Oprah

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How did it feel to be in Beijing? The food, the culture, nightlife?

Who is our oldest participant? What sport did he/she participate in?

Who is the youngest? H

ow did they hear of the tragedies which took place during their stay and how did Team USA manage to persevere?

The runner form Hawaii who overcame a tough household environment was really inspiring as well.

I loved the olympics and enjoyed having something great to watch on television. It is amazing how the olympics brings out the patriotism it does in Americans. One thing I would like to see happen is that our athletes sign when our anthem is played during the gold medal ceremony. The other countries sing and know the words. Our athletes may know the words, but not real sure since when surveys are done and not even 50% of americans know the words. If they do not know the song, then teach them the words. I think it gives the appearance of people living in a country that does not take note of our anthem and probably do not know the pledge of allegiance or anything else pertaining to our heritage. This all goes back to the controversy of the pledge of allegiance, prayer in school, and our motto God Bless America. We should do more to make sure kids know these things. I know I did when I went to school, now I am 55 years old and still get chills when the song is played or the pledge is said.

I felt there was so much pressure on the many of the countries competing not from their coaches or themselves but from their home country and goverment. That is sad. Our athletes seemed to have only the pressure from their own expectations, not to say they wanted the victory for our country as well.

I am so proud of where I was born and that I have the freedoms that I do. Thank you for this opportunity.

Sharon Griffith

Plano, Texas Reply Click to view kaelabokus's profile kaelabokus Level 0 6. Re: Season Premiere: Welcome Home Team USA's Olympic Stars! Aug 29, 2008 5:44 PM In response to: harpobear

I love, love, loved the Olympics! I was addicted to watching every night and whenever I could during the day. The athletes stories were truly inspiring to me. They work so hard for their few minutes in the spotlight. My children also spent many hours watching the athletes complete and cheering on their favorites. We couldn't get enough of Michael Phelps. My 8-year old son has now asked to join the local Y swimming team! He wants to be the next Michael Phelps. The beach volleyball teams were also amazing. They have such athleticism combined with spirit and grace. I am keeping my fingers crossed that the 2016 Olympics will be in Chicago. I would love to be able to take my children to see the competitions. Go USA! Reply Click to view lmurphytx's profile lmurphytx Level 0 7. Re: Season Premiere: Welcome Home Team USA's Olympic Stars! Aug 29, 2008 7:05 PM In response to: harpobear

I went to Beijing, and had the awesome opportunity of watching Michael win his 8th gold...it was incredible! I also saw Dara Torres and the women's swimming team win silver. Watching Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin win gold and silver on balance beam was another highlight - its definitely a different perspective seeing the events live than on TV. Meeting many of the Olympians and watching live interviews on the Today show set was a lot of fun....I was 10ft away from Michael on two different occassions, and it truly was inspiring to see him in person. Aaron Peirsol was very kind, he signed an autograph and even let me touch his gold medal! I can't wait to see this show...it will be great! Reply Click to view cgwsmom's profile cgwsmom Level 1 8. Re: Season Premiere: Welcome Home Team USA's Olympic Stars! Aug 30, 2008 7:11 AM In response to: harpobear

Can not wait for this show!!! Thank you Oprah and staff! Of course my biggest highlights were watching Michael make history, watching the womens beach volley ball and the womens gymnastics! Loved it all and it is going to be very hard for London to take it to the next level with the opening and closing ceremonies like Beijing did! Reply Click to view mmcelfresh's profile mmcelfresh Level 0 9. Re: Season Premiere: Welcome Home Team USA's Olympic Stars! Aug 30, 2008 10:12 AM In response to: harpobear

I loved watching the Olympics this year! I was so inspired by all of the athletes, but especially our American athletes. I watched Michael Phelps, Dara Torres and all the other great swimmers from the USA swim their butts off. It was wonderful to see the medal winners compete and swim, but I loved watching them all compete, regardless of whether or not they won a medal. I watched basketball - what great stars Team USA had! (Go Deron Williams, former Illini basketball star!!!) And who could resist watching our talented gymnasts. Aren't they simply amazing? I just saw Shawn Johnson on The Tonight Show last night. She is absolutely a doll! What an honor it must be to just get the chance to compete in the Olympics. I cry every single time one of our athletes wins gold and we get to hear our National Anthem. I am so proud to be an American and our USA Olympians make me even prouder!!!

I can't wait to watch the season premiere of the Oprah show. How cute that this show will air exactly one month after the Olympics. Somebody on the Oprah show is so smart! My daughter lives in Naperville IL (just outside of Chicago). I've tried calling her this morning to get her to go to Millenium Park today and try to get reservations to attend the taping, but I'm afraid she's gone out of town for the weekend. She's going to be missing out on a great opportunity. Reply Click to view peadogirl's profile peadogirl Level 0 10. Re: Season Premiere: Welcome Home Team USA's Olympic Stars! Aug 30, 2008 3:16 PM In response to: harpobear

I love the Olympics! I always watch from Day 1! I think Chris Collinsworth said it best when he spoke of the world being able to come together for two weeks and leave our fighting and differences at the door. Such a great way for humanity to come together and glory in our similiarities, after all the sacrifice and pain. And even though not everyone leaves the Olympics with a medal...that still makes him/her a champion! They all just have such an energy about them!

Does anyone know what time the taping is on September 8th? I would ABSOLUTELY LOVE to be witness to such a great event and be around that energy! And just an extra shout-out to Dara Torres for doing what she did against athletes half her age! Now that's a real woman! Reply Click to view jemiesim's profile jemiesim Level 0 11. Re: Season Premiere: Welcome Home Team USA's Olympic Stars! Aug 30, 2008 8:12 PM In response to: harpobear

It' s going to be great to see the Olympians again! I just got over OFS ... Olympic Fatigue Syndrome !!!!:D Reply Click to view nnprftgrl's profile nnprftgrl Level 0 12. Re: Season Premiere: Welcome Home Team USA's Olympic Stars! Aug 30, 2008 8:31 PM In response to: harpobear

I really enjyed the Olympics this year, I never paid much attention before. Actually, when I heard that Oprah was doing a show with them, and that we could actually have tickets to see it, I hopped on a plane (from Winston-Salem and Charlotte, NC) and flew into Chicago without any plans other than to try and and get tickets...lo and behold I got them! But here I was, stuck in Chicago, knowing no one and having no where to stay. The people I was standing in line with were shocked, they couldn't believe I'd taken a plane in, just to try and get tickets. I was too, I'd never done anything like that! So this really great girl (an Oprah fan) offered to let me stay with her and her husband.

So I'll be flying back on Tuesday! This helping spirit is what Oprah and the show, and her fans...is all about.

-mackenzie cates Reply Click to view duhvino's profile duhvino Level 0 13. Re: Season Premiere: Welcome Home Team USA's Olympic Stars! Aug 31, 2008 12:32 AM In response to: harpobear

Just curious...does anyone else see that the idea of the Olympics does not jive with the ideals presented in "A New Earth"? In ANE, Tolle speaks of the ego and the "I am superior to you", "we are better than you", and seperate-ness from other human beings as being some of the problems with this old earth. There were many examples throughout these Olympic games of un-ANE behaviour, i.e....the pole vaulter from USA trash talking the Russian pole vaulter (and then having to eat her words). I think it was the USA women's VB team that said they had to "kill" China. Even within same countries there was one-upmanship (see Usain Bolt vs. Asafa Powell). Yes, there was some great displays of sportsmanship (Dana Torres for one), but mostly it seemed like one big ego-fest of individuals (but beautiful to watch at the same time).

Michael Phelps is now portrayed as a "patriot". I saw him in an interview saying "he has to win". Why? What good is it doing our country? What good is it doing the world? Michael Phelps is a miraculous creation of God. So is a tree. So is a sunset. Can we say that the sun is better than the tree? Is an American tree better than a Chinese tree? Why not walk around parks and drape gold medals around trees that have managed to survive all these years, through all the elements, and still stand strong? Instead of patriotism we could have paytributetotreeism. What would that do for our earth?

What if the Olympics was simply a way to showcase our God-given talents rather than another way to anihilate (or be better than) another person or country...to count who has the most gold in the end...how is that helping our planet evolve? The Olympics seem more like friendly games of war. Do we need the perpetuation of competition? Were there competitive games spoken about in the bible (I'm asking...I have no idea)?

It will be interesting to see if the Oprah show will practice what it preaches. How will they celebrate these great athletes achievements? Should these people identify with their medals? Will a big deal be made that Mike Phelps broke Mark Spitz's record? So, he's better than him now? Should we all continue comparing ourselves to each other and see how we rate? I have a BMW and my neighbor has a Hyundai. Whew, I'm better. Who would Mike Phelps be if he didn't win any medals? A geeky guy who is not very eloquent? Would we care?

This isn't even the first time since reading/watching the New Earth classes I have had to question the Oprah show and the mixed message I am getting (is it just me?). There was one time, smack in the middle of the webinar series that Mariah Carey was a guest on the O show. Oprah fawned all over her new shape...made her get up and turn around for America to see her buff body. I thought we were not our bodies? Should I feel less than since I don't look nearly as hot as Mariah? And she broke Elvis's record of most number 1's ever?! Isn't that great? Oprah went on and on about it.

I want to be clear, I love Oprah and the show and I know there is plenty of good being put forth into the world from Harpo studios. But where do you draw the line? When is it more about ratings and less about maintaining the message? Reply Click to view laurieell's profile laurieell Level 0 14. Re: Season Premiere: Welcome Home Team USA's Olympic Stars! Aug 31, 2008 3:53 PM In response to: harpobear

The gentleman that gives me massages is from China. When I asked him if he was proud of how well the Olympics in China were going, he shook his head no. I replied that the athletes were doing well and the games were running so smoothly. He held up his index finger and thumb and in a gesture meaning "a little." This is a very oppresive society. The media (respectfully, I believe) stayed away from these stories during the games - because the games are supposed to be about the athletes (IMHO), not world issues. But now that they're over, what were their true impressions? Did the athletes have any exposure to life for the average Chinese? I've been to China twice. The first time I was approached in Tianamen Square by a young man with a map of the US. He asked me were I lived. When I pointed to Minnesota, he asked if I would sponsor him to come to the US. He said I wouldn't have to help or support him once he got here; that he would take care of himself. Reply Click to view paulajack's profile paulajack Level 0 15. Re: Season Premiere: Welcome Home Team USA's Olympic Stars! Aug 31, 2008 4:23 PM In response to: harpobear

Over 100 people showed up at the Santa Barbara airport to welcome home Todd Rogers & Phil Dalhausser, our Gold Medalists in Beach Volleyball. There are some pictures from the event on Todd's webpage.

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Details[]

How did it feel to be in Beijing? The food, the culture, nightlife?

Who is our oldest participant? What sport did he/she participate in?

Who is the youngest? H

ow did they hear of the tragedies which took place during their stay and how did Team USA manage to persevere?

The runner form Hawaii who overcame a tough household environment was really inspiring as well.