Who is the winner?

Beijing Olympics has come and gone, leaving awes in memories of those who have watched the opening and the spectacular performances of the athletes. What's the outcome? Who is the big winner?

I read a (Chinese) newspaper article griping that China should be reported as the world winner as they have the most gold medals, and that author is slamming American media for saying USA is the winner because they count total number of medals. That author even say some people even use total number of medals starting from the first Olympics, and of course USA would be the winner if you count that far.

Look folks, the athletes won, not you.

Olympics is often used as a measurement somewhat in world power. Some may have a sense of superiority over others if your country win.

Hmm, do you think Kenya and Jamaica have a louder voice in say a United Nation meeting because they have the fastest runners?

World power, I think, should be measured by GNP, military power and all that. I think the Olympics is supposed to celebrate athletes' achievements together, worldwide. So it is CLEAR that Chinese won the most number of gold medals. USA won the most number of medals. You decide who is the true winner. No hard feelings.

The Olympics athletes are the few, the talented, the dedicated. Americans should produce and watch TV shows documenting their tough trainings and dedications (and show them in prime time).

Much of the rest of America have much to work on.... that obesity ratio! that low reading and math score!

It is not enough to say "don't be a fool stay in school", it should be "you too! should excel in school!"

And yikes, our jobs are flowing overseas, quickly! To keep America strong, the entire nation needs to work hard.