Well, of course, the big news right now is Iraq's soccer team making it to the Olympic quarterfinals.
I have decided that, even if it DOES help Bush in November, I want this team to win.
We are fortunate as Americans in not knowing what it is like to live in a war torn country. When the casualties of war roll in, they come in on C-130's, from another place, not from next door. When our children walk outside, we don't have to worry about them getting blown up by unexploded ordinance or a land mine. They can BE children.
The people in Iraq have not had such a privilege in many, many years.
The success of the Iraqi soccer team is one small step towards normalcy, one miniscule move towards the day when Iraqi children can run across the street and trade cards of their favorite footballers and not have to worry about being cut down in the street. It is just a small glimpse of a dream that wasn't available to many of them until recently.
And it is a dream that every child in every country in the world should be able to possess.
More than that, this is what the Olympics are truly about, solidarity, and for 2 short weeks, forgetting about killing one another.
Iraq, we salute you!
signing off,
Gideon MacLeish