Today, my Hebrew Prof (a known proponent against the 2010 games) ended the class by inviting us to view the Olympics through the lens of Daniel 3. The story of Nebuchadnezzar and his statue was compared to the Olympics and how they expect us to bow down. At this point, it seems like a stretch, however, it is not hard to see the connections if you want to. Connections between Nebuchadnezzar and his quest for loyalty to power and authority. These themes seem quite obvious in games like the Olympics in which you see a heavy military presence, corporate sponsorship and the winner being glorified above all. If you aren’t convinced, just remember that it is the medal count that matters to a country and not much else (think China).
Now in light of Royce’s previous post, it is true that there is much to be celebrated in the games. There is the underdog story of athletes, sportsmanship and a sense of a global humanity but I believe those stories are only shared by the elite. I am convinced that in two weeks time, the elites (be they athletes or politicians) will leave with precious metals in one form or another but those on the street or marginalized will only receive a cut in the little help they receive.
And I know that it is easy to bash North America. It’s a fad and there’s a big target on there but I feel that I need to bash it because I need to bash myself. If I don’t remind myself of my trajectory in life, I will end up being the very people that Christ stood against (the militant oppressive Romans, the rich Sadducees, or the lofty Pharisees) and thinking back to William Slack’s post, he’s right. I am deathly afraid of losing what I have. To play the fool as it were. But I’m afraid that turning the blind eye will make me more of a fool in the end.
What are your thoughts on the games?
-Daniel Wong
