Olympic Lockdown

Sochi was not expected to be a problem for the Olympics. Nice little seaside town on its way to being a real resort. The Winter Olympics came along and the government started pumping money into the town like it was Dawson City during the Gold Rush.

Security has always been an issue for the 10 Olympiads where I have played a role. It seemed like London was going to be difficult until the government there rallied law enforcement and the military and the Games ultimately came off without any significant glitches. Others like Atlanta were surprises that were dealt with in a reactionary way. But now we’re encountering something new that is a clear sign of our fragile times…direct threats and intelligence that confirms the potentially deadly prospects.

 

My weekly conference calls with organizers were filled with terrorism discussion, even before the Volgograd bombings. One important piece of the discussions has been the strong suspicion that these threats are targeted.  Not indiscriminate public places but specific targets such as corporate meetings, visiting dignitaries, athletes and even athlete’s families. Some countries are now considering staying home altogether. Athletes families have been strongly cautioned about the potential danger of attending.

Our most recent call turned its attention to those of us working for the Games. Many assignments are on-site where the competitions are being held. Much of what I have been asked to do over the years is behind the scenes, in meeting rooms and hotels surrounding the venues. The decision has now been made to do any job remotely that can be done effectively that way. The organizers don’t want to endanger the working group nor do they want to divert the prime security efforts away from the athletes and venues in any way.

This is the right decision. Safety first. But I am disappointed that I will miss spending time with my good friend Viktor Yazykov who was a competitor in our around the world sailing race. A native of Sochi, he is former Russian Army Special Forces involved directly in the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. And he really knows how to drink vodka. However, as one might say, I would rather live to drink another day, than to be looking over my shoulder all the time and cringing each time I step up to turn on the computer in the media center.

As we discussed on the call, this is one of those times where the need for assistance away from the problem is essential. I won't be on the ground like in this 2010 screenshot, where I was talking to Jane as she was watching the live coverage on the east coast. I’ll be Skyping and watching streaming feeds from all the venues. We all want these Games to be safe but the threats are real and we’re told that the “Black Widows” that we have read about are likely to already be inside the city. And it’s not a stretch to think that they will target families because they’ve lost their own.  I’ll give you some periodic updates. There will undoubtedly be new wrinkles to this story every day. My 11^th Olympics are going to be most unusual.

Dr. Martin Luther King lives in our hearts

In the late 1980’s, my involvement with the Seattle Community Colleges ramped up considerably. At that time, I first got know my good friend Dr. Charles Mitchell, then the president of Seattle Central Community College and later chancellor of the community college district.  His commitment to education and to the city of Seattle inspired me greatly.  Soon after, I joined the board of the Seattle Central Foundation and discovered it was the community colleges that were responsible for bringing our city together to celebrate the inspiration of Dr. Martin Luther King. The event that is held each year on the Friday before the national holiday is this community’s most heartfelt and compassionate remembrance of Dr. King and his dream, in my opinion.

This is the 40^th anniversary of the celebration, held at the time of Dr. King’s birthday. It began as a community brotherhood gathering, encouraged by Rev. Samuel B. McKinney, now pastor emeritus of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church. He is one of this community’s most respected elders, who I am privileged to know. He was a classmate of Dr. King at Morehouse College in Atlanta.  The first event was held in Reverend McKinney’s home church with the pastor himself making the remarks. The celebration moved around the city for the next few years before it settled back at Mt. Zion where it happens annually to this day.

This is my 25^th visit and I can’t tell you how many hands I’ve held while we all sang “We Shall Overcome” led by the amazing baritone voice of Reverend McKinney or how many deviled eggs made by the ladies of the church that I have eaten at the post-reception. (I love deviled eggs.) I was most fortunate to be raised in a military family where race was never a concern. That makes my bond to Dr. King and this event even stronger.  A standing room only crowd has packed the building each year to watch, listen and revel in the dream of Dr. King and the reality that it has become. We’ve  attracted speakers from every walk of life…businessmen, civil rights leaders, global patriots, artists, professional sports players, cause creators and more…who have each been touched by the message of equality for all. And an impressive group of those who run and make our city a vibrant, exciting place to live, attend as well, from first responders to city and county council members, the mayor, the King County executive and many state legislators. (The name of our county was redesignated in honor of Dr. King in 1986.)

One thing about this celebration is for certain. You can’t leave a Baptist Church before hearing some heart-lifting music. Cheering, clapping, stomping, shouting and singing are irresistible urges when the choir begins to perform. I’ve always been moved by the music but, a few years ago, a young man named DaNell Daymon brought in an all-star cast from the community and blew the roof off the place.  I encouraged him to enter the annual McDonald’s Gospelfest in New York City, billed as the largest collection of gospel talent ever assembled. It took some doing but we helped the group make the trip and, guess what?  They won the closing night contest!  DaNell is joining us again this year with a group that is sure to knock our socks off.  I can hardly wait.

There are only three people with their names on our country's national holidays…Christopher Columbus, George Washington and Martin Luther King. Dr. King came to Seattle one time. It was in 1961 at the urging of his close friend, Reverend McKinney. There is a story about that visit which says a lot about Seattle. I’ll let you read it here, if you’re interested. http://bit.ly/1d4ONRs  We’re taking a new road this year for the 40^th Anniversary celebration under the guidance of current community college district chancellor, Dr. Jill Wakefield.  Our speaker will be Michele Norris, national NPR correspondent and creator of The Race Card Project (TRCP). Over the past three years, TRCP has encouraged participants to share their thoughts, experiences and observations about race in one sentence with only six words.

“An individual matters. Not his race.” “Grateful to have been raised color-blind.” “But where are you really from?” “You must be better to succeed.” “Humanity does not recognize race differences.” Just a sampling of the thousands of responses that Michele has received via the web, mail and social media. None of this 140 characters stuff. Just six words.  When we first sat down to discuss the 40^th Anniversary event, I wrote across the top of my folder “I only look like I’m white.” It makes you think. It’s all about what’s inside. Every speaker on the program will share their six words with us, along with many children from the city.  I hope that you will take the time this coming long weekend to give some thought to the profound effect that Dr. Martin Luther King had on our society by standing up for what he believed in and speaking out about it. And for those of you here in Seattle who choose to come to the community’s celebration at Mt. Zion this Friday, get there early. It’s going to be a packed house and we’ll be doing some world-shaking. If we're lucky, there may even be some deviled eggs downstairs afterward.

Finally...common ground for the Olympics

The build up to the Sochi Olympics has been a roller coaster ride. Last week, world leaders were still condemning Russia’s anti-gay laws that seem made to be broken. With the Sochi games approaching the final stretch, I have again been asked to provide advice to the local organizers, as I have for the Beijing, Vancouver and London Games among others.  The conference calls I have been on since last summer have had a very strong ideological bent. The anti-gay issue has been vilified universally by most of the free world and the preparations for demonstrations, boycotts and law enforcement responses have been the focus.

These games have President Putin’s name stamped all over them and it’s easy to see how his ego is speeding down the slopes.  He wants to make Sochi a welcoming city for travelers, easily reached from Turkey across the Black Sea.  It’s a picturesque town like many of the Winter Olympic venues have been. The skiing and snowboarding events will take place on a mountain that is about 50 miles from the city and a high-speed train track is being built at a speed that would make the transcontinental race across our country over a century ago feel like a tortoise derby. Mr. Putin wants to be the winner here. In Beijing, it was the country that had something to prove. Here it’s the leader’s show.

But over the weekend the effort has taken an important turn. At the cost of at least 30 deaths and countless others injured, two suicide bombers have narrowed the focus dramatically 400 miles from Sochi in the city formerly known as Stalingrad.  No group has stepped up to take responsibility.  There is no obvious reason that these two incidents have anything to do with Sochi. But there is definitely common ground between the western world and Russia when it comes to fighting Islamic terrorists. It’s going to be hard now to be welcoming to the world but, like London, law enforcement will be the key to the effort. It already requires a special pass to even enter the city and the venues are being tightly restricted at every level.

Mr. Putin has already spent a reported $48 billion on these games and, now, money will be no object to make every aspect of this event safe and sound.  Unless the objections come from outside agitators, I doubt the issue of sexual preference will be a stumbling block to make these games successful. As I have in past situations, I will counsel swift and thorough efforts to deal with problems. And just as importantly, transparency of all actions taken is essential to gain the confidence and respect of all those watching.

Each time these world games are held, my heart is with the athletes.  If only they could compete without the stress of politics, corporate maneuvering and the threat of terrorism.  These are games not wars. Here’s a wish for a safe, exciting and rewarding competition between the world’s best athletes.  They deserve it.

A true friend of man

South Africa has made an indelible impression on my life over the past 25 years.  I've written about it several times in this blog and given my reaction to the ground-breaking World Cup event that was held there in 2010.  Several times, Jane and I have been able to "live" there for extended periods of time since 1990. And I was working there when Nelson Mandela was elected president in 1994.

South Africans seem to view life from a high plateau.  They have a different set of values than most of us and their world revolves on a slightly slower axis.  Nelson Mandela was South African through and through.

I was fortunate to encounter the great man on a number of occasions. The first time is as clear to me today as when it happened.  In the movie “Invictus”, Matt Damon’s character is summoned to the Capital in Pretoria to meet the new president.  He pulls up in a dated automobile and enters through a grand set of doors.  When I was producing and promoting a solo yacht race around the world, we were the first international event to come to South Africa after Mandela’s election. Through our major sponsor, I received a similar invitation to come to the Capital and we drove in a slightly more upscale car to the very spot where Matt arrived in the movie.

The Jacaranda that Pretoria is known for were in full bloom.  The air was sweet with their aroma. When we entered the building, there was a definitive lack of hustle and bustle. We walked down a long hallway to the office of the minister of sport and talked for a while about the impact and global attention that our event would bring to Cape Town and the country. Midway in our meeting, the door opened and, without ceremony, Nelson Mandela entered the room.  He was dressed casually, wearing loafer-style shoes that looked like slippers.  We were introduced and he was told why we were there.

When I had the opportunity, I told him I was from Seattle and that I was president of the board of the Seattle Central Community College Foundation, because I knew he was acquainted with my good friend Charles Mitchell.  He said had been there to see Charles, who was president of the college at that time.

Our yacht race was a bit controversial down there because of the elitist reputation of big events like the America’s Cup.  I spent some time explaining  that our race was a “Corinthian” endeavor which anyone with the right skills could enter.  Some of our entrants sold their houses and cars to become a part of it and others saved their money for years just to compete.  He smiled and said “That is good.”

His presence was powerful and calming.  He spoke quietly and succinctly. When it was clear he was leaving, I realized that without my camera, I had no way of commemorating this extraordinary connection.  The entire meeting was very unceremonious.  But I couldn't resist so I opened my reporter’s notebook that I used to chronicle the meeting and asked him if he would autograph one of the pages for me.  His face lit up with that familiar big grin and he said, “You don’t want my signature.  I’m not special.  Ask the next person you see on the street to sign. It is those people who are important to this country.”  Wow! What else can I say.

He said he hoped to see me again and that someday we might meet in Seattle. We did have that meeting years later at Seattle Central Community College on a very heartwarming occasion that was all about children and education...two of his and my favorite subjects. And he convincingly said he remembered me.

Cape Town is such a beautiful and magical city. After the meeting, he cleared the way to make our event there successful, thanks primarily to the wonderful group of South Africans who made up our local committee.  They are great friends to this day and have taught me so much about their country that it feels like home.

Nelson Mandela is gone now.  We have lost a great leader.  I have lost a hero who gave me a new vision of what our world could be. His aura has influenced my approach to the problems faced by our society on so many occasions.  We have all changed a great deal since he was released from prison.  We’ll never be the same.  I just hope we can be better.  He wanted that desperately. I am so fortunate to have met him along the way.  I will never forget "Madiba".

Just what do you mean by that?

Misleading, misconstrued, untruthful. No matter what you call it, it wasn’t right. Former University of Washington head football coach Steve Sarkisian said, in his attempt to apologize for misleading comments about being interviewed for the head coaching position at USC, “Hindsight’s 20-20. I probably should have said it was an interview. Semantics are semantics. If I could do it all over again, I probably would have just said exactly what the conversation was that Pat (USC Athletic Director Hadon) and I had.”

First of all, if we’re being picky…and he was…it’s not “Semantics are semantics”. It’s “Semantics is semantics”. Semantics is about the meaning of words and, frankly it’s a dangerous business.  Ask Bill Clinton, OJ Simpson’s lawyer, Lance Armstrong, Britney Spears, Seattle's last mayor and any of a myriad other high profile individuals who have tried to worm their way out of misstatements or what some of us call lies.

I’ve spent my professional life in a world overrun with semantics. Saying what you mean seems sometimes to be very difficult for people. I tell my students that their communications should be simple, truthful, matter-of-fact and direct.  Daily communications are not creative exercises.  You want other people to understand very clearly what you’re saying. If you have to ask what someone means then they’re not telling you the whole story.

Sarkisian had an interview and told his players and others that he didn’t.  That’s not semantics.  It’s a lie. And “white” so he wouldn’t upset people or not, his hindsight was indeed 20-20.  He should have said that it was an interview for a new job. I think most adults could deal with that.

Many people have been credited with saying “The truth is overrated.” However, I believe it’s much easier to keep track of the truth than it is to remember what you said instead. I guess that’s enough of this short rant. Now I’ll go back to trying to say what my client doesn’t want to say without saying it.  My head hurts.

The Doodler

President Kennedy was a prolific doodler. His secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, kept many of his doodles on notepads, letters and other documents when they ended up on her desk. A few of them were selectively copied, printed in very limited quantities and used as “Thank You” gifts for staff. During my tenure as a White House intern, I was given these two framed doodles at different times when we had completed special projects. I saw the president many times and spoke to him on rare occasions. He liked the sailboat doodle and said that he seemed to make that mark when he wished he was on the ocean and away from all the drama of his work.

I treasure these doodles. I can get lost in them, as I know he did. On this anniversary of his untimely death, it would be good if we boomers, who were in school when he died, could move on. But I can’t and neither can most of my peers. Our world is so different now. When I snapped the polaroid photo of his grave not long after the funeral, I was still sorting out my thoughts. I continued to go back to that site as it changed. I don’t now return to DC without going to the grave. It’s not about what might have been. It’s about what he made us feel we could be.  There’s a standard that was set back then that we’re still working toward. I hope we can achieve it…for him and for us. RIP, JFK.

Do you want to know a secret?

The hardest part of getting a top secret clearance from the government is when you don’t know they’re investigating and they’re talking to all your high school and college friends about what you drank and smoked and joined.  When I started getting calls from people I hadn’t heard from for years, it was a little disconcerting.

Soon, I found out it was about all my first assignment in the army.  I was going to be working on a top secret project called Potlid, that would lead me deep into Agent Orange in the course of my service. It took me to all kinds of strange places in Central America and Southeast Asia.  I was on a team that included at least two operatives for the CIA. One of them went out one day for a ride in the jungle and never came back. If that doesn’t creep you out, I don’t know what does.

What I do know is th
at serving my country was never a question in my mind. We dealt with wind changes that blew nerve gas in the wrong direction, political changes that placed us in the wrong place at a bad time and social changes that affected our views of the mission we were presented with. Being a soldier is not an easy job. And the difference between the jungles of Vietnam and deserts of the Middle East are much more than topographical.

We’ve been at war over there now for more than 10 years. Since the US went to war in Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003, about 2.5 million members of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard and related Reserve and National Guard units have been deployed in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, according to Department of Defense data. Of those, more than a third were deployed more than once. In fact, as of last year nearly 37,000 Americans had been deployed more than five times, among them 10,000 members of guard and Reserve units. Records also show that 400,000 service members have done three or more deployments.

We have never fought a war like this in the history of our country. It’s about ideology and diplomacy doesn’t seem to get us closer to resolution. There is no doubt, however, that those who are serving now are holding our country’s flag high in a world that is increasingly looking at us with a jaundiced eye.  I feel a small sigh of relief each time a unit returns. We can agree that we want our troops to come home but the reality is we’re in a place where getting out of this conflict is a very difficult prospect.  And who knows if anyone can “win”?

It was a long time before my father, the career Army officer, and I sat down to talk about my service. As a World War II vet, his allegiance was unquestioned and clearly accepted.  When he finally told me not long before he passed away that he was proud of the fact that I had chosen to serve in such a difficult time, it was a moment that I can carry in my heart forever.

Somehow, it’s even tougher now, though. My respect for today’s troops is unparalleled. I want them back. I want a world full of peace.  I want to break down the barriers between our ideologies. More understanding.  More compassion. None of this can happen too soon.  And the secret is finding the answer to this situation. I’m proud to be a veteran. Every one of us who has served has helped to make our world a better place.  Celebrate a veteran on Veteran’s Day. He or she deserves it.