When Dreams Come True

Polski: Oscar Pistorius podczas startu w 2. Memoriale Kamili Skolimowskiej, 20 września 2011 roku w Warszawie. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A little South African baby boy legs are amputated just below his knees.  A Kenyan girl leaves home seeking a way to take care of her family living in poverty.   A young African-American girl is forced to train while the process of her parents divorce hovers overhead.  She is also faced with the obstacles of being a black girl trying to excel at a sport not normally dominated by blacks.  A brash Jamaican boy with a mischievous attitude, went from relative obscurity to being one of the top marketable athletes in the world.  What do all the above have in common?  They all fought the odds and went on to Olympic glory in 2012.  Olympic glory is not defined by a medal, it is the spirit of being there. Of being in the spotlight while dreams are realized.

Some of us see the Olympics as a financial drain and waste of time.  Why would any country want to host such a thing when the world is in such economic turmoil?  Well after watching a fair bit of the Olympics yesterday, I can say that this thing is bigger than the world’s economy.  Bigger than politics and Hollywood. Much bigger.

Oscar Pistorius was the little boy from South Africa born without fibulas, which eventually led to amputations in both legs at the tender age of 11.  Despite the setback, he gained the use of special prosthetics that allowed him to take part in sports at a high level, eventually, the Olympics.  Oscar qualified for the 400m by placing third in his heat!  Quite an accomplishment in itself and one that had never been done before.  His story will warm your heart as will his winning and genuine smile.  He has faced criticisms in chasing his dream.  Critics debated whether he held an unfair advantage with his use of the specialized prosthetics.  With Oscar’s performance, children around the world who are living with handicaps can afford to dream and dream big!

Athletes from Kenya and other parts of the world, took the hard road to the Olympics.  Their stories leaves you in awe as they tell of their ailing parents and their many children living in huts.  The set out to be the best at what they do best, running, knowing that this would provide for them and their loved ones.  Inspiring to say the least.  After reading their story you will cheer for the Kenyans the next time you watch a race in which they are running.

By now most of us know the story of the darling of the Olympics, Gabby Douglas.  Gabby became the first African-American to capture gold in a sport not known for African-American domination, gymnastics.  Behind the scenes, Gabby is distracted by the impending divorce of her parents, partly due to her army dad deployment being prolonged.  Gabby has fought mental battles on her way to glory.  She finds strength in her faith in God and her 10000 watt smile on her face is worth gold.  Dreams do come through.  Thanks to you and others like you, color never has to be an excuse.

I watched the great Michael Phelps celebrate yet another medal to add to his world record haul, Serena Williams‘ antics as she easily dispensed of her Russian rival, Maria Sharapova.  Rosie Maclennan, the Canadian gold medal winner in the trampoline event.  Her deceased grandfather was her source of inspiration. The list goes on.  Each one has a story to tell and the looks on their faces as they compete and complete tells their own story.   Some collapsed on the field, tears flow, the grins broadens.  Some thank God and their family, some cry for the loved ones who were not there to share their moment, others cry as their dreams are realized. They encircle themselves with the flags of their countries, patriotism at its best.  No losers are here, they are all winners.

Yes, in a time when economic instability is everywhere, this is what the world needs.   Let’s all dream. Dreams can come true.

Related articles

• The Faith of Olympic Champion Gabrielle Douglas and the Strength of Her Mother (wisdomformom.com)
• http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2183256/Gabby-Douglas-secret-heartbreak-Gold-medal-sensation-tormented-absent-soldier-father–family-split-Olympic-dream.html
• http://www.npr.org/2012/07/28/157503759/kenyan-runners-dash-to-olympic-gold-and-wealth

Monkey follows olympic gymnast

That’s not the monkey bar!

May I have your attention please…Hello! Hello!  Oh, there you are, sorry for yelling.  I have another blog that is screaming for release.  Plus, it’s relevant to the Olympics which is taking place now, so I want to get it out there while it’s still relevant and fresh.

Ok, where do I start? Have you been following the Olympics at all? Even minimally?  If so, then you must have heard about Gabby Douglas, the darling of the games.  Gabby  happens to be black, (Go Sista! Represent!) and kicks some serious ass in gymnastics.  Yes! A black girl dominating a sport usually not reserved for us colored folks. Damn, I just identified my race. I hope this doesn’t interfere with our relationship.

Gabby Douglas, in winning the gold medal, became the very first African-American to do so.  Every television network worth their salt was talking about her exploits and NBC was no exception.  Well except what transpired after they were done talking about Gabby Douglas.  As soon as the sportscaster finished telling viewers what an accomplishment it was for an African-American girl to capture gold in such an event, the network proceeded to air an ad featuring a monkey doing gymnastics.  It was for a new show in that they were starting in the fall.

I am mad! I am steamed! I am upset! (Aren’t you going to ask me why?).  You automatically thought I am mad because of the monkey following Gabby?  Do I see it as an act of terrorism racism? Heck no.  I am mad about the protesters who took to twitter and other social media, to cry foul over this blatant act of racism.  (sarcasm).  Had I seen that apparent faux pas, I promise you that even as a brother, I would not have drawn such a conclusion.  It know that maybe I should be happy that us blacks have Twitterers and Facebookers looking out for our best interest but please I beg you, stop it! You are the ones who are waking up sleeping dogs here.   You see dead people.  You are just looking for a cause to protest.  Come on already!  Remember the Slave Shoes Adidas was attempting to produce?  They had ankle chains that prompted an outcry from those who cried foul and cried on their social media because it evoked memories of slavery.  Gad! Gimme a break! Adidas also had to issue an apology and dished production.
NBC was forced to send out an apology on their ill-timed ad.  In my opinion, or IMHO, this should have been a non-issue.  We should be celebrating this girl’s major accomplishment, not forever tarnishing it with our small-minded observations.  For all we know, it could have been an act of racism or maybe not.  We don’t know and we shouldn’t care. What people are saying behind our backs is none of our business.

Congratulations Gabby! Get that monkey off your back!

Note:  After all is said and done, I do agree on one thing, that the ad was indeed wrongly timed and as humans, we do suffer from foot in mouth diseases or brain freezes.

Related articles

• NBC Denies Any Racial Offense Was Meant By Olympic Monkey Promo (mediaite.com)
• NBC Apologizes For Monkey Gymnastics Spot After Gabby Douglas’ Win (alan.com)
• US TV Network Accused of Racism over Timing of Monkey Advertisement [VIDEO] (ibtimes.com)
• NBC coverage of Olympics causes outbreak of Offendeditis, Racial Obsession Syndrome (thedaleygator.wordpress.com)
• Gabby Douglas Makes History As First African-american Woman to Win Gold in Gymnastics (binsidetv.net)
• Adidas Slave Shoes