THE 1936 SUMMER OLYMPICS WERE HELD IN BERLIN GERMANY. BERLIN WAS CHOSEN BEFORE HITLER AND THE NAZI PARTY ROSE TO POWER. IN 1938 GERMANY STARTED ITS TAKEOVER OF EUROPE BY ANNEXING PART OF THE CZECHOSLOVAKI AND AUSTRIA. HITLER USED THE OLYMPIC GAMES TO SHOWCASE THE RISING POWER OF THE THIRD REICH.

THE 2022 OLYMPICS IN BEIJING HAVE BEEN, IN MY OPINION, AN OPPROTUNITY FOR CHINA TO SHOWCASE ITSELF AS AN ECCONOMIC AND WORLD POWER. I HOPE WE DO NOT SEE, ONCE THE OLYMPICS ARE IN OUR REAR VIEW MIRROR, A MOVE AGAINST TAIWAN. THERE HAS BEEN AN ALLAIANCE FORMED BETWEEN CHINA AND RUSSIA TO COOPERATE AGAINST THE U.S. CAN YOU IMAGINE THE SITUATION IF RUSSIA ATTACKS UKRAINE AT THE SAME TIME CHINA ATTACKS TAIWAN? IT COULD BE 1940 ALL OVER AGAIN WITH 2022 WEAPONDRY. I HOPE AND PRAY THAT SANITY REIGNS AND NOT AGGRESSION. WE ARE ALWAYS LIVING IN A FUTURE HISTORIC TIME. AND ALL WE CAN DO IS TRY TO MAKE EACH DAY THE BEST WE CAN. I HOPE WHEN WE LOOK BACK ON THIS TIME IN 25 YEARS, WE REMEBER DISQUALIFIED SKIERS WITH BAGGY PANTS AND COVID NIGHTMARES AND NOTHING ELSE.

UNTIL NEXT TIME

PEACE AND LOVE

THE BEGGAR'S APPRENTICE