Beijing Games come up short on soul

[ugadawg5]

Beijing Games come up short on soul

 

By Jeff Schultz | Saturday, August 23, 2008, 05:00 PM

 

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

 

Beijing — The first time Charles Lee came to China in 1979, there wasn’t a great preoccupation with impressing people. Beijing hadn’t been blanketed with flower pots. Teenage girls didn’t run 50 feet through rain storms to hand you an umbrella. Natives didn’t stop white people in the middle of Tiananmen Square, merely to take their picture and ask, “What do you think of our country?”

 

“There was one road into town,” said Lee, a former Los Angeles judge who was instrumental in China’s inclusion in the 1984 Olympics and now a USOC official. “I remember the big activity at night was to go see the magic show. Then during the daytime, we went on a tour of the light-bulb factor. That was it.”

 

It’s more than that now. China was intent on impressing world in these Olympics. It went beyond the booming infrastructure, the cannonball off the diving board into capitalism and even the Beijing Hooters (which fairly is in line with a slogan during Mao’s Cultural Revolution: “Unleash the fury of women as a mighty force for revolution!”)

 

In short, the people of China really wanted you to like them. Unfortunately, the grading for what we saw over 17 days in Beijing can’t end there.

 

These Olympics gave us some wonderful competition and two athletes for the ages: U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps, who won a record eight gold medals and set seven world records, and Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, who set records in the 100, 200 and as part of the 4x100 relay team.

 

People were gracious. Events ran smoothly. Buses ran on time. Nobody keeled over from the smog (although several came close).

 

But something significant was missing: atmosphere. This won’t go down as the greatest Olympics ever. They could go down as the most antiseptic.

 

Atlanta’s Olympics were criticized on many fronts for transportation and technical breakdowns. But at least Atlanta had a pulse. Beijing seemed closer to a perfectly dressed mannequin.

 

Chinese officials were determined not to allow its government’s Bar Mitzvah to become a showcase for protesters. That’s fine, to a point. But they went overboard.

 

There were times it seemed the Beijing Olympics weren’t taking place in a city but rather a dollhouse, with a big hand coming down to move the little pieces around. Police and security officials cleared streets of perceived undesirables. Demonstrations in Tiananmen Square were quickly smothered, like a People’s Army boot on an ant hill.

 

China promised the IOC openness. Instead, we got Hollywood back lots with phony housing fronts. The government set up an application process for human-rights activists. They designated three protest zones. But none of the applications were accepted. Several applicants were arrested. One woman, Zhang Wei, wanted to protest her home being leveled for Olympic construction. She received a month in prison for “disturbing social order.”

 

The Olympics are supposed to be a celebration, not a 24/7 ROTC march.

 

There were many several days when I walked through the “Olympic Green” toward competition venues. To my left were fountains and pools, wonderfully landscaped. But they were fenced off. Security guards were lined up like pawns on a chessboard. People took pictures through wire fencing.

 

It wrecked the scene. It set the tone. These were the look-but-don’t-touch Olympics.

 

USOC chairman Peter Ueberroth played the role of diplomat. “If you accept an invitation to somebody’s house and you start saying I don’t like the furniture, I don’t like this house, I don’t like the food — then you shouldn’t go. It’s not our responsibility [to speak out]. Politicians can make a statement.”

 

The IOC can make the statement. Don’t award the Games to any country with a failing record in human rights.

 

The aftermath of elaborate Opening Ceremonies spoke volumes. There were stories of 51-hour rehearsals where participants were allowed only two bathroom breaks and two meals. Several collapsed from exhaustion or heatstroke. Some performers wore diapers because they couldn’t leave the field for six hours.

 

Fifteen minutes before the show, a 7-year-old girl was replaced by a 9-year-old girl to lip-synch, “Ode to the Motherland.” Zhang Yimou didn’t believe the 7-year-old was cute enough. That should do wonders for her self-esteem.

 

In an interview with Chinese journalists, Zhang said only North Korea could’ve put on a better show (“They are uniform beyond belief!”)

 

Zhang added: “I have conducted operas in the West. It was so troublesome. They only work four and a half days each week. Everyday there are two coffee breaks and no overtime work at all. There cannot be any discomfort because of human rights.”

 

Darn those human rights.

 

They can wreck any show.

[Black Rose]

And now watch as the world turns away from China, how they will return to the dark days

[Ambergris]

But something significant was missing: atmosphere. This won’t go down as the greatest Olympics ever. They could go down as the most antiseptic.

 

:rolleyes: The U.S. cannot stand the fact China did just beat them on this olympics, right? :rolleyes:

[Tnspieler1012]

well...we did have more medals...but whose counting, right? :P

[ugadawg5]

:rolleyes: The U.S. cannot stand the fact China did just beat them on this olympics, right? :rolleyes:

 

Yeah, we're just jealous. How dare the home team win the gold medal count. Come on, that's the most trivial thing about this olympics. The point is that the Chinese government failed miserably in its attempt to show the world they were changing for the better.

[Space Cadet]

Well from a country euphorically rejoicing at a mere 3 golds, I say spontaneity isn't spontaneous if it's rehearsed. It was fun enough at events, but a lot of the little random things that made past Olympics special weren't there.

 

And now they can go back to crushing Falun Gong and ripping out Christian fingernails in peace. :(

[Black Rose]

But the main thing is that Team GB beat the Aussies, on both number of golds and total number of medals.

 

O yeah, we didn't care about beating anybody more than the Aussies :P

[delsino]

Civil Right?Does USA Has Civil Right?????? FOX TV? CNN? Those prisoners dead in prison?

and young soldiers who have no chance back home?

Dark?

 

I'm so happy!In my homeland!

 

Why so many people think Chinese people have no happiness at all?

 

......

 

 

People in Iraq are suffered from hunger,most of them have no happiness,4 THE

PETROL WAR!but now some people think we are living in Darker world:shocked2:

 

Dark Days?When i surf the internet,and seeing so many News about My Homeland are STUPID,i feel my Dark day comes.....

 

As far as i know, a reporter (from Voice of Germany?)was fired 4 not bashing China,that is the freedom of speech?:laugh3:

 

Ok,no goverment is perfect! but i think CCP did better than any other countries'Parties.

 

 

I'm not a member of CCP! or so called hired by goverment......(A goverment will hire people to support Torch Relay in foreign countries????some News are so ...strange......and eye-opening)

 

 

Olympic Opening Ceremony just a show,but i'm still so sad about that.

The 7-years-old girl now get more respects,she's great.Chinese people always

silently working,but now,we can voicing our Voice

[delsino]

Well from a country euphorically rejoicing at a mere 3 golds, I say spontaneity isn't spontaneous if it's rehearsed. It was fun enough at events, but a lot of the little random things that made past Olympics special weren't there.

 

And now they can go back to crushing Falun Gong and ripping out Christian fingernails in peace. :(

 

Do you really know FLG????

and you practice it???

FLG say people who practice it needn't eat any medicine,you believing it?

FLG tell you that you should burn yourself,and you willing to do it?

 

FLG,a foreign politics-- tool!

 

AND,I'M A CHRISTIAN!!!!

When my hometown surffered 8.0 earthquake,so many Chinese Christians came SiChuan,and help us!!!!!!!!!!Then i become a Christian!

 

The really Religionist came SiChuan to help us,not like Dalai Lama and Li HongZhi!

 

But some people never see it..... ai......

[delsino]

if someone know Chinese,he can translate this article,you may know the writer --He Xin.

 

http://www.anti-cnn.com/forum/cn/viewthread.php?tid=68026&extra=&page=1

[Tnspieler1012]

Civil Right?Does USA Has Civil Right??????

Why, Yes we do.

 

FOX TV? CNN?

T.V. Channels, what about them?

 

 

Those prisoners dead in prison?

I don't quite follow. Some People who commit horrific crimes are sentenced to life in prison...

 

and young soldiers who have no chance back home?

Dark? A. It's a completely volunteer army and B. the vast majority of soldiers make it back home. By what you mean by "dark?" I haven't the slightest.

 

I'm so happy!In my homeland!

Wonderful.

Why so many people think Chinese people have no happiness at all?

Because their have been many instances where the chinese government has infringed upon the civil rights of its people. I don't mean to generalize, I'm sure you and most chinese are very happy, but the way the chinese government's controls the media (and no, fox news isn't the same) and its people is somewhat astonishing my western standards.

......

 

 

People in Iraq are suffered from hunger,most of them have no happiness,4 THE

PETROL WAR!but now some people think we are living in Darker world:shocked2:

Iraq isn't starving. but while we're at it, are you making a case for china by comparing it to Iraq? America is better off than Sudan, but that doesn't say much at all does it?

 

Dark Days?When i surf the internet,and seeing so many News about My Homeland are STUPID,i feel my Dark day comes.....

I'm sorry you feel that way.

As far as i know, a reporter (from Voice of Germany?)was fired 4 not bashing China,that is the freedom of speech?:laugh3:

Of course there's biased media all over the world, but the media comes from various independant networks each of which has a different tilt. Fox and CBS for example. I doubt the german government fired that particular reporter. While the chinese government censors western television that seems critical of china and communism. (after all, they banned parachutes for "spies"). They've also been trying to censor more of the internet, blocking out pornography and certain sites associated with "free tibet".

 

Ok,no goverment is perfect!

Agreed.

but i think CCP did better than any other countries'Parties.

Disagreed, although I understand that an iron fist approach may be more neccessary when dealing with a fifth of the world's population.

 

I'm not a member of CCP! or so called hired by goverment......(A goverment will hire people to support Torch Relay in foreign countries????some News are so ...strange......and eye-opening)

I sincerely doubted you were.

 

Olympic Opening Ceremony just a show,but i'm still so sad about that.

The 7-years-old girl now get more respects,she's great.Chinese people always

silently working,but now,we can voicing our Voice.

Is sad, although I was more concerned about the gymnasts than the little girl to be honest.

[Matter-Eater Lad]

Yeah, we're just jealous. How dare the home team win the gold medal count. Come on, that's the most trivial thing about this olympics. The point is that the Chinese government failed miserably in its attempt to show the world they were changing for the better.

 

Oh but they are becoming better on human rights. Maybe not very fast, but compared to 5 years ago they're a lot better, compared to 5 years before that they're a lot better. China's government has eased up quite a bit on its people in the last 15 years or so. In the next 20 years they will become even better.

[delsino]

Civil Right?Does USA Has Civil Right??????

Why, Yes we do.

 

but in fact,China almostly have no racist,and Han in fact is " national minority",because almostly all Preferential policy are for minorities .

How about Indian?

 

FOX TV? CNN?

T.V. Channels, what about them?

4 no china media crazy about bashing other countries

 

Those prisoners dead in prison?

I don't quite follow. Some People who commit horrific crimes are sentenced to life in prison...

but they should be misused?

 

 

and young soldiers who have no chance back home?

Dark? A. It's a completely volunteer army and B. the vast majority of soldiers make it back home. By what you mean by "dark?" I haven't the slightest.

But you like war?Don't you like staying with your family?or they don't like?

Let loose the dogs of war is the biggest crime!

 

I'm so happy!In my homeland!

Wonderful.

 

Thx

 

Why so many people think Chinese people have no happiness at all?

Because their have been many instances where the chinese government has infringed upon the civil rights of its people. I don't mean to generalize, I'm sure you and most chinese are very happy, but the way the chinese government's controls the media (and no, fox news isn't the same) and its people is somewhat astonishing my western standards.

Every goverment controls the media,but western always think they have Freedom of speech,so they don't know they are Brainwashed.

so how can Bush invaded Iraq?

 

Now,you see,when we knew the News from western media,what happend?

yes, i know 1989,and i know what happend,we feel sad ,that's pain of our hearts.but western media act as murderer in fact.it just one part of US so called Global strategy.more in http://www.anti-cnn.com/forum/cn/vie...&extra=&page=1 ......

 

 

People in Iraq are suffered from hunger,most of them have no happiness,4 THE

PETROL WAR!but now some people think we are living in Darker world:shocked2:

Iraq isn't starving. but while we're at it, are you making a case for china by comparing it to Iraq? America is better off than Sudan, but that doesn't say much at all does it?

How many reporters in Iraq? no more than 5.

you know what happend in Iraq?I bet they start to missing Saddam.

 

Dark Days?When i surf the internet,and seeing so many News about My Homeland are STUPID,i feel my Dark day comes.....

I'm sorry you feel that way.

When all medias around the world say 911 just a game of Bush,and all american are Brainwashed,and all countries say they will Free Indian,and every leader acts as President of USA,you will know it.

 

As far as i know, a reporter (from Voice of Germany?)was fired 4 not bashing China,that is the freedom of speech?:laugh3:

Of course there's biased media all over the world, but the media comes from various independant networks each of which has a different tilt. Fox and CBS for example. I doubt the german government fired that particular reporter. While the chinese government censors western television that seems critical of china and communism. (after all, they banned parachutes for "spies"). They've also been trying to censor more of the internet, blocking out pornography and certain sites associated with "free tibet".

But no common people willing to free tibet at all! And if you want,you can find the way to Breaking the internet great wall!All Chinese people hate those liars.That's why we stand after our Goverment steady.we will complain about our goverment and some officials,but we also know what they did 4 us!

"Don't ask what your country do 4 you ,ask what you do 4 your country!"

 

Ok,no goverment is perfect!

Agreed.

yes

 

but i think CCP did better than any other countries'Parties.

Disagreed, although I understand that an iron fist approach may be more neccessary when dealing with a fifth of the world's population.

Can any Parties help more than 4 hundred million people ran out of poverty?

Can any Parties have such high support level?

Western Multi-party political system is good?they just lying,and you believe it,and

then against them,and another party lying,someone believe it again,and then.....

"Two Villains Supervising Each Other,and Both Disguising The Gentlemen "----

The Truth About Multi-party political system i think.

 

 

I'm not a member of CCP! or so called hired by goverment......(A goverment will hire people to support Torch Relay in foreign countries????some News are so ...strange......and eye-opening)

I sincerely doubted you were.

ok,that's your right:D

 

Olympic Opening Ceremony just a show,but i'm still so sad about that.

The 7-years-old girl now get more respects,she's great.Chinese people always

silently working,but now,we can voicing our Voice.

Is sad, although I was more concerned about the gymnasts than the little girl to be honest.

 

......Being cute is commit sin?:shocked2::shocked2::D

[coldplay_is_louve.]

all i'm going to say, cause i don't want to really piss anyone off, is that it's a little conveinent they won the gold medal count. :anxious:...