That once there was a spot,
For one brief shining moment
That was known as Camelot.”
-Learner and Loewe
Every few years, the world gets it right.
Every few years, athletes from around the world convene, tell the politicians to stick it where the sun don’t shine, and compete in either the summer or winter Olympics.
This winter’s games, hosted by the Canadian gem that is British Columbia, apparently hasn’t garnered too much attention as a CNN poll reveals that only about 15% of us will closely follow the events. I suppose that’s understandable given the pathetic shape of our economy that has diverted our focus and has so many of us struggling to get by from week to week. Still, I envy the athletes who experience the camaraderie born from head-to-head competition and, for one brief shining moment, show the entire world that Camelot can exist, should exist, but, for totally asinine reasons, will never exist except in Olympic venues.
I’ve lived a long time and, by now you would think I‘d have figured out how, as a global village, we can turn off international harmony as casually as turning off a lamp - that once the closing ceremonies of the Olympics have concluded and darkness has enveloped the stadium, all of the exhilarating moments of the previous weeks are erased from our memory banks and it’s back to business as usual. Back to the chaos and madness we’ll have to endure until the next Olympics comes along to again remind us of the Camelot we desperately want; desperately need, but apparently will never attain.
Copyright February 2010 - phil cerasoli
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