A Mix of Realism and Idealism

A very wise Professor of Philosophy told me a couple years ago that politics, especially foreign policy, has to be a mix of idealism and realism. 

And so here are my thoughts on the first 4 or 5 days of the Chinese Olympics

• The $300 million Opening Ceremonies were beautiful. They were gorgeous. They were amazing. We watched all 4 1/2 hours (DVR is so worth $10 a month everyone, best $10 you'll ever spend) and loved it all
• China is a gorgeous place with wonderful history and culture
• At some point during the Parade of Nations (203 of them, vs. 192 at the UN), as we tried to find them all with the boys on the $1 DI globe that was made in the 1980s, we gave up. I became temporarily in favor of changing the entire world into about 5 empires. Sorry Georgia. I don't need zillions of countries with fewer people than many American cities. 
• Bush's interview with Costas went well Sunday night. He is smarter and funnier than people think. 
• As Russia gobbled back up Georgia, and Tibet and the Sudan were ignored, I thought "You know, America has been behaving like an Empire for about 12 decades. Russia for centuries. China for millenia. All the wimpy little European countries sure did in past centuries when they could. Let's be real about what's happening here
• Michael Phelps was born to swim. 
• 2nd Most Proud to be an American moment: When the US relay team came from way behind to barely beat the trash talking French. 
• 1st Most Proud to be an American moment: Every time one sees a black athlete, and says "oh, they are from somewhere in Africa... or America", and every time one sees an Asian athlete, and says "oh, they are from China or Japan or Southeast Asia... or America", and every time one sees a pale white skinned blonde and says "oh, they are from Northern Europe... or America", or every time one sees a Latino athlete and says "oh, they are from Central or South America... or America." One really sees 202 nations built on ethnicity, race, and language, and 1 built on an idea.