minute and realize how absurd it all is.

All hail existentialism! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existentialism#The_Absurd

ren wrote: There is no such thing as friendly competition, only rules and regulations to prevent it from being bloodshed. And that to me is what shows how hopeless we are.

I don't think that is true for all. When I used to compete, I went into my fights with great regard for my opponent. We've both trained hard to get in the ring, we bare no ill will to each other and we're there for the same reason. I see that as friendly competition. Fair enough we're in a ring to see who's the best fighter and someone's going to get hurt, but you get in the ring knowing that. It doesn't mean it's unfriendly.
Regardless of rules, I know myself well enough, that when a fight is won or lost there is no need for unnecessary bloodshed; and I know the majority of the fighters I trained and fought with know that too. Honour, respect and control, that's some of what martial arts teaches.

I know not all fighters have that view as I've seen it in MMA; some of them are animals and don't know when to stop. They shouldn't be aloud to compete in my opinion as they have no self control.

How to put this...I hate the political nature of sport and the Olympics...but to see all of the athletes at the closing ceremonies, regardless of country, smiling, singing and dancing together....
Master Mark...I to am a dreamer, dreaming of a time when the world can be as one....

Remember the old Coke commercial...I'd like to buy the world a Coke...http://youtu.be/92h9cbAjAzg