Olympics and Politics:  The Common Denominator

By Shlomo Maital

  Have you noticed the common denominator between athletes’ success at the Paris Olympics,  and Democrat presidential candidate Kamala Harris’s  momentum, gaining on opponent Trump (“American Carnage”)?

   Joy.

    U.S. sprinter Noah Lyle starts last in the 100 m. finals, as he often does, and then surges to win in a photo finish.  His smile is wide and broad and his joy at running is infectious.  He makes no apologies for his late starts.  He does it his way.    Gymnasts, too – Simon Biles transforms from crippling stress that made her unable to assess her position in gymnastic exercises, leading to her dropping out in Tokyo – to the Paris Olympics, where she is clearly enjoying and having fun, harvesting four medals and doing stunts like bowing to the Brazilian gold medalist on the podium.

    Kamala Harris arouses the crowds with a huge smile, a sense of humor, and a clear feeling that she is joyful, a happy warrior.  Same for VP choice Tim Walz.  Contrast that with Trump’s American Carnage (see the PBS special from 2021, about Trump’s dark vision for America – worst President ever, disaster, catastrophe, carnage). 

      Among others, Black women are leading the charge for Kamala – and Black men are getting onboard.  The experts note, Black men do not respond to carnage, disaster, etc., but rather to empowerment and hope for the future.  And guess who embodies that, with her smiling message?

        I do understand that shifting manufacturing to China caused the US, mainly Democrats, to abandon the working-class white males in the heartland and Midwest.  This is why Trump’s carnage message found resonance among them, and still does.  They were screwed.  But this is now being reversed…and the message is, we’re bringing back our jobs and our factories.  A message of joy, hope, optimism.  In the end it will win the day.

        Personally – I dreamed of being an athlete.  But never made it.  Best I could do was a 3 hour 51 minute marathon in New York.  I realize now that one thing was missing, apart from natural ability – joy.  I always tensed up when playing tennis or soccer or anything.  And as all athletes know, you need to relax, not tense up.  In baseball, outfielders who excel have ‘soft hands’ – they relax their hands and embrace the ball as it lands in their gloves.  I learned that too late.

        Olympics, politics, and…life.  Engage in them, with joy.  A winning approach.