Since it seems like everyone is posting about the 2014 Sochi Olympics, I am reluctant to add to the noise, but the more I consider the controversy regarding Russia as a host country, there more I want to share some of my thoughts on the issue.
As I have seen in the past week, the internet has been in uproar over the Russian government's mistreatment of gays and abuse of animal rights. Apart from obvious ethical issues, journalists from other countries are experiencing nasty hotel accommodations. As these people take to the internet to express their disgust over the rundown state of the places they must stay, the ruin brought about by communist rule is very clear. Although it is not news that we as Americans are privileged and spoiled, there is a stark contrast between the wreckage that is ordinary there and the luxury we are used to in the United States.
I hope that the conditions of Russia will challenge America citizens to rethink their pop culture socialistic assumptions, and to become thankful for our unique government. "We have problems" is a gross understatement, yet at the same time, the truth of the matter is that the American government is still vastly better than what other countries have. Post-Communist Russia only jolts people because they are so accustomed to the freedom and prosperity we have here.
Also, when individuals express their outrage over the ethical issues, they are making the fundamental assumption that a government ought to uphold basic moral standards. In America, we have constitutional rights, but citizens of other countries do not have free speech or freedom of the press. The oppression we see in the world outrages us, and somehow we miss the crucial assumptions we are making about how the world ought to be.
We have thrown around the phrase "it's a free country" so long that we forget how rare and valuable America is. We take our freedom for granted, and instead of seeing it as a radical divergence from the norm, we assume that it should be that way all over the world. Even though it is unfortunate that we take for granted the overwhelming sacrifices of all those who fought to develop a country founded on principles of liberty, this mindset shows how well they succeeded. Their efforts were so fruitful that we forget that they were ever necessary.
Our culture was founded on godly principles, and even though many of the people who take issue with Russia's government would reject any form of Christian faith, they owe their free country to it. The only reason we have liberty and justice for all is because our forefathers operated on Biblical beliefs. If you reject the Bible, what is your basis for asserting that animals have rights, or that people should be treated with human dignity regardless of their lifestyle choices? When you think about it, there is little that you can solidly argue. Americans have inherited these notions, even if they do not believe in the God behind them, while other countries simply do not have that same foundation.
For me, the various controversies surrounding the Olympics just serve as another reminder of how truly grateful I am to live in America. Sometimes, when I despair over the state of our country, and dread to see where it is headed, I need to remind myself that it was nothing but grace that gave us this foundation to begin with.
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