Message from the Editor: Ubuntu, Harmony, and the Light We Carry Together

In a Fractured World, the Olympics Remind Us We’re Still One

I’ve always been fascinated by the Olympics, not because I’m an athlete (I’m not), and not even because I’m deeply into sports (nope). What draws me in, every time, is the bigger, deeper emotions, the overwhelming brilliance of human ability, the stories of struggle, of sacrifice, and of relentless belief, the idea that, for a moment in time, the world can still come together — despite everything — to celebrate what we can be at our very best.

There’s something captivating about it all— the underdogs who rise, the parents who gave up everything to help their kids train, the quiet resilience behind every medal and behind every loss. Most of all, though, it is the universality of it all, the tears, the joy, the laughter and awe, the humanness of it.

The Olympic Games remind me that no matter what corner of the world you’re from, we all know what disappointment looks like. We all understand pressure, heartbreak, triumph, and pride. We know what it means to try and try again. And that shared experience? It’s everything.

So why am I talking about this on a political Substack, you ask? It is because the Olympics exemplify what we can be when we stop being guided by petty differences, by prejudice, by partisan dogwhistles and culture war fights. They are a brief glimpse into a world where human achievement and connection matter more than domination or division.

This year’s opening ceremony hit me in a way few ever have.

The pageantry, naturally, was stunning. The culture, the fashion, and the music were all beautifully done. However, it was the theme of “harmony”— in Italian, “Armonia” — that grabbed me and didn’t let go. It was Charlize Theron quoting Mandela.

“Peace is not just the absence of conflict. Peace is the creation of an environment where all can flourish, regardless of race, colour, creed, religion, gender, class, caste, or any other social markers of difference.”

Charlize Theron, quoting Nelson Mandela

It was Ghali’s rap, both defiant and hopeful, which featured words from Promemoria (Memorandum) by Gianni Rodari. “There are things you must never do, not by day nor by night, not by sea nor by shore: for example, WAR.”

It was the choice to quietly and fluidly center diversity, to spotlight women, to elevate a value like ubuntu — the powerful idea that “I am because we are.”

What hit me the hardest, however, was IOC President Kirsty Coventry speaking to the athletes.

“You remind us that we can be brave. That we can be kind. That we can get back up, no matter how hard we fall. The spirit of the Olympic Games is about so much more than sport. It is about us, and what makes us human. This is the magic of the Olympic Games: inspiring us all to be the best that we can be - together.”

Kirsty Coventry, President of the International Olympic Committee

When she spoke of ubuntu, it didn’t feel like a ceremonial phrase. It felt like recognition. A message — perhaps unintentionally — aimed at Americans and at others around the world grappling with fear, extremism, disconnection, and despair: we see what you’re going through, but more than that, we still believe in your ability to rise.

It wasn’t political, not overtly, not unless compassion and humanity have become partisan positions. And if they have? That’s a damning statement on the state of this world.

For the next two weeks, the eyes of the world will turn — together — to this celebration of excellence, of determination, of what’s possible when people give everything they have to something greater. Some will tune in for the gold medals, some for the drama, but many of us? We’ll be watching for the heart and the humanity.

Ultimately, the Olympics aren’t just about national pride. They’re about human achievement, individual or team, funded or unfunded, famous or forgotten, the athletes who show up are testaments to belief, to effort, and to hope made flesh.

And for a little while, at least, we’ll all be watching together. Perhaps we will finally remember that, at the end of the day, we are all humans, striving against odds others may never know about, and each of us crawls into bed hoping that tomorrow will be just a little bit brighter. May we intentionally choose to be that light, for ourselves, but also for one another. Individually, we are a spark. Together, we are an inferno.

Happy Olympics!

— The Editor