Besides the sports, there are alot of issues going on with the Games, including environmental pollution, politics, human rights, and religion. Last month at the White House the President told the Olympians they are more than sports competitors. He called them "ambassadors of liberty" who represent America's "regard for human rights and human dignity."
Several days I ago I saw on the White House website that President Bush met recently
with five Chinese freedom activists to discuss his concerns about human rights in China. The Press Secretary wrote:"The President assured them that he will carry the message of freedom as he travels to Beijing for the games, just as he has regularly made this a priority in all of his meetings with Chinese officials. He told the activists that engagement with Chinese leaders gives him an opportunity to make the United States' position clear - human rights and religious freedom should not be denied to anyone."
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/07/20080729-4.html
As I am writing these words, I am watching on TV the news reports of President Bush's speech in Thailand today. He kept his word to the Chinese activitsts. In the speech he clearly and forcefully addressed the human rights and religious freedom issues in China. Rapidly, Chinese officials replied that such matters are their own internal affairs.
On Friday Bush will meet the president of the International Olympic Committee, and then members of the U.S. Olympic Team for a presidential pep talk. I am reminded of a scene from my all-time favorite movie, Chariots of Fire (four Oscars, including Best Picture, in 1982).
The tru
e story is about two British track athletes, Harold Abrahams, a determined Jew at Cambridge, and Eric Liddell (photo on left), a devout Christian from Scotland, who compete in the 1924 Olympics in Paris. The scene to which I refer is when the Prince of Wales has a conversation with Eric Liddell about his refusal to run a race on Sunday. Fortunately, a creative solution was found. Eric changed from the 100 meters to the 400 meters. Harold won the gold medal for the 100 meters, and Eric won the gold in the 400 meters.
There is an interesting connection with Eric Liddell to this Olympics being held in Beijing. Eric was born in China to missionary parents, and died in China in 1945, as a missionary during the Japanese occupation. Because of his birth and death in the country some of China's Olympic literature lists Eric Liddell as China's first Olympic champion.
When Chariots of Fire was released I was living in Brazil and saw the movie there. The movie struck so many chords with me, as it still does after seeing it perhaps a dozen times or more. When Brooks manufactured a running shoe called "Chariots," I was able to get a courier to bring me several pairs from the States.
When Chariots of Fire was released I was living in Brazil and saw the movie there. The movie struck so many chords with me, as it still does after seeing it perhaps a dozen times or more. When Brooks manufactured a running shoe called "Chariots," I was able to get a courier to bring me several pairs from the States.
If you can stand some inspiratation, watch this wonderful clip of the race when Eric Liddell wins the gold medal.It includes my favorite quote of the movie: "I believe God made me for a purpose. He also made me fast, and when I run, I feel His pleasure."
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