Every two years, the United States is brought together watching the summer or winter Olympic games. Watching the worlds best athletes compete in various events is a thrilling spectacle but the Olympic games are not just about the sport, they are about the message. Underneath the nail-biting races and the amazing displays of athleticism, there is a message of acceptance and unity, symbolized by the various ethnicities on the U.S. olympic team. This is a message that we should take into our hearts and try to mimic in our own differing lives, especially with the current social issues that we are facing.

In the Olympics, skin color does not matter when it comes to rooting for our favorite athletes competing for our country. No matter what ethnicity the athlete or athletes are, we feel the pain when a U.S. gymnast falls on a routine, we feel the excitement when a U.S. swimmer wins their first gold, we feel the heartbreak when a U.S. sprinter loses by milliseconds, and we feel the happiness when a U.S. team wins together. All of these emotions should be taken and used with the people around us regardless of their differences. If that is done, the United States can be a much better place with the diversity-rich society we live in. We should feel the pain when someone is put down, we should feel the excitement when someone succeeds because of their hard work, we should feel the heartbreak when someone cannot achieve their dreams, we should feel happy when we find victory along with other people; we should accept people no matter what race they are. The divide that is between many of us needs to be broken down; this cement wall that society puts up between races can be abolished with all our inner sledgehammers.

So as you watch the Olympics, take time to reflect on how you can take the spirit of the games in your own life and replicate the harmony and camaraderie exemplified between the hundreds of American athletes. Look around and be happy about the diversity that surrounds you, like the U.S. olympians that are just happy to have the chance to be around the world's best athletes and fellow Americans. These athletes do not see their teammates based on their skin color or ethnicity because no matter what they look like, they are all working for the same goal. Moreover, skin color or ethnicity does not dampen our cheers for American athletes because no matter what they look like, they are representing our nation. We support all our athletes like we should support one another regardless of our differences. We should all consider that we are part of the same team in the United States and we should try to function as one, united with one another.