Frank Deaver Peace Editorials

     World attention has been focused recently on the Olympic games, with television ratings revealing the staggering size of the audience.  And what a pleasant alternative the media coverage has been, compared to the persistent flow of news about world conflicts.

     The games reminded us that, in contrast to the violence of war, we were privileged to witness pursuit of excellence, pride of accomplishment, and dignity in defeat.  Indeed, the games demonstrated to the world – and Rotarians may especially take note – that the human spirit can, should, and sometimes does, rise above the conflict so prevalent in our world today.  The challenge of competition, combined with determination and effort, can accomplish great things.

     Competition is between adversaries.  War is between enemies.  The difference is critically important.  Adversaries face each other with respect, and after competing within defined rules, a winner is determined. But winners and losers remain friends, the loser offering the winner a handshake of congratulations.   Enemies face each other with the intent to conquer and destroy – and victory for one means humiliation, perhaps even death, for the other.  In war the intent is to achieve victory by killing, then to dominate the losers who live.

     In the Olympics, we saw examples of intense competition, with both winners and losers cheering each other.  All emerged with dignity and ongoing determination.  These are lessons for nations.  These are lessons for Rotarians.

     Michael Phelps, already winner of seven medals, gave up his place on the relay swim team to the teammate he had just beaten in the 100 meter butterfly.  This gave Ian Crocker an opportunity to join the winners’ circle, and he did – with Phelps cheering his friend to victory. “We came into this meet as a team,” he said, “and we're going to leave it as a team."

     Swimmer Aaron Peirson edged out teammate Markus Rogan in the 100-meter backstroke by a fraction of a second.  Rogan rushed to congratulate Pierson.  “My friendship with Aaron is more important than a medal,” he said, adding that he was proud to be “second-best.”  True friendship always trumps ego.

     Carly Patterson fell to fourth place in the first two women’s gymnastics events, but she rebounded to win the gold medal with flawless performances in balance beam and floor exercise.  She demonstrated that a setback was not defeat but a challenge.  Finding ourselves behind only means we must try harder.  If, like Carly, we learn that lesson, it takes the word “loser” from our vocabulary.

     Gymnast Brett McClure came in ninth, but refused to consider himself a loser.  "I did the best I could possibly do," he said. "I go out of here with absolutely no regrets."  That attitude always makes a person a winner.

     The Olympics brought together representatives of the world’s nations, not in angry conflict but in respectful competition and shared determination to achieve.  What a lesson this is for the balance of the world population.  What a challenge it can be to Rotarians as we seek, in the words of founder of the Rotary Foundation Arch Klumph, “to do good in the world.”

     Doing good in the world starts at home, with the individual club.  We compete with other clubs in areas such as membership growth, attendance records, and Foundation giving.  But we cooperate as a team in addressing the humanitarian and educational goals set for us by RI President Glenn Estess.

     Like the Olympic athletes, we will reach many of our goals.  In some areas we may fall short, at least in the short run.  But from the Olympic athletes and their examples, we can observe some valuable principles.

     • True friendship is in maintaining mutual respect even during intense competition.

     • True accomplishment is not winning every battle, but continuing the pursuit of success even after a setback.

     • True excellence is not being better than everyone else, but being better than our former selves.