Go World

"The most important thing is not to win but to take part!".
--De Coubertin

Have you been watching the Olympics?
We have. We started Friday night with the opening ceremonies. We love the opening ceremonies. It is essential to have a globe nearby…. and cocktails… and in this case – take out Chinese. Hey… its close.
These ceremonies were absolutely spectacular, and watching the athletes arrive in the National Stadium had us all kinds of vaklempt.

Unfortunately, I have heard several times over the weekend folks saying they are boycotting the Olympics. People –do you really think that by not turning on your TV you will make a difference in the screwed up politics of China… um yeah… that sounds just like an American.

But really – what are you boycotting… the athletes.

Thousands of young people (well some…not so young) from around the world train sometimes their whole lives just to participate in these games. These hard working incredibly fit people don’t pick their venue. They just show up where they are told to go. How sad for them that after all their hard work you won’t turn the TV on because you don’t approve of the host countries policies.
Their moment of glory and you are watching Big Brother, or Dancing with the Stars.

Take for example Soraya Haddad of Algeria. Have you ever heard of her? Do you know she Bronzed in Judo yesterday? She picked up the sport when she was just 11, because her brothers did it. She says that her parents have been the most influential people in her career.

What about Dina Gorina from Baku, Azerbaijan? She is competing in Rhythmic Gymnastics. She may not even make it to the top 20 with the highly competitive American, Chinese and Romania teams. But this is her shining moment. She will tell her children this magical story of traveling to China to participate in the most amazing competition with athletes from all over the world. And her children will be proud. As are her parents. As is her country.

But you… no…you are watching repeats of CSI.
That’ll show those Chinese.

ok... now I'm pissed

seething even...

first - the background.

Ferris called us in the middle of the night a couple weeks ago (St. Patricks day in fact). He had been stopped by the police on campus walking back to his room from a party. He had been carrying a beer in his pocket, which he thought better of and tossed in a garbage can as soon as he saw the police. Evidently the cop heard the toss and went to look in. He found the beer and ticketed Ferris with 'minor in possession of alcohol."

Ferris was livid. The cop really had no proof that the beer was his, and when Ferris questioned the officer about that, he was told to take it up with a judge.
I calmed him as best I could on that late night call. The next day I did a little research and counselled him on my findings. It seemed from my research that the first offense was simply an infraction. Tho he must be wary of a second offense. We talked about the fact that if he went to court he would be asked about the beer directly and how did he want to handle that. He was... understandably, uncomfortable with lying, and we felt an admission of guilt may simply result in further fines.
He took the high road. As he does. Took responsibility for his actions, as a man should.
I was proud of him, and told him so. I also told him that he was also following OUR rules which are not to drink and drive- which is the most important.
I told him he was wise, and that we could put this behind us now.

Yesterday, we received a letter from the DMV - suspending his license for 60 days, with yet another fine to reinstate it.

WHAT?!?

He was no where near a car.
He's a college kid - with ONE beer.
Not a case of beer.
Not a keg of beer.
Not whiskey.
Not drugs.
No where near a CAR!
He was bothering no one, committing no acts of vandalism or violence.
Here is an upstanding kid, with a wonderful GPA, walking to his dorm room on campus - with ONE FREAKIN' BEER.

I am so tired of being the middle class grunt who has to pay for this system to run.
If we were poor - we simply wouldn't pay the ticket. The ramifications lost on our economic status.
If we were rich we would have lawyered up and gotten out it, with no penalty but to the pocket - the deep pocket. No harm, no foul, no lesson learned.

But No... we are good upstanding citizens taking responsibility for our actions - and losing.

What lesson are we teaching our kids? This is not one that I would teach.

This boy doesn't work - he goes to school, and doesn't have the money to cover these fines let alone a lawyer.
We sacrifice to give our children a higher education. And now we are forced to reach into our shallow pockets to support a system that will send my son to war, yet punish him for being a good kid, struggling to get an education, taking responsibility, and having a beer.