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AnonymousI just took a look at the cartoons re: the 2008 Beijing Olympics and I have to agree with bbrown. This one international event will not change China. But it will, as it has already started to do just with these few political cartoons, is to illustrate China's major human rights issues. Maybe having the Olympics there is a good thing to bring to light what is happening and maybe now putting a demand on the international community. Rather than just rooting for their own countries, maybe more of the world will wake up, stop being silent and start trying to do something about it.
AnonymousHow will the Olympics turn out for China? Wouldn't South America and Africa like to know?!? With the recent let down of Germany losing the chance to win the World Cup at home, one might see a more brutal slaughter for South Africa for the next 2010 World Cup at home, or a true miracle for Africa!?!... For history buffs and scriptwriters, why can't France win on German turf?!... Viva la France on German soil???... Hitler would roll over in his grave as Frenchmen invade as sweet irony?!?... Speaking of Hitler, the 1936 Berlin Olympics reminds me of Olympics as a grand soapbox to the world.... When the Germans medaled the most at those Olympics, the 'Aryan' superiority angle was pushed a like too hard... But how about Jesse Owen's successes and the irony of segregation at home in the U.S...
Will China do well athletically? They sure seem to have a 10-year head start on many other countries. Many children in the age range of my middle school students will compete as "super" athletes for the Chinese... In lieu of future doping scandals or 'child-abuse' like training stories for 'glory-sake,' the Chinese will do well in their typical grab-bag of gymnastics, diving, table tennis, badminton, etc... But I wouldn't be surprised by success in shooting and horse events by homegrown soldier-athletes... How about sailing and similar water events by the PRC's best sailors???... Total medal count should be in the top 5 as usual....
Will China do well politically? How can you lose if you could keep dissenting opinions out?!?... State controlled media should once again do its share of backslapping and self-congratulations, showing its 'shining star' to the world. But if the world comes to China in 2008, and if many are allowed to turn over "rocks" and rattle a few cages, could the world media bring the open truth to the world, or even better, to the Chinese themselves?!?
Will China do well economically? Where are there knock-offs and .99-Yuan merchandise going to come from?!? Yes, get 5 Olympic t-shirts for 5 Yuan, all made by Genghis from far and beyond... Infrastructure jobs, check... Political bureaucratic machinery well "greased," check... Land development and maximum mining of internal resources, check... Enough gasoline for visitors during the Olympics???....bought and paid for already, check... We can't have blackouts, or let alone athletes reaching their destinations in good old rickshaws...
Will China do well socially? Greece 2004 seems to be back to Greece of yesterday. Sydney 2000 is Australia... Who doesn't like down under?!? Atlanta 1996??? Why did the world pick that one?? Infrastructure improvements should help in the long run. At least going to China, especially modern cities such as Shanghai, seems easier now to visit so we could spend the old tourist dollars. I hope Beijing will be modernized, but without the rapid overdevelopment that often eclipses rich histories.
My recall of the 1984 Olympics in L.A. as a kid, I enjoyed a couple of events such as exhibition baseball and track and field events. I remember traffic being empty, and I remember the broadcast was live. When the fireworks went off in the Coliseum, I heard it outside will I saw it on live TV... I remember the collector's pin phenomenon, while I barely understood the history and largeness of it... I remember McDonald's promotion for free stuff every time an American won an event... Thank god for the Eastern Bloc boycott... I got at least some free fries, drinks, and ??? I always enjoy the idea that Olympics should be politics free. I often relate the original Marathon story of the Greeks to my students. I also like to explain the ideas of soldiers giving up arms for the sake of peaceful athletic competition. It is sad to see the Olympics darkened by threats of terrorism since Munich '72 and Atlanta '96. But compared to the World Cup, where one country reaches nirvana while the world weeps, the Olympics allow the surprising stories to come out. A country of 1 million could be champions among a world of billions....
AnonymousI was in Beijing last summer. They are continuing with major building, rebuilding, and renovation there.
AnonymousI came back from summer travel program in Shanghai last month. I went to Beijing with my classmates on our own. Beijing is totally different from Shanghai. It seems ironic that the Olympics is coming to town and yet you have rude taxi drivers and arrogant people on top of chaotic and lack of discipline among chinese people. It's just one of my observations during a month long stay in china.
Anonymousit's interesting how one becomes a player in the global imagination, as well as the global marketplace. Some dramatic architecture that is really cutting edge, combined with training your down to earth average citizen in more cosmopolitan manners regarding body fluids and forming orderly lines.
I picture someone is sitting there dreading the CNN interviews with grossed out tourists describing a dreadful odor near the new Star Wars architecture. Obviously the Chinese are trying to leave no stone unturned in cultivating/reinventing their image of a 21st century society. The irony is that their citizens are the same people who grew up when China was so cut off, getting last minute crash courses in how to connect globally...
With the grace and depth of history and culture that is China's heritage, it seems ironic and a bit sad.
AnonymousI have been wondering the same thing. As the parent of an adopted daughter from China and one who is waiting on a list to go back and do it again, we have a difficult time getting information from China on the status of adoptions at this time. We have gotten little information on when we might travel and why the travel of American adoptive parents has slowed down.
We were wondering if things would open up as the Olympics approaches or if the Chinese government would actually tighten things up. As it is going now, we may not be traveling until the Olympics, since we are 12 groups away from traveling to China in our Chinese adoption agency.
Anonymousin some of their public restrooms. That was a real culture shock for me.