It’s a scary thing being an American these days.
People hate Americans for reasons out of Americans’
personal control. They resent the toes this country has stepped on
and its rise to prosperity. They want to hurt Americans because
that is the nature of life ““ to take down those on top.
To the United States’ enemies, all Americans are
targets.
And this summer few Americans will be bigger targets than
Olympic athletes ““ a few of which are from UCLA.
Fears of this have fueled recent speculation that the United
States might pull out of the Olympics because of security
questions. Whether it is justified, this would ruin the dreams of
hundreds of hardworking athletes.
“It would be a huge disappointment if we did boycott the
Olympics,” said Chelsea Johnson, UCLA’s Olympic hopeful
in the pole vault.
“I trust whatever decision they make,” she added.
“Obviously, our lives are more important than competing in
Greece.”
Granted, it would take dire circumstances for a U.S. withdrawal
to take place, but even the possibility is frightening because
America needs these games.
With all the negative feelings toward this country, the United
States needs the opportunity to show its positive side, a side
devoid of politics, violence and bigotry.
U.S. Olympic athletes have a unique chance to be a pleasant face
representing the Stars and Stripes and counteracting the negative
images repeatedly generated over the past few years and especially
the past few weeks.
A handful of Bruin women’s track and field and
women’s water polo stars likely will have the honor of
representing something that runs deeper than the blue and gold.
Olympians will have “USA” emblazoned on their
uniforms and compete for the glory of this country. They will be
competing against the the best in the world.
Hundreds of millions of Americans will feel pride in the
athletes’ accomplishments.
Beyond this fact, the Olympic Games are the single event that
commands the entire world’s attention, making their
significance defy mere sports.
So, the Olympics may be an opportunity terrorists may be
hard-pressed to ignore. This idea is not without precedent ““
the 1972 Olympics in Munich made for the largest catastrophe in
modern sports history.
If chosen, Bruin athletes may be headed into a situation with
many questions surrounding this summer’s games. They would
enter a world not far on the map from a Middle East at the height
of its active hatred.
“I have been hearing about things in Iraq and the
anti-Americanism overseas,” said Sheena Johnson, UCLA’s
Olympic hopeful in the 400-meter hurdles. “But I was hopeful
that it wouldn’t extend to Greece.”
Greece, though, harbors much anti-American sentiment.
Just last week, three bombs exploded in front of an Athens
police station. Though no link to terrorism has been established,
this is an example of the goings-on of what generally is considered
one of the more dangerous cities in Europe.
So Americans face uncertainty and will continue to face
uncertainty until the games’ last day and until American
athletes are secure at home.
For no other reason than they are American, U.S. Olympic
athletes must deal with anxiety over not just being targeted by
athletic competitors.
Going to the Olympics in general takes heroism and courage
This year, it will take extra.
E-mail Peters at bpeters@media.ucla.edu.