The rivals kissed each other on the cheek after standing on the medal podium with China's Guo Wenjun, who won the gold medal in the event.
Waving flower bouquets high, the women smiled broadly at the audience.
"If the world were to draw any lessons from what I did, there would never be any wars," Salukvadze, 39, said afterward, according to media reports. The reports described the two as friends.
Are you serious here folks? Look - I love the Olympic spirit (or what it used to be). I believe peace is an admirable goal and all. But let's stop smoking the pro-China and other Olympic ganja being passed around here. I won't go off on all the pro-China crap. But rather stick to this silly and childish quote. These two are friends. These two respect and appreciate each other. But come on, one hug bringing about peace? You have got to be kidding me. This is a fight over territory, land, resources and respect. I am sure that people in Georgia and Russia, especially those in the region do not want the conflict as it hurts them severely. But, even if every single civilian in the region did not want conflict, one cannot say this would not happen and there would be no wars. In this case, there is the Russian government under Putin, driven to achieve past "glory". This government takes a hard stance on matters of territory and perceived threats by internal terrorists or past breakaway "republics" (let us use this in quotes here because they are really republics in name only). Moreover, this is just as much a conflict about resources as it is territory. I take both sides with a grain of salt as to the reasons. But, the bottom line is there is oil in the region, and if nothing else access to resources and securing a pipeline at the very least. Even if every Georgian and Russian in the region hugged, held hands, made daisy chains, smoked some herb, and did all that other hippy bullshit; this conflict would still be going on. Why? Putin and an aggressive Russia and long-standing ethnic issues.
Moreover, conflict will always exist. It frustrates me how people think conflict can be eliminated and just disappear. Do the vast majority of people want conflict, violence and war. No. Does the elimination of religion eliminate the cause for war? No... no it does not anti religious liberals. Religion, like anything else is a cog in the wheel for defining all causes of war. Does adhering to the new religion of strict environmentalism eliminate most resource-based causes for war? No... no it does not Earth-worshiping environmental liberals. The quest for resources will always exist and in many regions resources will always be in demand. War and violence will always exist be it about beliefs, ancestry or resources. And furthermore, war and violence will always exists because of jealousy and hatred. Those two emotions cannot be eliminated. Can the threat and the existence of violence and conflict be mitigated? Yes, yes it can. This can be done through teaching responsibility, respect, conservation, morality (yes left-wing liberals, basic morality is a necessary part of a peaceful life, teaching that everything is relative... except for the worship of the environment... doesn't bring peace), etc. will bring a more stable and peaceful world. But, without bringing in pop culture to the equation - as Alfred says to Bruce in The Dark Knight "Because some men aren't looking for anything logical, like money. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn."
Folks - there will always be evil in the world. There will always be those who do, just want to watch the world burn and inflict pain on innocent people. We can mitigate this... but all the free health care, money to the third world, free education, etc... that will not eliminate this. Why? Just as good is inherent in the world, so is evil. Evil will always exist. And we must, therefore, always be vigilant of this and be prepared to do what is necessary to ensure that the good in the world endures.
So, will a bunch of worldwide hugs save humanity? No.
Addition: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121824156547126077.html?mod=opinion_main_review_and_outlooks
See for additional input from a source far wiser than myself.
No comments:
Post a Comment