One Nation, Indivisible

It's late August, and the Republicans are meeting in Florida to nominate their 2012 Presidential candidate. Next month, the Democrats will do the same in North Carolina. And because American politics has become so scripted and predictable, it's possible to summarize the conventions before they begin, saving time for more important activities like shopping for back to school supplies.

"It's Time to Get America Back On Its Feet Again," also known as "It's Time to Make America Great Again." (Because the Other Guys Screwed it Up)

Apparently, everything we--or the incumbent party--has been doing is wrong and, as a result, we've become a mere shadow of our former self. While it's certainly true that we make collective mistakes and occasionally find ourselves headed in the wrong direction, America generally does a pretty good job taking care of its business and maintaining the whole shining beacon of democracy ideal. We must project a fairly powerful image for people to freeze in the wheel well of an airplane, suffocate in a semitrailer, or drown clinging to a plywood raft trying to get here. 

But not according to the Republicans or Democrats. Perfunctory attention will be paid to where we're going, to our plan for the future. Instead, we believe we'll never be as good as we once were, so our attention will be directed toward replaying the past rather than planning the future. Happy Days--the Richie Cunningham version--are here again, and all will be right with the world. And where did it all go wrong? To listen to them, we're on the road to self-destruction, because, of course, we listened to the Democrats. Or the Republicans. The Democrats, or the Republicans, tried to warn us four years ago, and we didn't listen. So we'd better listen now, or else in four years we'll be on the road to self-destruction because we listened to the Republicans. Or the Democrats. 

See how easy that is? Two conventions, eight days of speeches and photo-ops distilled into one easy lesson: We're in trouble, so listen to the Democrats. Or the Republicans.

And there's still time for school supplies.

London 2012™

The Games are over, the first two weeks in August having sped by in a flurry of competition and consumption.

From the 27th of July until the 12th of August, more than 10,000 athletes from 204 countries competed in over 300 different medal events. Eleven million tickets were sold, 8 million man-hours donated, 14 million meals served in the Olympic Village. And we witnessed Michael Phelps, the greatest Olympian in history, Usain Bolt, the US Women's Gymnastics team, and a host of less heralded athletes strive to be stronger, to go both faster and higher. And whether it resulted in Great Britain's record 65 medals, or the lone--and first ever--medal for Gabon, it was the competition that mattered.

And while the world watched London, world events continued. 

North Koreans continue to die from starvation while their First Lady rummages through a Dior handbag. Israelis still can't get along with Palestinians, and the Taliban can't get along with anyone. Iraq is in shambles, Iran continues to bluster, Syria won't listen, and no one can seem to find the off ramp in Afghanistan. The Olympics weren't the only thing to watch.

Say what you will about the games, and there is, of course, plenty to criticize. They are expensive, disruptive, and tend to leave a trail of white elephants in their wake. But I would also say that they are one of our defining creations, and perhaps the only true collaborative achievement in our history. For these two weeks, 204 nations ignored their geo-political disputes and cultural differences, living together and competing as individuals, more for themselves and less for the glory of their flag. The question of which nation was better, which one stronger was moot, and the accolades reserved solely for the athletes themselves.  Why is that? Why are we able to forget our disagreements and focus instead on a common goal for a few short weeks every two years? How is it that our nationality can so easily, so willingly step aside in favor of our humanity only in the context of sport?

At the end, as the Olympic flag is being passed to the next host city, the president of the IOC lays the foundation for the next Games, exhorting "the youth of the world to assemble, four years from now," confident that they will, and that the spirit of competition will continue.

It's too bad no one can exhort the nations of the world to assemble, and be just as optimistic.