This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Olympic Games are a quintessential microcosm of life; the joy of victory and the agony of defeat. We come together, flags of different colors. We demand level playing field and respect for the diversity of mankind. All of us are yearning for a better life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Not all folks are welcome in Sochi. Laws of exclusion are the law of the land. Marital apartheid doesn't even exist. Relegating anyone into a seat at the back of the bus is denigrating, demeaning and certainly an abomination of the Olympic spirit. Let us all take a long moment of silence before the Games begin each day and sincerely reflect upon our own closed-minded self-righteousness. It may help temper the three weeks of pomp and pageantry.
After the closing ceremony we can turn off the TV, maintain status quo for another generation or we can honor the phrase "all men are created equal" and embrace our neighbors, folks like Brian Boitano, Johnny Weir, Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova, Greg Louganis, Jared Collins, Dick Button, etc,etc,etc.
Host another Winter Olympics? Are you kidding me? The whole world is watching.
Peter Kolbay
Holladay