I Refuse To Watch The Olympics

Following sports that I usually don’t give a damn about

In order to root for an athlete

Just because s/he hails from the same country as me.

I will not give in to this pre-conditioning for discrimination

Gosh knows there’s already enough

When our media reports tragedy using numbers according to nationality

As if the lives of those from other lands count less or are somehow not as meaningful.

I refuse to be seduced by the glitz

And the commercial patriotism slicked on by sponsors

I will not ignore the voices of protest

Outside the stadiums bellowed from the street.

I will not gloat along with the victors

The gold and glory should only belong to him or her

And not to avaricious countries struggling to keep domination or prove themselves a new power.

I dream of a world without competition or nationality

Lit up by the eternal flame

Of common humanity.