The night before Opening Ceremonies, NBC talking head Meredith Vieira made a striking comment. She said she would be watching the Games to see how Russia portrayed itself, outside the Communist scope. Being of a certain age, Meredith thought of atomic bomb drills, Soviets taking over the world whenever she thought of the country. She even went so far as to say she believed most people of her generation would think the same.

I wish they were alone in that.

Before the Opening Ceremonies, there seemed to be a quiet tension presenting from some American social media sites. Russia was presented as that country where we won a hockey game which brought down Communism. It was referred to as the former Soviet Union – 24 years after the Berlin Wall fell.

A country filled with millions, large enough to stretch 9 time zones (the US covers 6), narrowed down to single period of its history. Then named by the former of that time, as if that were the pinnacle and it is forever broken or lesser.

The arrogance astounds.

I thought, that's one person's opinion, and that's before the Games get started. After some medals are won, skeletons slide and curlers bowl on ice with brooms and rocks, the world will accept Communism cost its people far more than it ever did anyone else, and the host country will be seen in a more complete light.

The torch will pass, Rio will samba in. Do a shot of good Russian vodka (for those whom it is a sin will then confess), and all of humanity will move one more step away from the horrors marring this land filled with paradox and robust wonder.

Or at least there won't be this bloodthirsty-edge demanding we spank Russia at hockey again.