This past month, I had the good fortune to be in Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Olympics, and was amazed at the atmosphere in the city- every night there was a street party not to mention, a camaraderie and friendliness that I've never encountered before.  Now I'll be honest, I'm not one of those people that follows the games every time and just loves sports, in fact I can't remember the last time I watched a sporting event I wasn't dragged too, but this one was different.  Maybe it's the fact that there was the allowance to have all opinions (whether you supported the Olympics or not) to be expressed in a (generally) peaceful and intelligent manner.  Maybe it was just being caught up in the good mood in the city, and with over 150000 people partying downtown nightly and looking to welcome everyone, there has to be something to be said about that. Now don't get me wrong, there were the tragedies and misfortune (the Georgian lugers death, the arm of the cauldron not working in the opening ceremonies, not to mention the issues getting to Cypress Mountain and the weather), but by the end of the games, most people were of the opinion the games were indeed a success.  

What struck myself (and a lot of the locals and other Canadians and Americans here), was the absolute negativity that the games initially was met with, by some in the media and population.  I get the games are going to cost the city a lot  (the next BC budget is quoted at 1.7 billion deficit), and that the taxpayers are going to be paying for that, but for all it brought to a city (a sheer delirious glow when Canada won the men's hockey), the increased patriotism and pride to be Canadian, the final notice on the world stage on what a great place Vancouver is (other than the Hollywood North it's know for), not to mention that a lot of the improvements to the city (such as transit) were needed anyways, is it such a bad thing?  I mean, there was a British writer that said these were on par to be the "worst games ever"?  You're telling me that it's worse than the horrifying hostage taking in the Munich Olympics in 1972, or the fact that 1/2 the world didn't even participate in 1980 and 1984 Olympics, what about the mismanagement of the Montreal and Atlanta Olympics?  I think things need to be put in perspective.  What bothers me more, is the fact that this seems to be a growing change in the media and population.  It seems like people relish on failure and are looking to jump on it.  Does it make people feel better about their lives to see someone else fail?  Are we becoming more cynical as a culture?  

I wasn't just the Olympics, think of the whole saga with Britney Spears and the whole head shaving thing, the absolute trash talk people were doing when Micheal Jackson died (so sad, the man was an icon whether you want to admit to it or not, he still is one of the most imitated performers around).  What about the whole presidential race, it seems like poor Obama inherited a disaster (that took years to develop), yet people are mad because it can't be fixed in 1 1/2years?   And of course, if I hear one more sex scandal of a married actor/politician or famous person I will be forced to pull the plug on the telly.  I'm not trying to be political or pretend to be someone who is morally correct-I'm not saying that I am at all, I just wish the media would get a grip.  I think watching the whole Conan O'Brien/Jay Leno saga and thinking how unfair it was interesting to see, but Conan, in his typical self depreciating way, said the one thing he wants people to take away from this, is not to be cynical.  Life is too short and when you look at the whole picture, it isn't that bad.   We live in countries with clean water, food and shelter available, and social assistance to those who need it.  If you're reading this article, it's probably on a laptop, something that connects us to one another and to the world.  How great is it, that I can sit here in the comfort of my home and share my thoughts with you and we don't have to buy a flight to do that?  Thanks for your time and if you read this article I appreciate you taking a part of your day to read this.  I hope you have a great month!