MY TURN: Winning the race, losing the gold

A couple of friends asked if I would join them to watch the movie “Boys in the Boat.” Having spent most of my life on the East Coast, this movie was not particularly significant to me. Now, residing in the Pacific Northwest its importance in this region became obvious. In 1936 in this part of the country rowing as an Olympic sport lacked substantial backing at the college activities level. The University of Washington Huskies refused to be accept that lack of support.

Like most movies created from books, it probably doesn’t totally follow the book. Such movies most assuredly take a certain amount of cinematic license to enhance its appeal to the public. I assume this motion picture is no different. Perhaps due to its relevance to the current times or how it portrays how America appeared in 1936 it was timely. Some of us may have forgotten or at least are traveling a different road today. Perhaps some are on a road that should never be traveled by Americans.

 As the 1936 Olympic Team USA, including the Washington Huskies Rowing Team, entered the stadium at the opening of 1936 Olympic Games in Germany the tone emanating from the German crowd and Hitler exemplified an arrogance and contempt for other countries. Perhaps due to my own historical understanding of the German chancellor’s mindset, I anticipated contempt particularly toward Team USA, which included the great track star Jesse Owens. Mr. Owens as we know proved his greatness as would the eight rowers from Washington state, much to the chagrin of Hitler’s entourage.

In the end the Huskies brought home the Olympic gold metal. The following eight or nine years saw many Americans along with other nations heading to Germany to defeat the Nazi regime. Many suffered loss of life, substantial injuries, loneliness and bitter cold, but the gold, that was theirs to share and to bring home. 

Other challenges both military and more home based have been confronted by Team USA composed of multiple nationalities, races and sexes. Are we continuing to seek the gold or has winning taken the forefront over decency both at home and abroad? More recent times have seemed to portray the America Century, Pax Americana, as passé, not significant if not dead.

In 1936 we, Americans, believed in ourselves. Do we still? Do we view ourselves and our nation as unthinking, uncaring, self absorbed followers seeking only to win? In 1936 pursuing Olympic gold was more about who we are and our belief in ourselves and our country. We saw us all together as one demonstrating to the world American beliefs matter. Giving the world a glimpse of our courage as demonstrated by eight college athletes given no chance of winning as they captured the gold which included winning the race. 

The actual movie concludes with a grandfather telling a child, there were eight individuals in that boat on that day in Germany but in reality it was one. Different individuals physically and mentally focused on one goal. Americans will defy the odds and come in first, together as one. Do we still believe what we all can do as one or are our imaginary divisions too great a gap to close? 

E Pluribus Unum our nation’s official motto was established in 1782. The Latin phrase reminds us that from the original 13 Colonies emerged a single nation. Our nation today consists of many people of different backgrounds from many places but united today as one people in one nation, the United States of America. Are we truly one in our basic beliefs? Have we become a divided nation, 50 states, 3,000 counties, urban and rural, from differing upbringings and opinions both fact and fancy without an ability to compromise, respect each other or to form one not so perfect union? Eight rowers in the boat rowing together as one, won the gold and proudly displayed it to all. We claimed the gold in 1936 and shared what it represents with all Americans and the world. Can we still or are we traveling on a very different road?

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Phil Ward is a Coeur d’Alene resident.