Perception is Reality: Patriotism is Dead

IN 2006, I blogged a post called “Where is the Olympic Luster?” and it is getting visits in light of the 2008 Summer Olympics that are currently taking place. At the time, it was a simple pondering about whether or not I had become disenfranchised about the whole thing.

There was a day when I watched the Olympics with some sort of passion (as much as a twelve-year-old could anyway). But it seems, I no longer have any such sentiment. I really couldn’t care any less about the Olympics.

The sad fact is that I really don’t feel any different today than I did back then. But now I am thinking more about it. In general, the Olympics have become so much less than what they once were.

There is no doubting that the world has become a massive melting pot where boundaries between countries that once existed have been eliminated or less obtrusive. The rise in technology, mass transportation, easier crossing of borders have made hub culture a reality of life. The extermination of the “cold war” and the growing disenfranchisement with the so-called “war on terror” have left so many with a loss of nationalism.

In fact, we now have athletes participating for countries that are not their native lands. Add to that the fact that we have become a culture that thrives on individual celebrity status as well as the certain reality that many of the Olympians are doping in some fashion, there is little to get excited about.

Ratings show that the Games are being watched, but I still don’t see that rooting interest that once was present. People used to wait for the games with dire interest and salivated over the prospect of seeing their country bring home the gold. This sentiment plateaued when the US sent over the original “dream team” to crush the competition.

Had it not been for Michael Phelps, I don’t think I would know one thing about the latest installment of the Olympics. The events would be overshadowed by political BS, protesters, and tragedy. Instead, that thirst and fascination with individual celebrity status shines through.