Monday, November 2, 2009

Muddled thoughts of a Mighty torch



I am not particularly pro-Olympics 2010, being held this February in my province. I think it is far too much money spent on far too few people and mostly benefiting powerful corporations and a few elite athletes (who are sponsored by powerful corporations). I think the prestige and dollars we throw at sports today is disproportionate to their importance in a civil society, and I can’t imagine a province spending so much in celebration of the arts. I am disturbed by the displacement of the poor to make way for tourists and Olympic venues, by the extravaganza that benefits the rich now and post Olympics, by the debt that the taxpayers of BC and particularly Vancouver will be left with.

And yet I couldn’t help but get caught up in the excitement when the Olympic Torch made its journey through my little village of Crofton on Hallowe’en afternoon.



I decided to join the throngs of people because we are a very small community and it is a chance to share some community spirit. And no matter how I feel about the Olympics, I love being part of anything that celebrates my beautiful country. My presence at the torch relay was more about my overwhelming love for Canada and my delight in things patriotic than it was about recognizing athletic excellence.

And so Else and I took Archie and Sadie and joined the others flag-waving Croftonites. And it was fun. Lots of people, children and adults alike, were dressed up in Hallowe’en costumes.




There was music and pumpkins and games and picture-taking. There were police and firetrucks and Olympic 2010 motorhomes.




There were idiots throwing firecrackers into the crowd (about which the police did very little).


Everybody and his or her dog (literally – this is a very dog-friendly town, and most of the dogs are very social) came out.






Soon, the little ferry from Saltspring Island landed, and the police, 2010 officials, and runner with torch came into view.










And it was good. And it was fun. And someone even put a video of it on YouTube.

But I still think six billion dollars can be much better spent than on a two week event celebrating sports in a province where hundreds of children go to bed hungry, in a world where people die for lack of food and clean water.

Perhaps Sadie was right to fly her flag upside down - the universal symbol of distress.

And yet....I'm not sure.

3 comments:

turtlegardens said...

Very good blog - well balanced. Dave and I salute you. The most vulnerable are paying for the hype. Thank you for telling it like it is yet still participating with your community! Well done. Yvette

Anonymous said...

I'm not real big on the 2010 Olympics either. Have to say I figure we will all pay for a long time to come (us small guys) and not see the rewards (big guys).

When the torch comes through my town, I won't be there supporting it, because I believe as you do Jean that there are far more needy and worthy causes in our province, and world.

Sharon

Black Jack's Carol said...

Very interesting post, Jean, as always. I am right there with you in my muddled thinking. I love the idea of the tradition carried forward from ancient times, and having huge respect for the athletes' self-discipline and talent. But, the truth is that I cannot afford to attend the games, am fully aware of those who could use that money just to stay alive, and dread the campers and their garbage/noise/music destroying, once again, the wildlife at Jericho. I know of one person who has bought up several thousand dollars worth of tickets, planning to scalp them for at least three times the original price. On the news last night, there was a story of torch runners advertising to sell their torch and with it, the opportunity to run. It seems the original spirit may have been lost?