Chauvinism! Only too human.

I confess, I'm a chauvinist, and not proud of it.  I've always disliked the emphasis that U.S. journalists put on American sports figures (mainly broadcast journalists) while ignoring exceptional athletes from other countries, and in some cases worse.  The young Chinese swimmer who made better time than an American male swimmer must be on drugs (yesterday's N.Y. Times)--perhaps she is, but at least wait for a drug test before accusing.  The Olympics is the gold standard for American chauvinism.  I still remember Irina Slutskaya, the Russian figure skater, who was cheated out of gold by Sarah Hughes, a very inferior American skater, yet none of the American press would acknowledge the hit. The international press had a field day. Cold war politics still dominated the Olympics.

So today when one of the better Russian gymnasts faulted in her routine and was devastated, in tears after, I celebrated as I knew it assured the American team gold.  The Russians were just a few tenths behind the Americans when it happened, and the Americans did win gold, and I'm happy for them.  I just don't like myself for my reaction as I believe that the same attitude, only more virulent, is what fosters all the hate and ugliness in this world.  Ironically, the Olympics is supposed to bring us together to celebrate our oneness, but we still live by the medal counts and the chauvinism.  Sigh!