Video: The ChiComs blow everyone’s minds
posted at 3:45 pm on August 9, 2008 by Allahpundit
And for once, that’s meant figuratively, not literally. I’m sending you to NBC’s master page for Olympics video; all four clips in the top row are worth watching but the most spectacular stuff is in the “Sights and Sounds” and “Li Ning soars” segments. You’ll need to install the Silverlight plug-in to see it in high rez, but it’s worth it. If you’re looking for the U.S. team in the parade of nations, they appear right at 1:20:00 — to a surprisingly warm ovation, if not quite as warm as the one for Iraq at 1:07:20.
It’s amazing what totalitarians flush with cash can accomplish when they put their minds to it. The Sun’s headline says it all. Click the image to watch.
Blowback
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The government has indoctrinated him into making films with Quentin Tarantino? Seems odd.
dedalus on August 9, 2008 at 5:46 PM
why don’t you ask Joey Cheek that question?
Glynn on August 9, 2008 at 5:49 PM
Good god, is anyone besides family and friends of the athletes even watching?
Does China even have any athletes in this thing? I would think that anyone who could run, jump or swim would have left the country.
RobertInAustin on August 9, 2008 at 5:50 PM
On a lighter note – as a brief palate cleanser – the NBA Los Angeles Lakers signed Sun Yue (story).
Boy, Woodie Allen will be mighty unhappy.
SteveMG on August 9, 2008 at 5:51 PM
Read this, dedalus.
Entelechy on August 9, 2008 at 5:56 PM
You are right, Entelechy. Screw peace and diplomacy. Let’s declare war on those godless commies.
Please read my comments before attacking. I said that I studied in democratic Taiwan, and I only travelled through communist China. True, this is not the same as actually living my whole life there, but it does give me far more experience to talk about China than you, unless you have also lived there.
DCGamer on August 9, 2008 at 6:00 PM
I’m with you completely. Won’t watch any of this Olympic stuff, including any clips HA links to.
This is too much like Berlin, 1936 for me. The whole notion that we’re supposed to put murderous, totalitarian politics aside for Sport (and commerce) makes me ill.
Bush to Putin in their special box: “Pootie, you’re doin’ a heckuva job.”
George Bush can forget and overlook trivial stuff like human misery, brutality and death-dealing regimes. He’s good at that.
I can’t.
MrScribbler on August 9, 2008 at 6:02 PM
No, I got your point. Kudos on the “drama queen,” I actually cracked a smile at that one.
I object to your saying “I can make a list of things the US has done wrong and make a generalization.” Fine, but that would fly in the face of American history and contradict objective fact. The failures of China are not a “generalization,” wrongly arrived at; they are the objective fact.
emailnuevo on August 9, 2008 at 6:03 PM
Please quote where I offered a negative opinion of my country. Good Lord, dustoff. You implying that I am a liberal because I disagree with you is like Obama calling racist anyone who doesn’t agree with him.
DCGamer on August 9, 2008 at 6:04 PM
No, you don’t have more of a claim to an opinion on China because you went there. I have an opinion on fascism but never saw it up close. One isolated trip to China that went well does not disprove fifty years of terror.
emailnuevo on August 9, 2008 at 6:04 PM
Yet you implied that I was a liberal because I disagreed with you. Face it, we are not going to all see any one subject the same way. We all have our opinions. There really is no need to starting labeling or name calling. I enjoy the differing viewpoints but my mind is not being changed.
Glynn on August 9, 2008 at 6:08 PM
You think I’m just simply being hostile? That my posts are intended to be simply quarrelsome? You’ve been there. You must know how utterly bereft of human dignity the Chinese government is towards their
peasantscitizens not of royalty. Chinese citizens have to get a permit to have a child. If they have a girl, many simply throw the girl away like so much garbage then kidnap someone else’s boy child, or buy a baby boy on the black market. 70,000 children a year are kidnapped and sold on the black market… or God knows what else happens to them. If they get pregnant after their one permitted child, and get ratted out by their neighbors, they are forced by the Chinese government to have abortions. If they get away with the second child, without the permit, the unpermitted children become “non-persons” without birth certificates. They don’t officially exist. What about the execution buses that roam the country executing alleged criminals and government dissenters? That’s what they’ve been reduced to in China. Not to mention all of the aforementioned globe affecting China faults and shortcomings which are nothing less than inhuman compared to much of the rest of the world.How anyone can perceive China with anything less than contempt for their treatment of human beings alone is mind boggling.
Perhaps your
indoctrinationeducation and your travels have stifled your common sense and ability to see clearly.Bellicose? Hell No. I just live in reality.
SilverStar830 on August 9, 2008 at 6:11 PM
“…a kind of Chinese Leni Riefenstahl, creating beautiful backdrops for iron-fisted rulers.”
My God.
Glynn on August 9, 2008 at 6:12 PM
Thanks for the link. The article I think points to a microcosm of what is happening in China. Zhang and the ChiComs need each other and are changing each other, just as trade and commerce with the West is forcing the government to compromise and modernize.
Most fans of Zhang have criticized him for years, not as a government lackey, but as a commercial sellout. I think the article you linked also points in that direction. It isn’t dissimilar to a director like Scorsese (and many others) who initially made great films but learned that working the system gave them more power and money.
dedalus on August 9, 2008 at 6:12 PM
OK, point taken, but this is a distraction. I can help you make that list of China’s sins. Mao Tse Tung will rightfully go down in history as one of (if not THE) biggest butcher in history.
This does not take away from my main point, though. I am looking with optimism at the Olympics as being a vehicle of positive change. It doesn’t matter if the IOC is often corrupt. The “Olympic Ideal” is bigger than them. Yes, China should not have been given the Olympics, but that is a fait accompli… a done deal. Now we can hope, and yes pray, that these games will affect real change.
What is the alternative, all you nay sayers? Would you prefer war?
DCGamer on August 9, 2008 at 6:14 PM
I don’t think the Olympics can bring change; ruthless ideologues are ruthless ideologues. Did things change in Germany following their Olympics? Why would the “world’s eye” make them change positively? More likely, I think, they would be certain to appear in a positive light, by any means necessary.
Would I prefer war with China? Well, we’d win, but, as a general opinion, no. I support a strong, hard stance against China that does not overlook their disgusting atrocities. To paraphrase from Buckley in the Panama Canal debate, I’d like the United States to say no when China decides to throw dissidents into gulags, not “no” to the just desires of a people (not on the table here, though). If the defense of American interests were at stake, then yes, war, but at this time, no.
emailnuevo on August 9, 2008 at 6:20 PM
I am not excusing any of China’s repressive behavior, but please tell me how your boycotting the Olympics will at all affect their behavior? What is your proposed solution?
Can you not see any role for the Olympics as a vehicle of positive change? Can you not see any value for the Olympics as a tool for diplomacy?
DCGamer on August 9, 2008 at 6:21 PM
Thank you, email. Now I understand your position. You do not believe that the Olympics can bring change. I do. Of course, it would be difficult to point to cause and effect (wars are much simpler in this regard).
On that note, I will take leave of this debate. I respectfully disagree with many of you about the possibility of the Olympics being a vehicle of positive change. At the very least, you are missing out on exciting, athletic, competition.
DCGamer on August 9, 2008 at 6:29 PM
I can live with that.
Glynn on August 9, 2008 at 6:32 PM
My few bits…
What I liked best about the Opening was the parade of nations was how they showed the President lounging watching the nations come in the stifling heat of the ‘birds nest’, but when The United States entered, he stood with jacket on, in absolute respect of our athletes. However nothing represented America better then Lopez Lemong, now a US citizen who’s is living the American dream as a former lost child of Sudan….I fear an Obama would have insisted on being the flag bearer…center stage and all..heh.
For the obligatory snide remark, good to see all our dollars spent on cheap Chinese made goods have produced a show that was regardless of everything …amazing..
Finally, the little guy walking with Yao Ming…I trust you heard the story, dug himself out of the rubble then returned to help.. because he was a ‘class leader’..Lord forbid anything like that happen here..I fear the little one would return with his parents, lawyer and television cameras…
All BS aside… GO USA!!!!
Doogiesd on August 9, 2008 at 6:39 PM
…and now he’s a stooge, in the center of the government, living high, being financed to tow the perfect line. He’s fully indoctrinated. It worked.
Entelechy on August 9, 2008 at 5:36 PM
Read this, dedalus.
Entelechy on August 9, 2008 at 5:56 PM
Entelechy, I think you ought to also apply the skepticism you have when you think your political ox is being gored by the MSM to those MSM articles which you reflexively use to defend your political sensibilities. Half the article is misleading. Most Chinese know well Zhang Yimou and his works that were banned by the government have been widely seen and discussed in China.
The thing is, as bad as the Communist China was under Mao, Mao is dead. He died 32 years ago. China is changing and changing for the better in almost all respects. Well except for environmentally but that’s to be expected in a developing country. In many respects it is very slow but the vast and when I say vast I mean vast, majority of Chinese don’t value political freedom as much as economic freedom. In a country where, throughout its history, stability has balanced on a knife edge, unity and harmony has been more important than personal freedom and those who could provide that while also providing economic prosperity we considered good leaders.
Since Deng Xiaoping’s emphasis on a new direction which he started by repudiating both the Great Leap Forward and the excesses in Mao’s time, China has not only been bringing economic prosperity, but reducing corruption and making the government more responsive to the people. Not everyone gets to democracy the way the US did and in that way we are unique, but China is going in that direction. It looks slow and will take a while for it to happen. I certainly don’t like the speed at which it is occurring, but my friends and the others I speak to in China have no problem with it.
I think Bush is striking the right balance in both maintaining and encouraging friendship and closer relations while at the same time demonstrating that free speech and dedication to human rights does not have to be considered threatening.
Dusty on August 9, 2008 at 6:41 PM
I lived half of my life in another communist country, and went for work, and other times privately, to Hong Kong, Taiwan and red China, among many other countries. I went to Hong Kong 6 months before they switched, just so I can go back later and compare. However, none of this makes me, or you a moral authority on anything.
I read all your comments, carefully, btw. It’s you who called those of us who choose not to watch “stupid”. You and others are obviously free to do whatever pleases you. We didn’t call you anything, before. We’re just talking to/with you.
Entelechy on August 9, 2008 at 6:48 PM
Wow. That was simply amazing. Truly! I don’t think a person can watch that and think that China is a third-world country anymore. China is coming into its own.
We’re doomed.
aero on August 9, 2008 at 6:49 PM
American knifed to death north of the Forbidden City. Forget it, Jake, it’s Chinatown.
Paul-Cincy on August 9, 2008 at 7:00 PM
China is great because China is beautiful. When China ceases to be beautiful, China ceases to be great.
Now if we can only convince them that freedom is an integral part of beauty.
spmat on August 9, 2008 at 7:16 PM
All of you people “boycotting” for whatever reason, you are missing on the single greatest theatrical achievement in human history.
Just sayin’.
DaveS on August 9, 2008 at 7:26 PM
How many Chinese citizens have Mr. Bush’s non-threatening freedom?
No matter, you and others do/believe whatever pleases you.
Entelechy on August 9, 2008 at 7:27 PM
Works for me. You go ahead and enjoy. This is still a free country.
RushBaby on August 9, 2008 at 7:32 PM
China might be one day, too, if people like you don’t get your way.
(And I see that you, like many others here, are a fan of strawman arguments.)
DaveS on August 9, 2008 at 7:38 PM
RushBaby, Entelechy, et al…
Why are you guys so determined to keep China isolated and under totalitarian rule?
DaveS on August 9, 2008 at 7:41 PM
Straw man arguments carry little if any evidential weight. So are you saying that there are no human rights violations in and by China and that the preparations for the Olympics was not what we heard? If so, you must have all the real inside information. In your two posts, you succeeded in denigrating posters while offering nothing substantive for debate. Why do people do that? To actually suggest that “people like you” would keep China under imperialist rule and subjugation in order to withhold freedom is such a total distortion of what has been said here that it would appear it is you who are presenting a straw man argument by totally misrepresenting what we have said.
Glynn on August 9, 2008 at 7:48 PM
You are so much better than this. Don’t make me change my mind.
Entelechy on August 9, 2008 at 7:49 PM
When Lord Gore takes over the Planet, you’re not going to see any more of these garish, carbon-squandering, smoketacular spectacles (Except, of course, at Lord Gore’s Coronation).
eeyore on August 9, 2008 at 7:52 PM
Also, there’s “theater”, and then there’s megalomaniacal circus, the artistic talent/s, and human abilities, aside.
I wonder what Al Gore says to all this extravaganza? I also wonder if he watched it from his new boat?
Did you hear any of the NBC commie lovers mention the effect of this to the environment? If that w/b here, they’d cry for the ‘destruction’ of the Earth, all the fault of the U.S.
Entelechy on August 9, 2008 at 7:55 PM
DaveS, you were sarcastic, right? If so, never mind.
Entelechy on August 9, 2008 at 7:57 PM
That was my dad’s first sentence upon the lighting of the torch. “Speaking of Chinese pollution…”
emailnuevo on August 9, 2008 at 8:06 PM
Entelechy on August 9, 2008 at 7:57 PM
Halfway, but I also believe that boycotting China and their olypmics and their products, etc., is counterproductive.
China has a rich, interesting history, and the people performing were clearly very proud of what they were doing… you should just watch it, enjoy it, and marvel at what humanity can accomplish.
Oh, please… there wasn’t anything that was overtly pro-Commumnist in NBC’s coverage, and, in fact, they actually explicitly criticised the Chinese government on several occasions (which struck me as a bit innappropriate for the occasion, in fact).
DaveS on August 9, 2008 at 8:06 PM
You are connecting imaginary dots, DaveS. I scoured the thread leading up to your accusation, and just couldn’t seem to find any such suggestion from us guys.
RushBaby on August 9, 2008 at 8:06 PM
Part of China’s rich and interesting history is that it continues to this second to imprison, persecute, torture and make disappear Chinese Christians. I have a real problem overlooking that for a little sport.
Glynn on August 9, 2008 at 8:11 PM
Dave’s not saying over look that, he’s saying it’s amazing what humanity can accomplish. /snark
Spirit of 1776 on August 9, 2008 at 8:16 PM
Most, if you consider freedom to be what one wants and one also has it. That’s basically what counts. I know that is not the theoretical answer but it is the real one. Like I said, while it’s not the same as here it is heading that way.
Will do. You too. May the side with the better arguments win in the end.
Dusty on August 9, 2008 at 8:16 PM
You really need to quit using the Olympics as a tool for political dissent.
London’s been becoming “Sharia-fied” lately…maybe we should boycott 2012?
JetBoy on August 9, 2008 at 8:17 PM
I can only speak for myself in saying I am not trying to win anything. At least not for myself.
Glynn on August 9, 2008 at 8:20 PM
Ask again in 2011. And I mean that totally free of “snark”.
RushBaby on August 9, 2008 at 8:21 PM
Explain to me how persecution of Christians is political. Talk about a straw man argument. The fact is, in none of my posts have I ever mentioned politics. I mentioned human rights violations, etc. Try and keep up.
Glynn on August 9, 2008 at 8:22 PM
Dusty…can you clarify what you meant here, please?
RushBaby on August 9, 2008 at 8:28 PM
C’mon now…Rwanda, human rights, persecution…it all relates to the current government in China. That makes it political…you want a boycott based on where the olympics are held. Political.
JetBoy on August 9, 2008 at 8:29 PM
I never mentioned boycott. I mentioned my own personal beliefs and why I personally am not watching the Olympics. Don’t put words in my mouth. How any thinking feeling person could overlook human rights violations, including persecution for religious beliefs, is beyond me. I don’t relate to anything you are saying at any level. Moral relativity must be a wonderful thing. I would provide a link for a list of those imprisoned in China for their religious beliefs, Voice of the Martyrs, but I doubt you would be interested. Don’t try and trivialize people’s deeply held beliefs to fit your own agenda.
Glynn on August 9, 2008 at 8:36 PM
I think my point is that Chinese persecution of Christians, and all of the other things, are much, much more likely to continue if China isn’t engaged and welcomed into the civilized world. That sort of behavior developed within a closed society, and, looking around the world, the worst offenders of human rights are those countries which are the more isolated (North Korea?). I would have thought this point would be fairly obvious.
In either case, refusing to watch a streaming video online of one of the greatest performances in human history as some means of “protest” is silly, accomplishes absolutely nothing–literally, NOTHING–and only deprives you of an amazing experience.
Spirit of 1776 on August 9, 2008 at 8:16 PM
Yeah, that’s pretty accurate… I don’t understand the “snark” bit.
It’s also worth nothing that 95% of Chinese people are not members of the Communist party and are very proud of the Olympics and of China’s re-emergence as an important nation, and that the “bad” part of China’s modern history is only a tiny, tiny fraction of their history as a whole.
DaveS on August 9, 2008 at 8:39 PM
If I can take that charitably, then I’m not either. But for whatever our discussion is worth in contributing to the direction and tenor of our policy towards China so that freedom in China comes to match more closely what we believe is the natural condition to be respected, then I want us to win whether or not my opinions are right. That’s how I see our debate here.
Dusty on August 9, 2008 at 8:40 PM
The Chinese government allows public practice for the state recognized religions–Catholics, Protestants, Taoism, Buddhism, and Islam. Perhaps the government has some wariness about Christianity given its association with Western imperialism and the Taiping rebellion.
The Chinese aren’t right but they are working from a history with a lot of bloodshed stemming from government instability.
dedalus on August 9, 2008 at 8:46 PM
The snark line is to say that I’m not serious about considering “imprison, persecute, torture” as an accomplishment of humanity, ie something worth marveling. It was implied snark, not stated.
Spirit of 1776 on August 9, 2008 at 8:49 PM
The Chinese government only allows the practice of Christianity as long as it is done in state controlled churches. That is quite a distinction.
Glynn on August 9, 2008 at 8:52 PM
Yes, that is exactly my point. They seem to be OK with the practice of Christianity as long as it is limited to church and not used for organizing purposes that create a political threat to the stability of the government.
I don’t agree with them, but think their concerns are more about ensuring political control than targeting people because of beliefs that are only spiritual in nature. Perhaps in the US if a religion (say Islam) had served as an organizing function for wars against our government during the past 150 years, and had produced a staggering death toll, we’d use some tools to control the way it was practiced.
dedalus on August 9, 2008 at 9:03 PM
Uh OH!
Did NBC Alter the Olympics’ Opening Ceremony?
“Viewing the 2008 Olympics opening ceremony online at NBC’s Olympics website, you can see that the order in which the countries were presented was very different from the actual order of the countries in the ceremony, as listed at Wikipedia. NBC skipped roughly 100 countries ahead, then jumped back and forth, apparently delaying the appearance of the United States in its home market until later in the broadcast. (In fact, the US team was shown on the infield before they were shown marching!) NBC did not acknowledge this in its broadcast. Is NBC altering the reality of the broadcast to boost ratings? Was this true only online, or also in the live broadcast?”
All tipped to /.
Doogiesd on August 9, 2008 at 9:03 PM
I can’t quite bring myself to see that happening in the United States. One can hope that China will evolve in terms of human rights. In the meantime, I will take a watchful waiting approach. Nice speaking with you.
Glynn on August 9, 2008 at 9:09 PM
Likewise.
dedalus on August 9, 2008 at 9:11 PM
I never said to “overlook” human rights violations…don’t put words in MY mouth. And by not watching the Olympics, you are boycotting them. That’s what a boycott is. Unless you believe that the US and other teams should be there, but we just shouldn’t watch.
JetBoy on August 9, 2008 at 9:14 PM
I just do not care about the Olympics anymore. I used to like to watch, just to show supports for the athletes. And I understand that the President is there to support our athletes, but I have lost interest.
I will not be watching.
Terrye on August 9, 2008 at 9:20 PM
“Screw them……………..
Entelechy on August 9, 2008 at 4:01 PM”
Hey – didn’t the Daily MarKos say just exactly that, once?
Congratulations - you sound as intelligent, nucanced and sophisticated as he does.
grtflmark on August 9, 2008 at 9:22 PM
My statement was “how any thinking feeling person”. I am afraid if you felt the finger was pointing at you, you were pointing it. I know what a boycott is, however, your statement was “you want a boycott.” That would be nice, but let’s be realistic, it isn’t going to happen. Yes, I am personally boycotting the Olympics. I would not presume to speak for anyone but myself and here is where we have a major divergence in philosophy and an abject failure of communication.
Glynn on August 9, 2008 at 9:27 PM
Achievement
You can do anything you set your mind to when you have vision, determination, and an endless supply of expendable labor.
DaveC on August 9, 2008 at 9:30 PM
Why not We boycotted the Soviet Olympics after they invaded Afghanistan. It’s OK if you don’t want to answer my question tho.
You’re right…I have no idea what you’re trying to say. It keeps getting more nuanced.
JetBoy on August 9, 2008 at 9:31 PM
What question? It’s isn’t nuanced at all. It simply isn’t part of your belief system.
Glynn on August 9, 2008 at 9:33 PM
Despair.
Glynn on August 9, 2008 at 9:35 PM
I find this chickentourist ploy to be pretty amusing.
stoo on August 9, 2008 at 9:38 PM
Doogiesd on August 9, 2008 at 9:03 PM
No, the order listed on Wikipedia appears to be what I saw on TV. The US was roughly 2/3 of the way through.
You should ALWAYS think twice before buying to much into anything the 8th graders on Slashdot post.
DaveS on August 9, 2008 at 9:44 PM
beat me to what I said earlier..
DaveC on August 9, 2008 at 9:49 PM
Your condescension is less than amusing, stool. If you actually read my comments, you would have learned that I majored in Chinese. That means 4 years of study including living and studying there.
DCGamer on August 9, 2008 at 10:00 PM
DCGamer…
So what DOES dog wang taste like?
DaveC on August 9, 2008 at 10:10 PM
Big f—n’ deal. “Oh look at that spectacular opening ceremony…blah….blah…blah…technology….never been done before….yada…yada…yada…ad nauseum”.
Um, 99% of the technology the chicoms displayed was invented or stolen from the West. The Bird’s Nest Stadium was designed in Australia. Li Ning flies was total crap because anyone in good shape can do what he did. Ain’t nothing special about it. Most of all, modern open ceremonies all harken back to the Nazi Olympics of 1936, where pagan ideals such as the “Joy Through Strength” philosophy was worshipped. F–k’em and NBC.
Andy in Agoura Hills on August 9, 2008 at 10:11 PM
wasn’t it some guy with a little mustache’s idea to have a relay of Aryan men running a torch from Greece to Berlin to light the fire to start the games?
little guy, funny mustache, kinda paranoid.. name escapes me for the moment..
(and doing what I can to avoid goodwin/godwin’s law)
DaveC on August 9, 2008 at 10:15 PM
Andy, what do you gain by crapping on the opening ceremony? Do you kick puppies for fun? I mean, really…To anybody with a heart and a sense of joy and wonder, the opening ceremonies were beautiful and uplifting. Take your negatism elsewhere.
DCGamer on August 9, 2008 at 10:18 PM
:) Welcome comic relief!
Glynn on August 9, 2008 at 10:21 PM
Dave, I actually tried to order dog in Korea just to try it. It was too expensive (remember, I was a student). I didn’t try to order it in China because I didn’t see any stray dogs on the street. It scared me.
DCGamer on August 9, 2008 at 10:24 PM
I remember walking by a Chinese restaurant with my Great Dane once.. the owner came out and looked at my dog.. I could see in his eyes that he was thinking just how many meals my dog would make..
DaveC on August 9, 2008 at 10:36 PM
Can it, Bolshevik.
RushBaby on August 9, 2008 at 10:41 PM
They just cut short our national anthem for Phelps’s gold medal, couldn’t get that right, huh?
WisCon on August 9, 2008 at 10:42 PM
He said that about our contractors, hanging dead from a bridge in Iraq, nitwit. I said it about the commie pinkos, of which I know a thing or two, from own experience. If you can’t see the difference, it’s your problem.
You are clueless of what you write.
Entelechy on August 9, 2008 at 10:47 PM
Also, grtflmark, I don’t deal much in “nucanced” – that is just for you. So is “nuanced”.
Entelechy on August 9, 2008 at 10:49 PM
Yawn….is that the best you’ve got?
DCGamer on August 9, 2008 at 10:55 PM
I’ve lived in mainland China for many years. I also have many Korean friends. It is true, that there are many restaurants and households in China where you can eat dog (but only big dogs)(especially in the winter). But the fact is, Koreans eat dog much more than Chinese people do (per capita). My Korean friends tell me that most older men in Korea love dog. One old man told me that he loved his pet dogs, and when they died, he ate them, so they were usefull even after death.
It is famine food. Both in Korea (due to the war), and China (due to Mao’s madness), people ate what they could, and it became delicacy.
p40tiger on August 9, 2008 at 10:58 PM
Have you ever tried it, p40tiger?
DCGamer on August 9, 2008 at 11:01 PM
One word: Lego.
aengus on August 9, 2008 at 11:03 PM
No comment ;)
p40tiger on August 9, 2008 at 11:31 PM
but he has tried the cream of Soon Yung Mang once..
(say it out loud if that helps..)
DaveC on August 9, 2008 at 11:33 PM
Good grief.
Yes, Red China has a rotten record on human rights. Up to and including recent shenanigans in order to build the Olympic Village. Yes, that includes my brothers and sisters in Christ. And yes, it’s obvious the opening ceremony is being used to ‘put lipstick on a pig.’
But for heaven’s sake people…can we can our bloody political differences for a few weeks? Can we? Just a few days without accusations or snide comments about their government/environment/China-made products? Is it even remotely possible that for just two and a half weeks we can forget our differences, cheer our respective teams, and watch the best man/woman win fair and square?
I do despise the Chinese (at least the government) 77 ways from Sunday. But I grow so weary of the politics & protests that keep getting piggybacked on something that is supposed to be free of same.
Dark-Star on August 9, 2008 at 11:34 PM
I saw some of it on TV when I was at a restaurant. It was beautiful, but it also was Communist Propaganda.
Tim Burton on August 9, 2008 at 11:42 PM
The ceremony was amazing, and I am very happy for the Chinese people. I have never been for politicizing the Olympics. The whole point is we put this stuff aside for 2 weeks and have it out on the track and in the pool.
Squid Shark on August 9, 2008 at 11:46 PM
Tim Burton on August 9, 2008 at 11:42 PM
Communist propaganda? Er… that’s a ridiculous stretch.
DaveS on August 10, 2008 at 12:02 AM
Why do you make me wade thru a bunch of olypmic crap to guess at the video you reference,sorry try again,
Bob
Bobnormal on August 10, 2008 at 12:08 AM
He stated, explicitly, which video you should watch, Bobnormal.
DaveS on August 10, 2008 at 12:10 AM
Well, I tried to respond to you DCGamer, and I spent some time on my post, but it won’t show up. No nasty words or anything either. Not one.
I guess China isn’t the only place where dissent won’t be tolerated. We’ll see if it makes it out of the Approval Queue :/
SilverStar830 on August 10, 2008 at 2:17 AM
Namecalling, DCGamer?
Tell me, what real world experience did you glean form 4 years in an overseas academic bubble? What consequences might there have been for non-performance while studying in China?
Not quite as drastic as the consequences a citizen of that state that works at the shoe factory, I’d wager.
And what is it you do now? Academe? Or possibly a gov’t employee?
stoo on August 10, 2008 at 2:24 AM
I’ve found that people have a tendancy to see only what they wish to see.
p40tiger on August 10, 2008 at 2:38 AM
You mean there’s an Olympics this year? Really, I could not care any less. Too busy trying to expand my business and keep my employees optimistic about their futures with my company while the demonrats keep us from drilling for more oil and screwing up the economy.
Fishoutofwater on August 10, 2008 at 3:46 AM
C’mon, surely a p40 has an interesting story or two about
chow
soundingboard on August 10, 2008 at 4:04 AM
Let’s just say when you are a guest in someone’s house, you eat what is placed before you…and there are worse things that you could eat…believe me. haha
p40tiger on August 10, 2008 at 5:18 AM
China’s government is evil.
Having said that, what does a boycott do? What turned out better – Jimmy Carter’s boycott of the Moscow Olympics or Jesse Owens making a fool out of Adolph?
Squiggy on August 10, 2008 at 8:03 AM
As far as grand displays staged by cruel dictatorships, this was probably the most tasteful ever staged.
They only showed their fascist petticoats once from what I noticed – after the kids did their thing, a bunch of goose-stepping soldiers took over and hoisted the red flag. Military displays are part of the DNA of any dictatorship and for them to have restrained this impulse (save for the odd tourettes flash) took great will power on behalf of the ChiComs.
And compare this to the garish Australian transsexual extravaganza of the Sydney games and I know which one I prefer.
uptight on August 10, 2008 at 8:06 AM
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