More Olympic Reflections

Not to dampen it all, but as I watched the Opening Ceremony last evening, I was also doing some of my web-surfing. I came across a link at Bene Diction Blogs On to artist John Santic's posting called "Stations of the Cost" a reflection to bring to mind the suffering of many in the face of the Olympics. I am not trying to be a killjoy. We need beauty and joy and art. The Opening Ceremony was certainly all of that. But I do think there is a prophetic place to challenge excess in culture when it removes us from the awareness of need.

Here is Santic's introduction to the post:

Welcome to ‘Stations of the Cost’. Below are fourteen images with poetic reflections on the social, economic, and environmental issues surrounding the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. In the pattern of the ancient Christian Liturgy, the ‘Stations of the Cross’, we want to help you recognize that many are suffering as a result of the Olympics as low cost housing disappears, government debt increases, the environment erodes, and the poor are criminalized. Our hope is to bring attention to these issues because we are inspired by a vision of equality, justice, healing, and well being for all people.

The ‘Stations of the Cross’ liturgy is intended to draw people into identification and reflection on the last hours and sufferings of Jesus. What was unique and central to the life and action of Jesus was his identification with the marginalized and his critique of oppressive powers. The ‘Stations of the Cost’ is intended to help people reflect on the suffering of the marginalized and the oppressiveness of powers at work in our world today.

We are not opposed to the Olympic vision to use sport as a tool to bring hope to the world, but what is concerning is the vivid inaccuracy of this aim in the efforts to bring these games to Vancouver. This inconsistency is worth pointing out in order to inform a more just approach to the Olympics. Our heart is to advocate for a games that seeks the betterment of all people, not just a privileged few.

Here's a link to the Flickr set of pictures.