The Olympics and History to the Present, Going to the Future

For the third time in 'modern times', London hosts the Olympic Games, and people around the world are huddling around their televisions as they have for generations -- a BILLION people will do so.  Today, I noticed seeing people who are 'ahead' of me time-wise sharing their thoughts on Facebook, which allows us more ability to 'connect'.  I noticed as I watched the beginning of the coverage, Matt Lauer hasn't stayed updated about social media's impact, as he was referring to the highlights of the opening ceremony that he has seen in pre-views, telling us how we'll be 'talking about this tomorrow'.  Really?  I already saw it on Facebook, Matt!   You're RIGHT, my Facebook friends WERE talking about the things that you were pointing out as highlights, as they were seeing it hours before I get to see it here in Colorado.  

The other years London hosted were 1908 and 1948. 1948 was right after World War II and rationing of some items were continuing in that country.  "Celebrating the Isles of Wonder" is the title of the opening ceremony and I have only known one woman personally who lived in England during the war and bombings, she was a teen girl at the time.   To look at the coverage tonight, reminding us that hours after London was announced seven years ago there was a terrorist attack there, and on the heels of last Friday's early morning shooting rampage here in Colorado, across the Continental Divide in the Denver metro area, it seems there people OVERALL have continued to prevail over time, and there has continually been some sort of adversity or another to 'get through'.  

I hope that this summer 2012 Olympics is one which unites people in small and also significant ways. I hope that the history which is sprinkled amid the presentation is seen by all who can appreciate the messages that come from our past to inspire our future by changing our perception of today.  I certainly know that I have already appreciated that in the 1948 games our first American citizen who was of Asian descent won a gold medal and he was only allowed to train one day a week due to his race.  A woman from the South of the United States, who was of African-American descent, beat a British woman in an event, who placed a kiss on the cheek of her winning competitor at the award ceremony, and THAT created some conversation back in 1948.  

What things are 'hot topics' today which we can help clarify and move along so they are no longer occupying the energy and time and other resources of people in the future?  What things can we be inspired by from the challenges the athletes go through in order to participate in such prestigious games?  What things are we going to enjoy TOGETHER, one way or another, from the opening ceremony?  Will we get to focus on these achievements and times and not be distracted by violence and tragedy?  I hope so.  And at the very least, I appreciate the reminder of the underlying and overriding message of how much change has occurred over the centuries and we are naturally in that process, and that humans have an unbelievable way of accomplishing things when they are able to put their minds, bodies, and spirits to it.  ~~ Mardy