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What George Bush could learn about sportsmanship

What George Bush could learn about sportsmanship
by Rajkhet Dirzhud-Rashid - SGN Staff Writer At the end of the April 1st episode of 'American Race', the older life partners, two charming Gay men, were eliminated from the race, because they came in last. But the way they handled their defeat, how courageously and honorably they struggled in the competition--even when they were starting to lose patience with each other toward the end of the last challenge--touched me so much that it brought tears to my eyes. And I found myself reflecting, why can't we see this attitude of good natured sportsmanship in the world, particularly in the global theater, a little more often? Why can't we have a President who is able to admit he's made a horrible mistake sending thousands of young people to a war that has taken their lives, and has not brought peace to a region that is now in an even more unstable state than it was four years ago, when he dragged us into this morass? As I watched the happy faces of those two Gay grandfathers, able to smile even as they were told they had been eliminated and were now going home, I was struck by how people can rise to a better place in themselves. Even in the face of defeat. Why can't global leaders do that too? Surely two older Gay men, admittedly grandfathers, aren't made of better stuff than the President of our country, are they? Surely the same material these guys are made of is floating around out there somewhere, on the Senate floor, in the heart of some House member or Congressperson, who wants to see an end to this brutal war. Surely, it's not dishonorable to admit you've done your best and now it's time to go home? George Bush Jr., maybe you need to check in with these guys, find out what they have that you clearly do not; that being a sense of honor and sense of fair play. As I watch day after day (when I can watch--with a loved one in that conflict, sometimes I can't watch) the news of more soldier's deaths and the escalating violence in Iraq and the 'saber rattling' that's going on between our country and Iran, I know in my heart this situation needs to end. If only Jr. could accept defeat as gracefully as those two Gay grandfathers on 'The Amazing Race' were able to, and humble himself enough to listen to the voice of reason saying: 'it's time to bring them home'. Ah, but 'The Amazing Race' is just a reality show, and not any real indication of what we, the American people are like. Or isn't it? Aren't most of us, when faced with the fact that even though we've done our very best, we still lost the race, able to back down and let the other guy or gal push on? Don't most of us want this war to be over; because we know it's time to get the hell out of the meat grinder that's become Iraq? Yeah, but we're not the President, are we? No, but we do have voices, and we can write letters, and we are coming up on a presidential election. You don't have to be a genius to figure out this picture, but you have to have courage to speak out and do something to urge those who are in power to push Jr. harder. Just think of those two Gay grandfathers on 'The Amazing Race' and the quiet courage they displayed all through their challenges on the show. And doing what's right by ending this war should come pretty easy, as easy as writing an e-mail or a letter can be.