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.
I too am watching the Olympics. I enjoy the competition and I feel we should support our athletes. I also wish these Olympics games were anywhere but China. Even if I could afford to go to the Olympics I would not, just on principle. I would not spend one dollar in that country. But I will watch the games.
One of the things that truly bothers me is the pressure put upon the Chinese athletes to win for China. Especially this year with the spotlight on China, they MUST do well and I feel badly for the athletes who let China down. These are much more than just Olympic games for the Chinese. This is their big "coming out" party and they will NOT be humiliated in front of the world. How can anyone perform under that pressure? Sure, the U.S. athletes are competing for the U.S. too, but they also compete for themselves. That has never been the case in Communist countries, because the accomplishments of the "individual" are not recognized.
I get very tired of the Olympics after two or three days and look for anything else to watch when we turn on the tv. Really prefer Winter Olympics to Summer. My favorite is ice skating. Though I enjoy most of the gymnastics - just not the balance beam.
Have a great Sunday, dolly.
I am watching the Olympics... I always do.
Great swimming just shown..
I hope your mom has benefitted from her stay in rehab..
Good luck on welcome home preparations!