Where is the global warming taking place? Not around Windham, that’s for sure. It’s been downright dismal lately and some days seem like a cold October, rather than the “dog days” of August.

While the Olympic games continue, tiny and large countries are battling anew. It’s difficult to bask in the atmosphere of the Olympics and switch the channel to see tanks and hear gunfire in Georgia (the country, not the state). In spite of the satellites and communication technology, there is so much going on in other lands that we don’t know about.

The “breaking news” is about this politician or that, and their personal indiscretions, accusations and misbehavior – most of which has nothing to do with governing, either past or future, and this behavior becomes the stuff of the evening news. Short shrift is given to one country invading another. We, globally speaking, are more interested in scandal.

We’ve been watching the Olympics along with others, and the thought has occurred to me that there’s an incredible waste of electricity and energy going into all those fireworks and displays. I know, I sound like an old scrooge, but one would think that there was an abundance of everything, globally speaking. Yet we are mesmerized by the talent and utterly impossible skills of the athletes. Perhaps when the frigid days of February are upon us, we can watch reruns, and be warm.

It’s always a treat to see all of the different cultures together, as it should be. We Americans, for the most part, are very naA? ?ve when it comes to knowledge of other countries – even many parts of our own. Years ago, when I returned to my hometown after living on a western Indian reservation, I was questioned about what it was like.

One man I worked with asked me what it was like to live in a tipi. I told him I had lived in a six room ranch style home and the only people who could afford to buy a tipi, were people like him. What kind of food did “they” eat, I was asked, and many other more pointed queries. I think he was disappointed to find out that what he had learned from watching western movies was not real.

Sometimes the terms we use for others, are very telling. For years, we’ve heard royal titles used as part of someone’s name, especially natives of the Americas. Most of us have heard of King Philip’s War, referring to the leader of a particular group of natives. Native Americans didn’t use these titles. There were and are no native kings or queens; this royal affectation is purely from our English backgrounds.

I always wonder if our military personnel being sent to foreign countries get a crash course in the culture of the country in which they’ll be stationed. Our country is so young compared to much of the world, and our culture is really almost rootless, globally speaking, of course. Do they learn about the ancient religions which nearly always govern traditions and society?

Watching the youth at the Olympics, amiably competing and chatting with people from many races and societies, is promising. Finding common ground seems to be key to fostering respect for others. Globally speaking, we could all do better.

See you next week.