Very busy here today & so I will read/lurk a bit but will be getting ready for plumber, delivery of hospital equipment & mom's return home tomorrow morning.. To say I am unprepared is an understatement!
Know there are mixed feelings on the Olympics
I will watch the Olympics & with relish. I thoroughly enjoy the games & learning about the athletes from our & other countries & watching the competition. There are many of the events I am still learning about. I find the things of China fascinating & impressive. Yes, the govt scares me & abuse is not good. It would be nice if we could magically turn every nation into a little America with our ideals, goals & beliefs.
The political I can separate. The Olympic committee made a decision years ago for this venue & if I were financially able I would have loved to gone to watch & be part of the festivities. Right now I feel if China wanted to make us China 2 , well, I believe they could. I have no idea about their or our striking potential but the sheer size & power of the country impresses me & makes me NOT want a conflict with them. My understanding is that we see the strength at this point with China as a trading partner (yes they have a lot of crap we need to weed thru - cheap isn't always good), but you just cant ignore or discount a country of powerful leadership of 1.3 billion people.
Turning a cold shoulder isn't going to change that. Most of us know you cannot legislate morality - especially to other people. I am not a globalist per se. I feel our integrity & sovereignty are important. In certain areas one must be players or at least open to what is out there. I don't want us to become European pawns, nor Asian doormats or Mideast martyrs along the way but I think our president has done a good job to keep the channels of communication open & has a good relationship with world leaders to avert problems & settle things if possible. Some things you cant & other options are used, which is great. The theory of discussion & negotiation till we are hoodwinked is not good to me!
We cant be the world's bullies & strong arms (at least not too often - lol)..
I am loving seeing our president & others we appreciate fully enthused and part of the Olympics. I am sure he wishes he could stay the course. Esp when he meets for first time with the press at home.. he will be thinking, I WOULD MUCH RATHER BE THERE!
I have friends & relatives who have traveled extensively in China. My personal experience decades ago was limited into the country but ALL exposure I found, the people were like people here in USA. Family was important, they could be nice or curt, the had the interest & leanings of friendship.
So I will enjoy the games.. pray for the safety of ALL athletes, all tourists. I will pray for leadership in other countries that can do things in ways that are ethical, humane & fair.
My past participation & competition (AT A VERY LOW LEVEL) in diving, swimming & gymnastics fuel my interest in those areas but my major(one) undergrad in PE has given me maybe a bit more understanding of some of the events than I would have - had I just been the biology or psychology major (my other two majors - it took forever to get a BS degree)
My visit with Mom last night was shorter than I planned. I had had a very demanding physical day & was very sore - back & headache. Wheelbarrow, helped me mow yesterday afternoon until the mower headed south. We had dinner with mom in her room & watched some of Olympics. Wheelbarrow went to living room (big with big TV & sofas. He was out asleep on sofa in a few minutes). I was prepared to stay & watch all the games but my back got progressively worse & then the big storms began.. needed to get dogs out of deluge (they were tied up to a great area next to adjacent forest). It was good to get home, get hot bath & get prone to watch games
Well, I need to get busy. Will just have a short visit with mom later & take home some of her stuff.. I wold love to find a cheap wardrobe for her family room “room”. I have been hanging her clothes on the curtain rod above the sliding patio doors.. It works but would like to keep the room more organized if possible.
I have just scanned the thread & what fun .. Betty Boop from Billie, great graphics & poetry, funny humor. Hope I can be really back with you all eventually.