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Home > Jeff Schultz > Archives > 2008 > August > 23 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USBeijing Games come up short on soul
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.
Permalink | Comments (36) | Post your comment | Categories: Beijing Olympics
Comments
By MannyT
August 23, 2008 5:47 PM | Link to this
Jeff Look at the bright side. It makes you appreciate what we have in the USA.
Otherwise, like the signing girls—you’d get to write the article and the good looking guy down the street would get your by line.
The line between politics and sports is often a messy one. You can check with the 1980 USA Olympic team for confirmation of that. They will show unusual capitalist/communist agreement with the 1984 Russian Olympic team.
The IOC is the Amy Post of Sport. After reading the IOC take what a bad sport Bolt was for overcelebrating his accomplishments, I once again saw their style over substance approach. So what if you sacrifice for 3, 5, 10 years for a shot at once in a lifetime glory that might last less than a minute. Enjoy it respectfully—we learned from the NFL that personal celebrations are quite inappropriate.
I hope the Chinese Depends company got an Olympic endorsement deal from all those folks in the opening ceremonies that had no breaks.
All that said, I enjoyed the Olympics here, and I enjoyed watching the Olympics there. If the London games are expected to be a political mess, I’ll cover the games if you write the articles ;-)
By George
August 23, 2008 6:07 PM | Link to this
And just what did you expect? A warm, friendly, fuzzy atmosphere? It’s China for gosh sakes. It took them years (centuries) to get to this place. They’ve come a long way, baby.
By Derrick
August 23, 2008 6:28 PM | Link to this
Beijing Olympics have no soul…pretty much just like downtown Atlanta.
By Peter
August 23, 2008 6:42 PM | Link to this
Jeff:
Lenin said that capitalist would sell “you the rope you use to hang them” Having traveled within China for years and watching this years extravaganza I couldn’t agree more.
I’m not one for interjecting politics into sport but these are people who’ve threatned nuclear war over Taiwan, shadow American surface units, refused in the past year two American naval port calls in Hong Kong and force abortions upon families.
Their military owns over 3,000 businesses in the U.S. and they regularly attempt computer attacks upon our sensitive government systems. People should enjoy the Olympics but just do it eyes wide open.
By Earl Morriss
August 23, 2008 6:52 PM | Link to this
I just returned from a week in Beijing…and the main thing I’d like to communicate is that the news media - as usual- didn’t just fail to tell you the truth, they purposefully lied to you. And I’m not talking about ‘Save Tibet’ or the rickshaw rides for tourist through the fake hutongs…I’m talking about EVERYTHING. What you saw in the media was just one big lie after the next…the Chinese people are slaves. There, I said it…our media knew it - they just didn’t have the balls to say it. Americans really have no way to comprehend a place where the police shut down the town square, where the police can do whatever they want. The media told you about the great security - BULL - there was no security, I could have gotten into any venue I attended without being detected by the teenage ‘volunteers’ who ran the security. The Chinese were never concerned with what we call ‘terrorists’, they were terrified that someone would stand up in public and say something like, ‘All men are created equal’ or we all have unalienable rights that flow from our creator…that is terrorism in China. And the big fancy buildings…holes…in America we would have condemned them for their horrible construction - these fancy buildings were falling apart before my very eyes, only weeks after they first opened. Good looking on the outside- rotten on the inside…that’s China. I have no problen with the people - they are just pawns and puppets, they just don’t know any better. So, please do not believe the media…they were just a willing part of an incredible lie.
By You got to be kidding me
August 23, 2008 8:09 PM | Link to this
What did everybody expect? Its China for God’s sake!
By Fan
August 23, 2008 8:15 PM | Link to this
I swear every blog, colum, that somebody writes, somebody always gotta write some stupid comment about hating Atlanta. If you hate the city so much, then LEAVE!
By Peter
August 23, 2008 9:11 PM | Link to this
Kidding me:
What people like Earl expect is for the truth to be told. You just don’t overlook peoples virtual enslavement. Full reporting on a country where young children are frequently kidnapped and sold without much if any government investigation. A country where human organs are harvested from executed prisoners and other things too numerous to mention. Wait, you’ll see as soon as these “games” are over a wave of oppression will return to China.
By p
August 23, 2008 10:19 PM | Link to this
Earl Morriss, well said.
By Ted Striker
August 24, 2008 1:48 AM | Link to this
“The IOC can make the statement. Don’t award the Games to any country with a failing record in human rights.”
I couldn’t agree more
By robo
August 24, 2008 2:38 AM | Link to this
i was wondering how they pulled off the opening ceremonies. you gotta admit, it paid off.
By mark
August 24, 2008 2:40 AM | Link to this
I think the games have been great and China has done a great job putting them onthe venues are beautiful…sure are lot of businesses putting their foot in China something must be right…
By mark
August 24, 2008 2:41 AM | Link to this
I think the games have been great and China has done a great job putting them onthe venues are beautiful…sure are lot of businesses putting their foot in China something must be right…
By ShanghaiATL
August 24, 2008 3:38 AM | Link to this
Jeff, I live in Shanghai. Well said on your part. To me, the young women approaching you and asking, “What do you think of China?” expresses the annoying insecurity and confused nationalism of the new generation. CCTV this week has shown many clips of Olympic volunteers approaching foreigners and asking that question. Of course, they choose to broadcast the most naive, fawning responses. Two truths to know about China that every experienced expat I’ve ever encountered will acknowledge: (1) Lying and corruption is endemic to the culture, not just within the government, but in business, education, and even social relations. (2) Human life is simply not valued in the same way here.
Finally, for a historical reference point from which to view the grueling conditions forced on opening ceremony performers, read the history of General Chi’s 16th Century campaign to rebuild the Great Wall. Those workers lived hell on earth.
By ShanghaiATL
August 24, 2008 3:40 AM | Link to this
I am a native Atlantan who lives in Shanghai. Well said, Jeff. To me, the young women approaching you and asking, “What do you think of China?” expresses the annoying insecurity and confused nationalism of the new generation. CCTV this week has shown many clips of Olympic volunteers approaching foreigners and asking that question. Of course, they choose to broadcast the most naive, fawning responses. Two truths to know about China that every experienced expat I’ve ever encountered will acknowledge: (1) Lying and corruption is endemic to the culture, not just within the government, but in business, education, and even social relations. (2) Human life is simply not valued in the same way here.
Finally, for a historical reference point from which to view the grueling conditions forced on opening ceremony performers, read the history of General Chi’s 16th Century campaign to rebuild the Great Wall.
By ShanghaiATL
August 24, 2008 3:40 AM | Link to this
I am a native Atlantan who lives in Shanghai. Well said, Jeff. To me, the young women approaching you and asking, “What do you think of China?” expresses the annoying insecurity and confused nationalism of the new generation. CCTV this week has shown many clips of Olympic volunteers approaching foreigners and asking that question. Of course, they choose to broadcast the most naive, fawning responses. Two truths to know about China that every experienced expat I’ve ever encountered will acknowledge: (1) Lying and corruption is endemic to the culture, not just within the government, but in business, education, and even social relations. (2) Human life is simply not valued in the same way here.
Finally, for a historical reference point from which to view the grueling conditions forced on opening ceremony performers, read the history of General Chi’s 16th Century campaign to rebuild the Great Wall.
By mike
August 24, 2008 4:59 AM | Link to this
so what jeffie! so much hate on China here. that culture has been that way for many many years. obviously jeffie you and the rest have no recollections of what this country has done to people within its borders as well as outside. yet you can talk about what someone else has done. what a joke.
By billy
August 24, 2008 6:45 AM | Link to this
now i know u are from atl hate to inform you but the world does not revolve around “soul” results show that “soul” forces from the us were on sidelines once again when medals were given out in field and track next time the ajc can send a real open minded reporter to cover the event
By billy
August 24, 2008 6:45 AM | Link to this
now i know u are from atl hate to inform you but the world does not revolve around “soul” results show that “soul” forces from the us were on sidelines once again when medals were given out in field and track next time the ajc can send a real open minded reporter to cover the event
By jim
August 24, 2008 7:27 AM | Link to this
ShanghaiATL and other china hater, have you read what they said about 96 Atlanta Olympics? Complete soulless and lack of Olympics spiritual.
Also, Chinese is not owned “cheat and lie” culture. In America, we have our share of “lie and cheaters” as well. Enron, Worldcom and our football players and baseball players cheat more than anybody else.
By Hoosier
August 24, 2008 8:39 AM | Link to this
I spent my two week vacation at the Atlanta Olympics. I do not understand any of the critics comments about those games. My family had a WONDERFUL time.
The Olympics are not about being somewhere with atmosphere. The Olympics ARE the atmosphere. China shut down the free spirit of the games it sounds like.
So, even though downtown Altlanta wasn’t filled with historical or beautiful buildings (guess that is what they mean by “atmoshpere?) that park was awesome. The streets filled with thousands and thousands of people from all over the world-awesome. The events and facilities awesome.
Marta-semi-awesome:-)
By jim
August 24, 2008 9:22 AM | Link to this
Hoosier, US media does not report bad news about Atlanta 96 Olympic. Atlanta 96 Olympic is viewed many by world as one of worst Olympic in the history. Way too commercialization, lack of culture, extreme heat condition, poor coordination/transportation and poor condition in Olympic village. Atlanta was way over its head when it hosted the Olympic and maybe now it can host better.
By To the unwashed amerikkkans
August 24, 2008 9:40 AM | Link to this
I hope they dont stop offering olympics to countries with Human rights violations or the USA would never get another olympic. We violate more than anyone, but in our white superiority complex we feel the need to always condemn anything different from us in order to hide our deep seated feelings of inferiority. Schultz just follows a script that he has on China. its a cold communist hellhole the people have no freedom Whats their version of the PATRIOT ACT? China removed a girl because she was not cute, she never would have got a chance here. I saw a young white kid over in china from here who has 6 restaurants around china..3 pizza and 3 sub shops, they have kfc,hooters etc. so they cant be as restrictive as people say. amerikkkans are afraid because of the billion people over there. They are hardworking and intelligent and will eventually be the worlds superpower as this place continues to decline due to white close mindedness I see many Chinese students here going to school, how are they able to leave and come here if it is so repressive? Stop the racist media BS
By TBX
August 24, 2008 9:42 AM | Link to this
Enjoy your “soul” as generations of young African-Americans in Atlanta smoke crack and execute each other in the streets for sneakers. But at least they have the right to protest. Yay for Atlanta.
By keith
August 24, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this
If there were medals to be had in whining, moaning, whinging and complaining, no doubt the US will win 4 more gold medals.
By Bob
August 24, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this
Wow. Some of you are so naive. If you think America’s problems (and yes, we do have problems) can even light a candle to China’s you need to get out more.
By ShanghaiATL
August 24, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this
As a professor at a Top 5 university in China—the Chinese “Ivy League”—I can assure you, “Unwashed Amerikkans,” that most Chinese students are NOT hardworking and that the standards here are far below universities in the U.S. (I have taught full-time at two major U.S. universities). The corruption in these Chinese institutions—plagiarism among many professors and Phd students, constant cheating among students, almost universal bribing of professors for better grades, administration forcing profs (I refused) to give “retests” to athletes and offspring of Party members though they never once come to class or do any work—is just one part of the story. 95% of the students here have no idea how to think independently or creatively—they have been taught in grammar and high school to memorize and do math and basic science, period. Ask them to pick out a theme or give an opinion, and you face blank stares. Ask them to come up with an original idea, they merely copy each other or the one example given by the teacher. The system obviously has encouraged this lack of critical thinking. The students you see from China at U.S. universities are often the cream of the crop, though many of these have benefited greatly from having their application essays written by someone else, having their high schools change their transcript grades, cheating on SATs through various well-known means, etc. It has been a shock to me, and I don’t expect Americans to believe it completely, but every foreign professor here sees that it’s true, and this truth by now is well-known among officials at elite universities in Britain and the U.S. Don’t confuse multicultural issues in the U.S. with China. This is a different ballgame here, an entire society that plays by few rules as we know them, and it has nothing to do with U.S. racial tensions. To confuse Chinese politics and mores with U.S. social issues is an extremely provincial, uninformed view.
By Robert Thomason
August 24, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this
People like ShanghaiATL who spend a few years in China and then pontificate on a culture that was around 2,500 years before Rome amuse me.
I can tell you that there are thousands of people from the West who have lived in China for far longer who would heartily disagree with ShanghaiATL’s opinion.
As for cheating and lying, the courts are full of complaints from people who charge other Americans with misrepesentation, or worse. Some of these people even become our leaders — John Edwards, anyone? Bill Clinton, anyone? Richard Nixon, anyone?
Leave it to some people to disparage an entire civilization and people they could not possibly know.
By ShanghaiATL
August 24, 2008 2:27 PM | Link to this
Mr. Thomason, what are your qualifications to pontificate or to criticize my obvservations? Have you ever held a full-time academic post at a Chinese university? Have you ever encountered the educational issues that I’ve described with China’s students? Have you ever worked closely with admissions officials at the Top 30 American universities? As a professor who has lived MORE than a few years in China, and lectured around the world on the topic, and been paid to consult Chinese university officials on improving creative thinking among its undergraduates, these observations are not pulled from thin air. The causes of the conditions I’ve described are, of course, very complex, and would be hard to get into in this forum. Of course, there are many great things about China and its people. There are many untoward things, too. Certainly, China’s often glorious 5000+ year history still influences its present, but even more so do the atrocities of the Mao period which ended technically in ‘76. Sure Clinton et al lied, but you must know you’re committing a logical fallacy here, sir. The corruption I speak of radiates into so many levels of society here, from the grad students who hand in articles from Harvard Business Review for their final papers, to the China Mobile employees who routinely asks for $20,000 USD bribes from ad agencies who want the account, to the scores of factory owners who build a “showcase” factories to pass inspections but maintain secret ones where they cut corners, to the street vendors who sell dumplings full of wet, chopped cardboard (reported recently), the examples are mind-numbing. Still, China is an exciting place to live, for one with a stomach for it. I suggest you do so before falling back on the supposed opinions of “thousands” of anonymous people who you don’t know and acting like an expert.
P.S. My Chinese wife just had a nice chuckle over your comment that I couldn’t possibly “know” Chinese people.
By Ken Stallings
August 24, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this
One of these days not so far away, we Americans are again going to stop being embarrassed to point out that individual freedom is the only climate in humanity where reality is revealed.
The stuffy IOC chiefs criticized the Atlanta Olympics for being an out of control street bazzar. Perhaps it was. But at least it was a natural outcome of personal liberty.
The PRC games were the antiseptic affair you describe, but no one should be in the least surprised. To appease principled protests, the IOC negotiated contrived devices they knew were devoid of regime sincerity. But, they provided the whitewash needed to provide an illusion. The corrupt “protest application” process was a perfect example.
We so often act like money is the path of freedom. In fact, freedom is the path to human happiness. Money often comes along for the ride. The PRC creates money on the back of a totalitarian system. The state rules. People who think commerce equates to freedom are just stubborn to admit they were wrong the whole time, or ignorant of basic truth!
Freedom has to first exist before true human spirit comes forth. There’s nothing substantially different about Chinese people. What is different is the state control those in the PRC are forced to live in.
The PRC doesn’t seem poised to unleash the evils of Hitler’s Nazis. So, the 2008 Summer games aren’t likely to associate themselves with shame to the degree that the 1936 Berlin games are now defined. However, what we saw these last few weeks was a similar theme.
A state devoid of true human freedom tried to use the Olympics as a political smokescreen. And entirely as the IOC who planned the 1936 games, the people charged the duty to preserve the honor of the games sacrificed their integrity to play along as chumps.
Within a few years of the 1936 games, the fiction was torn away as the world had no choice but to face the great evil the 1936 games helped legitimize. Within a few years perhaps a different outcome will happen vis-a-vis the PRC. But, we could also face a similar tragic result.
Perhaps it is best simply to live honestly to our principles, endeavor never to sell them out, and stand up proudly for what we know is true and virtuous. And least then, regardless of what happens, we won’t have to condemn our personal culpability.
By Ken Stallings
August 24, 2008 3:43 PM | Link to this
ShanghaiATL,
You shouldn’t have to defend your points. The examples used against you are isolated acts. Furthermore, it’s a rare day when truly corrupt influences in America are not exposed in some way.
Within the PRC, if you have the right state connections you can do anything you want to do.
Lead paint in toys, poison in human and pet food, forced abortions, jailing an old woman for a civil voice of protest to her home razed, foolishly shutting out industry people rely on for their livelihoods for a possible improvement in smog …
The list goes on and on and on.
What routinely happens in such totalitarian states as the PRC would outrage Americans if it happened here. In America, what we consider outrageous criminal acts are in the PRC considered mild annoyances.
But as in all such states, if your common criminality harms the state interest, you are ruthlessly exterminated — just as one factory owner who’s actions caused food poisoning in the US.
One writer here spoke of the affairs of Bill Clinton and John Edwards. OK, let’s now put those sordid affairs in context.
In the PRC, nearly all state officials have concubines and use the state abortion system to eliminate the offspring. At least John Edwards loves his child. Sure, it’s illegal and unethical that he’s using campaign funds to pay the mother’s livelihood, but at least he didn’t use a state apparatus to kill the child!
Like I wrote, one of these days we Americans are going to stop acting embarrassed to accept that our liberties are what make us a better society.
By abc
August 24, 2008 6:22 PM | Link to this
americans showed true color this time — the majority are a bunch of sore losers and whiners.
Chinese beat you fair and square in olympics and there is no other way to put it.
and olympics is only the beginning — economics, military and culture are next on the list.
learn to embrace defeats or go ph-a-k yourself — poor sore losers and whiners
By The Fight Realtor
August 24, 2008 10:06 PM | Link to this
You are a cynical, sad little man. I can’t believe (and I’m sure you can’t either) that the AJC actually picked up your plane fare to Beijing. You accomplished nothing you couldn’t have done by sitting on your behind in Atlanta. So the Chinese practiced too much for the Olympics? I’ve always heard practice makes perfect. So t hey had designated areas for protesters? Seems like they did the same thing in Augusta a few years ago for the Masters. For an event like the Olympics, they have a designated area for everything. I was in Atlanta in 1996. And, by the way, my wife and I have two Chinese-born children, one of whom is from Beijing. We traveled there twice a number of years ago for two seperate adoptions. And, yes, they have for years been fascinated with Westerners. And, yes, they have for years run up to a Caucasion for a photo. Your problem, Mr. Schultz, is that you are a cynical, sarcastic jerk, who has nothing to offer in the way of perspective or insight.
By TonyPow
August 24, 2008 10:40 PM | Link to this
Celebration of Olympics BronzesWhat happened? How can we lose gold count to China, a third world country? Let’s have a national holiday of mourning. No one objects I bet! Let’s have a national contest of the best excuses of winning so less gold medals. It has to be the BEST, so it could worth a gold in this category.
What to do? Borrow more money from China to buy foreign coaches… No Speedo to Australia and China. My secret weapon is to import 8 Jamaican runners. Money talks! Bribe the judges (a little harder as everyone hates us but money talks again). Change all the rules to our favor: 5 medals for basketball, 1 for table tennis, 0 for diving… All tiebreakers must go our way as our sponsors own the Olympics. We will amplify their “shortcomings”: Copying our advance lip sing technique, working too hard, starting before you can walk… The Chinese must have put slippery jell on our batons and/or the gym apparatus. Develop a dope that can take out all dope traces from our body. “One country, all medals” is our new Olympics slogan. The more wishfully we think, the closer we succeed.
How to heal now, really? Write to Dear Abby for starter. Bronze is the same as gold if not better. If you do not believe me, ask any blind person. It is harder to get a bronze as we have to LET two others to win. We’ll train our athletes for the bronze from now on. We will ask NBC to interview bronze winners only as they are the real winners. Actually we’ll be happier to be #3 and build a better relationship with other nations. Stop laughing. It is a fact!!! Phelps, we love you more with 8 bronze medals - it is no easy job to let 2 and ONLY 2 pass you 8 times.
If everything does not work, turn ugly. Ask McDonald’s and KFC to give away their “food” (better than opium) to China FREE, so their next generation will be so fat that they cannot walk to the subway station. Send soldiers to grab the medals, esp. gold. Hey, we have the best offense. Will the world be better if we only fought for gold medals only (bronze medals in our case)? What an Olympic spirit to celebrate the winning of the bronze!
— The author is Tony Pow. 8/22/08. Created for fun. No politics. No dumb nationalism. No ego. 90% false, 10% true. 100% fun. Hope no offense to you. Please feel free to distribute/change… —-
By Ted Striker
August 24, 2008 11:37 PM | Link to this
I could care less if another team overtakes the US in medal count — if the other teams win fairly and squarely. The Olympic ideal is about sportsmanship in competition, something the actual competitors value far more than casual viewers. Ever heard of the Pierre de Coubertin medal?
While I’m proud of Michael Phelps and admire him greatly, I’d find his accomplishment every bit as stirring were he competing for Haiti, Iraq, Iran, or Afghanistan. Don’t like that statement? You don’t get the Olympics. It’s not about nationalism, it’s about sportsmanship.
Sportsmanship is valued at it’s core by the most noble of athletes above all else. This isn’t a concept exclusive to the Olympics (ever heard of Bobby Jones?) but it’s a place where it is emphasized to the greatest degree.
I stand by my support of Jeff Shultz’s column and opinions in this manner. What journalists said about the ‘96 Games in Atlanta is immaterial to the 2008 Games.
It’s not the fault of the athletes (any country), nor the shame of the good people of China. Rather, it’s a sad commentary that no far how China has come over the years — it still has a long way to go to be worthy of receiving a passing grade for human rights.
As for the US? Passing grade in human rights — compared to the rest of the world — but definitely no room to glad hand ourselves. Gitmo. Monitoring our own citizens. Eroding freedoms. State sanctioned murder. The difference, my friends, is this: We have a voice. If we don’t speak up — and we can speak up — it’s on us.
Striker, out.
By ShanghaiATL
August 25, 2008 1:16 AM | Link to this
Agreed, Mr. Stallings. In fact, last night during the closing ceremonies, as a beautiful Chinese opera singer sang opposite Domingo, my wife noted, “She’s the former mistress of the previous Chinese premier, the old man they showed beside his elderly wife a few minutes ago.” It was said matter-of-factly, something everyone knows and accepts without question here.