Head to head. Face to face.
The unmistakable reality is that only one person could win. Sure, there is second place — sometimes even third, maybe fourth — but a single soul is declared the victor. There’s only one gold medal, so-to-speak. The race was on.
The field was fascinating… diverse… and clearly, uniquely gifted. This was their moment in time. Some candidates were quite loquacious; others were more silent in their approach. Some had much to share, while still others kept to the seemingly simple talking points. Some, too, seemed serious or determined, no doubt resolute in their prized ambition; they would allow nothing to distract them from their cause. Others were obviously more “go-with-the-flow,” even though such wasn’t necessarily an articulated, admired status.
When the race began, it was profound…
Some began with a bang — others with more of a whimper.
Some egged the crowd on — others found the crowd too stimulating. One endeared competitor sorrowfully had to leave the arena.
There was another young man who had a physical altercation with another. I was touched by the woman and child who deliberately paused to pick him up.
As each finished the so-called fight, the entire crowd cheered.
In fact, the entire crowd cheered for every competitor.
No matter the pace — no matter the candidate — no matter how they ran or how they played the game — each entrant was celebrated for who he was and what place they came in… even if said placement was something other than number one.
No competitor was viewed as adversarial. The idea of being “evil” or an “enemy” simply because one was the identified opponent was obviously furthest from every mind. Each competitor was celebrated. Each hand was either shaken or high-fived. Losing did not equate to anything lesser.
I remain struck, my friends, by the consistent lack of civility within the competitive process… whether that be a politician vying for position… a parent cheering on only their child, thinking he or she must make the team… or one of us advocating for one person or party only and always.
We could learn a lot from the competition the Intramuralist witnessed yesterday, as there’s nothing quite like the Special Olympics. As first introduced by Eunice Kennedy Shriver at the inaugural 1968 Special Olympics international games, each athlete vows the following:
“Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”
Every politician, parent, and pundit should vow the same regardless of the game they play. Every athlete, candidate, and competitor should be celebrated. And opponents should not be viewed as evil or adversarial.
Yes, we have much to learn from the special, Special Olympic athletes. Perhaps we have more to learn from them than they actually do from us.
Respectfully,
AR