Pursuing the Olympic spirit

I haven’t written much recently, and maybe that’s a good thing. There are fewer hot-button issues out there than there were a year ago.

Sure, some people are protesting whether to allow protests at the Olympics. The worldwide sporting event is all about unity and competition, and not about politics. Can’t we set our differences aside for two weeks and enjoy our fittest athletes pursuing excellence?

Unity through sports

Or is unity so unreachable, that we’ve given up hope on ever attaining it, so we no longer even try?

Sports is a wonderful unifier. No matter your race, religion, upbringing, culture, language or place of origin, if you excel as a runner, swimmer, soccer player, table tennis player or boxer, you are offered a platform where you have a chance to earn a medal as one of the best in the world at what you do. (Hot dog eating contests don’t count, sorry.)

I wish we could enjoy sports just because they’re there. Baseball, football and basketball used to be like that in this country, too. I think instant replay has done more harm to those sports than athletes’ protests have, because replay takes the human element – we are humans after all – out of them.

Deep thinking required

Right or wrong, we revere our athletes. That gives them a platform that most of us don’t have to share their views on issues of the day. (Social media has closed the gap somewhat.)

LeBron James, Serena Williams and now Naomi Osaka are almost as well known for their stances on social issues as they are for their athletic performances. Good for them. If you don’t agree, that’s your right. But if they challenge your thinking, they’ve done their job.

If you disagree, mount a defense. A one-sentence meme doesn’t cut it. Does Osaka have a right to shun the media at high-profile tennis tournaments? Think it through before you offer an opinion.

My news feed is much tamer these days than it was a year ago. I have unfollowed a number of friends who hold strident views, declare those views often, and could care less what the rest of us think. I have no patience for that anymore.

If you’d like to have an intelligent discussion, I’m all in – even if I disagree with you. You have your reasons, and so do I. I’m not afraid to make you uncomfortable if that’s what it takes to get your attention. If you can express a viewpoint I haven’t considered before, I’m indebted to you.

Higher values

But I’d rather focus on issues that unify us, if any of those exist anymore.

Several times a month, I volunteer with the American Red Cross, registering donors at blood drives. I served at one recently at the organization’s Lorain County (Ohio) office. I saw a plaque on the wall listing its five values. They are:

• Compassionate: We are dedicated to improving the lives of those we serve and to treating each other with care and respect.
• Collaborative: We work together as one Red Cross family, in partnership with other organizations and always embrace diversity and inclusiveness.
• Creative: We seek new ideas, are open to change and always look for better ways to serve those in need.
• Credible: We act with integrity, are transparent guardians of the public trust and honor our promises.
• Committed: We hold ourselves accountable for defining and meeting clear objectives, delivering on our mission and carefully stewarding our donor funds.

Now I know why I like the Red Cross so much. Those are values I can get behind.

And like the Olympics, the Red Cross is an international organization that serves anyone who needs its services. It offers these fundamental principles:

• Humanity: The Red Cross, born of a desire to bring assistance without discrimination to the wounded on the battlefield, endeavors — in its international and national capacity — to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found. Its purpose is to protect life and health and to ensure respect for the human being. It promotes mutual understanding, friendship, cooperation and lasting peace amongst all peoples.
• Impartiality: It makes no discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. It endeavors to relieve the suffering of individuals, being guided solely by their needs, and to give priority to the most urgent cases of distress.
• Neutrality: In order to continue to enjoy the confidence of all, the Red Cross may not take sides in hostilities or engage at any time in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature.
• Independence: The Red Cross is independent. The national societies, while auxiliaries in the humanitarian services of their governments and subject to the laws of their respective countries, must always maintain their autonomy so that they may be able at all times to act in accordance with Red Cross principles.
• Voluntary service: The Red Cross is a voluntary relief movement not prompted in any manner by desire for gain.
• Unity: There can be only one Red Cross society in any one country. It must be open to all. It must carry on its humanitarian work throughout its territory.
• Universality: The Red Cross is a worldwide institution in which all societies have equal status and share equal responsibilities and duties in helping each other.

You see, there are values higher than partisan politics. It can be done.

We can do better

I’m sure there are other venues and organizations that serve us with similar principles.

With the 2020 summer Olympic Games (they were delayed a year by COVID-19) upon us, let’s take a minute to put down our swords and bring up our plowshares, to use a biblical phrase. Let’s just enjoy the Games for what they are: the best athletes in the world competing at the highest level. Let’s celebrate achievement, and let’s honor effort.

Let’s also be inspired to do our best in life, to give our best effort. Let’s encourage each other to do the same.

If all of us can do that, perhaps protests won’t even be needed.