Olympics in America

Posted by Ferret on Aug. 4, 2012, 4:39 p.m.

It’s hard to deny that Olympics are pretty interesting. Even if I don’t really watch them intensely, I have to admit that the idea of countries from around the world, coming together, and giving the world a chance to see all of the greatest athletes in the world, all in one place, is pretty darn cool. Countries gathering into a single city, representing their home countries as individuals, but representing humanity as a whole. Countries fade, and in its place you see people sporting for the sake of the game. Well, unless you live in America.

I don’t think I’ve really touched upon my disdain for this country here on 64Digits that much, but something that really drives me nuts is it’s pride or patriotism. Team USA, Team USA, Team fucking USA. Is that really all that is going on over in London? No. No it’s not, but for all that we see, it may as well be. Sure, I can understand that a lot of people are interested in the sports we compete best in or even just barely compete, but what about all the other sports that some of us haven’t even heard of? Sure, I can understand an interview with the American team that just lost a water polo match, but how about the fucking people that just beat them? Just because they aren’t American doesn’t mean they aren’t amazing. We rarely get to hear about the other people. Every single time, when they have nothing to show, the empty space is filled up with all these dramatic background stories of people who are competing for America; sometimes they replay them, or sometimes they just fill the space with more ads. Have you seen some of the countries these people come from?! I’m all for seeing the guy triumph out from the broncs, but god damn there are countries with people who make it out with just as many tribulations, if not more. I want to see them, know their story, hear their voices, see their faces, and fucking acknowledge their existence, not as a person from another country, but as a person.

Pride should exist though, don’t get me wrong, if we are going to get that awesome interview with the Polish or Australian guy, I don’t give a shit if he or she talks about his or her love for the country they represent. Hell, they should give a shoutout or a challenge to America, let us know that we can be beaten; maybe then I’ll be on the edge of my seat. We need to see that there is pride for other things out there besides America. For us Americans, pride is shoved down our throats at an abnormally high level; it’s almost like America has compensation issues. Every single freaking commercial it’s some stupid company comparing themselves to olympians or talking about how they “help them reach their goals.â€? “Team USA,â€? it says at the bottom of the commercial, “Proud Sponsor of Team USAâ€? or (I love this one) “Official <noun> of the Olympics.â€? Even then, if they are the official something of an international event they still put an extra amount of American-esque flag patterns all around their logo and the traditional “Team USAâ€? at the bottom. Yeah, go McDonalds, way to represent America by being Olympics official choice of food, I’m sure athletes from all over the world are raving about American food by now.

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It’s the attitude really that is the problem here. We got to be number 1, number 1, number fucking 1… when we really aren’t. Maybe we can at least look close to number 1 at the Olympics, because we sure as hell suck at everything else. Whenever I say that, someone always likes to add “but your country have the best militaryâ€? as either: an act of kindly reminding me another reason to hate this country, or because of stupidity. Frankly, a military that does more harm than good (it occasionally does good, I looked into this), and gets an unnecessarily large amount of funding from a government that can’t afford it, it is the worst organized military in the world, in my opinion.

I love you, so much :(

Everyone already knows about America’s poor attitude though, this is nothing new. Really the Olympics, or the way that America approaches it, is just an example of the stupidity behind this country’s attitude. So nothing really has to be said, since really it’s just part of something bigger that will probably never go away or at least until the baby boomers die. Still, I just wish I got to see something, as international as the Olympics, from a world perspective and not from a spoiled country.

Comments

Rez 12 years, 4 months ago

Spoiled by comparison with the rest of the world. But everyone should have freedom.

thats what we gotta invade, because freedom!!!

Castypher 12 years, 4 months ago

Well said, Rez.

:')

Ferret 12 years, 4 months ago

Quote:
I should point out that you should never take me as confrontational. I'd pitch the opposition no matter what side you chose because that's what I do.
Don't worry, I like to do this too. Understood.

I don't want to make the illusion that I think this is the worst developed country by the way. Rez put it perfectly, and I don't think I'll be escaping the selfish behavior of humans by leaving America, I just think that there are better countries out there. Those better countries do have problems of their own, there isn't a single country in the world that would say the have no problems (except America :P), but I don't think they are as large and problematic as the ones here.

Castypher 12 years, 4 months ago

Quote:
I rather think they're just naive, stubborn politicians that in some cases genuinely believe they're doing the right thing
This is what I usually say, too. The problem with SOPA isn't that it's a terrible idea altogether, it's that it's poorly executed. I'm supportive of protecting copyrights and digital media, and that's why I've stopped pirating. They believe this is the solution when in reality, it's kind of a quick fix that has a lot of repercussions. I guess I can compare the government to a game developer and the people to a playerbase. You may think you know what they want, but you can't please everyone. Only when you allow yourself to receive feedback will you be able to accommodate for more people.

Shitty analogy, I know.

Unfortunately when I rant, I have a difficult time summarizing my thoughts into points that come across clearly. Some people may have noticed I edited that earlier comment ten times. Point is, I agree with everything here to an extent. When I was ranting, I only had a few people in mind and the frustrations of their incessant whining.

Rez 12 years, 4 months ago

I wish there was a country of unpatriotic, self-loathing realists with socialized medicine and a lively art scene. Maybe France? Germany and Japan might be good choices for higher amounts of fellow weirdos though.

I'm sorry, this relates to a conversation had about 20 comments ago.

Castypher 12 years, 4 months ago

The anti-Japanofag man we've come to know as Rez would consider going to Japan?

Castypher 12 years, 4 months ago

Rez should go to Vatican City.

Watch him die.

Castypher 12 years, 4 months ago

I was going to say something interesting but now the only thing I can say is….

That man is an elf.

colseed 12 years, 4 months ago

Quote:
I agree. I think the idea of a nation is really obsolete. I think a form of government that balances local rule (cities and counties) with loose global rule would work much better. I question how realistic that is though.
I've been working on a game based on a similar idea for the last 4 years.

Not even joking.

Toast 12 years, 4 months ago

Quote:
I agree. I think the idea of a nation is really obsolete. I think a form of government that balances local rule (cities and counties) with loose global rule would work much better. I question how realistic that is though.
I'm probably talking crazy, but I kind of hope that when we finally put men on Mars (hopefully in a Mars to Stay type scenario), we might inspire the next generation to establish a truly global identity.