One of the reasons I really like my current general education course is we have some great discussions even if they get bit tangental. One I brought up recently is a response to a news article from the latest Olympics (where Canada performed unusually poorly) examining how Canada does not provide its professional athletes with funding appropriate to its GDP. Even Brazil gives more towards this revered goal than Canada, as do nearly all of the European and Oriental countries. Funding IS necessary for various reasons the article mentions, but I still wasn't convinced that Olympic funding should be considered something sacred, held on the same value as, say, Education or Health funds.
'What do we, as a country, get back in return?' I ask myself. National Pride, that's what. Shallow as it seems a lot of folks will have moods and outlooks determined by the earning of medals in these competitions. And indeed, other countries can take it as a sign of another country's prosperity. So then I ask myself, and the class 'how much is this National Pride worth to us? Can you even put a price tag on it?'.
Feel free to speak for your own countries in this matter.
'What do we, as a country, get back in return?' I ask myself. National Pride, that's what. Shallow as it seems a lot of folks will have moods and outlooks determined by the earning of medals in these competitions. And indeed, other countries can take it as a sign of another country's prosperity. So then I ask myself, and the class 'how much is this National Pride worth to us? Can you even put a price tag on it?'.
Feel free to speak for your own countries in this matter.
