The reason it’s been a couple days since my last post:

the Olympics, of course. Friday night, David and I watched the Opening Ceremonies. I was wide-eyed and well impressed. It made me want to be there more than ever, though. I have a Chinese friend I met online (Hi Lu Fei!) And his blog is pretty interesting – you should read it. There’s a link at the bottom (Fareonline). One of the most interesting things he had to say about the opening ceremonies (all of it is interesting) is this: 

 …I think that is the moment not only for the world get to known the new China, but the moment that a new image of world standing China. from decades of people’s struggling and sacrifice, the China is not the way it used to be, it is a fresh new image of China which contain harmony, peace, economic developed, intelligent, huge population, open, good will, etc.

You have to remember his English isn’t perfect, though pretty good, I think. Anyway, it’s been great talking back forth with him. 

So, tonight, so far, I’ve watch the men’s gymnastics team qualify 6th for the team competition, Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh win their first beach volleyball match, Michael Phelps win a gold and Ryan Lochte win a bronze in the Men’s Individual 400, and Katie Hoff win a bronze. 

I love our athletes. Seriously, the Olympics make me more patriotic: it’s the fact that individuals can have success at whatever level they want in whatever avenue they want in our country.  And that’s true – whether you believe it or not. Whether you take advantage of your opportunity or not. I guess that’s part of it. It’s your choice. 

And the Olympics also make me more hopeful for humanity. If athleticism becomes a language, it means we can at least talk to each other. And if something like sports can become a method of communication, it helps me believe that other things, like our common feelings, hopes, desires, and insufficiencies can unite us – not just for unity’s sake but for the goal of making us spiritual brothers and sisters.

And I thought I was good with words…

Last night I watched the 2008 Scripps National Spelling Bee live on television. I was seriously impressed with all of the contestants, and congrats to little guy who won, Sameer Mishra.

What gets me about these middle schoolers is that they are so brilliant and decently composed (some better than others) but they are still just 12, 13, 14-year-olds going through puberty and the infamous awkward stage in life. As I watched each finalist approach the microphone to hear the word they were destined to spell in each round, I noticed their nervous shuffles, or huge strides in their walks, or that timid twinkle in their eyes, or that occasional hair twist when in doubt. And I thought: these are the kids that get made fun of and yet these are the kids who everyone else actually envies as opposed to the typical prep. I thought to myself that even at a young age, we, as people, realize that the qualities we really seek after are not the cool clothes or the nice things but the acceptance that we can do something well and the ability to achieve it. And that’s exactly what these kids I watched last night did. They achieved something they never thought they could. And for Sameer, the winner, he gloried in his ultimate goal at this stage in life. And he’s only 13.

Basically, these kids were an inspiration to me. And it goes to show that KIDS ARE WAY COOL.

How and why does this happen?

I’m talking about Myanmar’s political leaders stubbornly rejecting the relief of aid workers from around the world. Everyday that they delay, people are dying. Why would they let there own people die? I share the same sentiment as Shari Villarosa, the top American diplomat in Myanmar when she said “none of this makes any sense.”

I remember how Americans criticized our own country for a lack of organization when Katrina hit 3 years ago. But this isn’t just disorganization, this is utter lack of compassion on the political regime’s part for their own people. This is pride. They will accept the aid but not the assistance in distributing it. Don’t they see that the task is too big for them? Aid workers have pursued visas, but the offices have been closed for a three day holiday. Holiday? Three days will be too late for many of those people.

So what happens? What does the rest of the world do? I believe the thought of “relief invasion” has been brought up, but it seems that the UN have only ruled, I believe in 2005, to respond with those measures if a country’s leaders are actually killing their people, and from how it appears, the Myanmar authorities are only “not saving” the victims. But isn’t that the same thing?

And why is the government apparently letting journalists in to film and document their people lying in filth and disease but not allowing aid workers in to actually help? Do they want the rest of the world to know about this burden but not help in the relief?

And how do I, sitting here in my comfortable living room, clothes on my back, food in my stomach, intact shelter over my head, and lovely weather outside I can see from window, do anything about it?

I cried out to God: why does this happen? An emotion left unanswered it seems. Because I see these people’s faces and I long for the redemption of their country. I long for their leaders to be broken and softened. I feel the urge to jump on a plane and hold some Myanmar child in my arms. But I can’t. I am left empty-handed.

And yet I have everything. “I shall not want” says the psalmist. And then, yes, I pray. I still pray.

If you have any thoughts or insight on this, please share it with me. I feel my soul would be, perhaps, comforted by hearing another’s ideas.