Joy in Torino

02/15/2006

Paul Munnis

We wished our athletes well as they left for Torino and we hoped that they would show a great depth of spirit as they went into competition for their gold medals. So far we have been thrilled with their class act.

Whether it be Michelle Kwan, who withdrew from competition after a groin injury and did it in a timely way to make room for a fellow team-mate to go for the gold, or the utter charm and honesty of our young accomplished snowboard competitors, or the tough minded brutal honesty of competitors like Johnny Weir, we Americans have much to be proud of in the performance of our Olympic Team members..

Our American youth are representing us well. They are representing their generation well. They are a matter of national pride to all of us. They are serving as an antidote to the callous image of America portrayed by our government abroad. They are thus a breath of fresh air in a smog-filled world.

Who knows what tomorrow may bring? Yet today we can revel in the Olympic moment and bask in the glow of these great young people and their simple, elegant, character development. That exhibit is the best podium performance of all. They are earning a Gold Medal for America in a competition not a part of the official Olympic events a competition for raising a generation of spiritually well developed people.

God Bless these guys and gals and good luck to all of them.