At a time when news of the upcoming election dominates the television and radio stations, the unity of all Americans seems nearly impossible. Every four years, just before election time, Americans rally together for a completely different reason.

While hostile rivalries continue to divide our nation, we unite by supporting the red, white and blue-clad athletes of the 2012 Olympic Games. Whether we are cheering for Gabby Douglas who received the gold medal in the women’s all around gymnastics, or crying for Lolo Jones in the women’s 100 meter hurdles, the Olympics has a way of bringing our country together.

“I think there were still a lot of political commercials, but I felt like the country was really brought together,” says senior Morgan Kerlin.

For once in a while, everybody is on the same side. Sure, there are favorites among each event, but in the end, everyone ends up rooting for the same team to win.  During the Olympics, we forget to be defined by our race, religion, sexuality, political stance, and define ourselves simply as Americans.

While local heroes arise from what seems like nothingness, we feel a sense of pride that our country was able to produce such fantastic athletes. Stars such as Misty May Trener, Hope Solo, and Michael Phelps help to bring the nation together as second year Olympians for our country.

“Americans rallied behind {Michael} Phelps, even though {Ryan} Lochte was supposed to be so much better than him,” says senior Robbie Clark.  “It was really cool how he ended up setting the record for the most medals in Olympic history. It seemed like all of America could look up to him and that brought them together.”

Unfortunately, as the Olympic spirit begins to fade, so does the sense of American pride.  Television shows go back to bashing one candidate after another, old rivalries resume. America divides once more.

“I enjoy seeing the pride people have in their countries during the Olympics,” says Mark Heiderscheid, a Consumer Ed teacher here at EHS. “Watching the Olympics was not only enjoyable for me, because I like watching competition sports, but it was much better than seeing people attacking each other.”

Even as the Olympic spirit slips away, through, try to remember the unity that we felt this season— we are, after all, still Americans.