It is interesting to experience enthusiasm and patriotism welling up
within the nation and myself, as the Olympics play on in BC.
There is little room for any other news; and whatever else gets
reported on is completely overshadowed by the latest gold medal. I’m quite enjoying that - there’s much more good news
than bad these days.
But I wonder how different our response to the Haitian earthquake
would be, if it happened during the Olympics.
Which news event would squeeze the other out?
What would draw us more, the thrills of hockey, or compassion for
those in need? Do we have the
capacity to be bifocal? I
hope so, and yet if we compared the cost of these games, which last for 2
weeks, to the amount sent for relief to Haiti, whose needs will be great
for years and years, we’d see where our priorities lie.