I don't do politics... My husband does all the politics for our family, and - believe me! - it's enough for a dozen of future generations to follow. The reason that I don't do politics is because I refuse to have my emotions manipulated by somebody else. What makes it worse is that I am a Russian living in the USA, married to a US naturalized Brit with 3 children that are - well - American! You see why I refuse to have my emotions manipulated?
But today... today I am irked.
I watched the Olympics opening ceremony last evening. I didn't want to watch it! I didn't want to watch it, because I knew I would have to deal with a lot of difficult emotions. Here goes this word again, 'emotions'. Yet, almost like you can't help but still take a peek at a car crash while you are driving by, my hands - as if they had a life of their own - tiptoed towards a remote control and found the recording of the Olympics Opening Ceremony in Pyeongchang.
And as I watched it, overwhelmed by so many emotions I had been working hard on keeping in check - I realized what irked me so much.
The Olympic Games are supposed to be about unity. About people from all around the world getting together to celebrate sports and the spirit of respectful competitiveness. Yet the Olympic Games and the World Cup have recently become the most sought-after target of relentless politicization. We are not supposed to hate the other guys' team. We are supposed to celebrate, unite and support strong and impressive athletes who have worked hard all their lives to get to that point in their career.
As I watched the Russian team come out onto the stadium carrying the Olympic flag, my heart sank. And I don't even like patriotism. I think it's dangerous. But when you allow athletes to compete but don't let them associate themselves with their country, what is the logic in that? Who is being punished?
When you tell me that I can't address the team as Russian, it is not the government of Russia, or its president, who you are taking a punch at. You are taking a punch at the sweet fragrance of lilacs in early May. You are taking a punch at that sun-drenched afternoon in my kitchen when my grandmother is baking pancakes. You are taking a punch at that memory of my mom's warm hand holding mine when as we are walking through the snow-drizzled fairy-tale of a winter park.
As I sat there on my couch, drowning in the complicated flurry of surprisingly painful feelings, I made a conscious decision not to be mad at any team. Politics aside, I will support them all, because they have nothing to do with their governments, and they should not be punished for their government's actions.
Here is to the exciting and fascinating Winter Olympic Games 2018! Politics aside :).
Image is the courtesy of high.vibrational on Instagram
