Beijing's Perfect Night

TeachAbroadChina.com ^ | 08/09/2008 | Robert Vance

[robertvance]

The night was certainly not without its touching moments. From a beautiful little girl in a red dress sweetly singing a classic Chinese song to a young earthquake survivor leading the Chinese athletes with Yao Ming, the ceremony certainly had the potential to pull on the heartstrings. It was a ceremony that at least for one night allowed the "One World One Dream" motto to be realized. The night was also not without some intrigue. Hu JinTao’s half hearted applause for Chinese Tapei’s entrance followed later by his enthusiastic clapping for Hong Kong probably left some eyebrows raised. Iraq and Iran’s nearly simultaneous entrance was also interesting as was the fact that Russian premier Vladimir Putin remained in his seat when the Russian Olympic Team first made their appearance; later, he was seen standing and clapping...

[robertvance]

Last night's ceremony was spectacular and a great welcome for all of the athletes...

[BigCinBigD]

I don’t plan to watch a moment of that Communist love fest.

[AmericaUnited]

It would be hard to imagine any future host country beating this. ‘Spectacular’ seems like understatement...

[rottndog]

I’m sorry the athletes have to be caught in the middle here, but I won’t be watching either...I can’t in good conscience take part in the Chicoms propaganda extravaganza.

[Luke21]

Not one minute.

[Caipirabob]

NOT...

China Olympics - An American tourist killed by a Chinese assailant in Beijing

Per HAL9000 - "If the killer was from Xinjiang province, he may be the product of another system." (read ROP...)

[Caipirabob]

We watched the into until the athletes started to march into the center of the arena. At one point they showed and ariel view and someone commented "Oh, it's like a little death-camp or something!" We just about lost it...

[DB]

I found it somewhat disturbing.

Dictators seem to have a thing for mass synchronized robotics of their minions.

[IrishCatholic]

My wife likes to watch the athletes enter the stadium. She likes to see what they wear and to see little countries she never heard of before.

I watched Iraq, Iran and the US enter when she called me. I found it interesting the Chinese in the stadium cheered Iraq, seemingly booed Iran, and cheered the United States.
That’s the people in the stadium, not the government.

There are millions and millions of Chinese. They hopefully will throw off Communism one day like Eastern Europe did. Capitalism is growing and hopefully their understanding of freedom is too.

[JLS]

Well let’s see:

1. Nazi Germany lasted 19 years after the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

2. The USSR lasted about 10 years after the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

Perhaps we can get an equally happy change without the costs of changing Germany this time too. Historically anyway, the Olympics seem to be associated with the late stages of authoritarian systems.

[Mr Ramsbotham]

I’ll really have to rethink my feelings about Communism.

[DB]

Huh? Nazi Germany didn’t last 19 years after 1936.

[Cindy]

QUOTE:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2055031/posts?page=272#272

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2058946/posts?page=19#19

#
UPDATE:

http://www.nbcolympics.com/newscenter/news/newsid=186690.html#american+tied+u+s+team+killed+beijing

“American tied to U.S. team killed in Beijing”
By NBCOlympics.com and wire reports
Posted Saturday, August 9, 2008 4:22 AM ET

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “BEIJING (AP) - Authorities say a Chinese man attacked two Americans — family members of a coach for the United States Olympic Men’s Indoor Volleyball Team — on the opening day of competition at the Games, killing one of them before committing suicide.

The Beijing Municipal Government says the attack happened in downtown Beijing at noon on Saturday. Officials issued a statement saying the 47-year-old attacker, Tang Yongming, also injured an American woman and her Chinese tourist guide.”

272 posted on August 9, 2008 2:41:01 AM PDT by Cindy

[JLS]

Sorry, late here, bad addition. So nine years for both after the Olympics. That is better history for a swift change in China after these Olympics.

[Happy Rain]

Meanwhile,back at the Concentration Camps,the recent overcrowding caused by accelerated dissident arrests in honor of the Olympic spirit of peace and sportsmanship has resulted in severe cases of carpel tunnel syndrome among many of the ChiCom club-wielding jack-booted thugs.
Like Reagan in Reykjavik,Bush should abruptly walk out of Peking as a message to the victims of ChiCom tyranny that he doesn’t play their evil games.
But he’s a wimp and we’re lost.

[BigCinBigD]

I hope you are right. But i don’t see this particular system going down without a fight.

[raybbr]

Bloggers such as myself who did enjoy the event will surely be accused by some of falling prey to an elaborate Chinese facade. So be it. For me, the ceremony last night was not about the Chinese government. No reference was made to Chairman Mao, Tibet, or any other politically sensitive topics. Last night was all about the richness of Chinese culture; the performance was for the Chinese people. Many Chinese people, especially in the older generation, could never have dared to imagine that their country, once so closed off to the world, would ever have the chance to host such a premier world event. I am happy for them; they deserved last night. It was a long time coming.

What's this guy smoking?

[robertvance]

Well, since your comment is written to me, why don’t you address the question to me instead of talking about me in the third person?

[raybbr]

Well, since your comment is written to me, why don’t you address the question to me instead of talking about me in the third person?

LOL Sorry, didn't notice the author.

What ARE you smoking? Equating the opening ceremonies of a staged event to China's growth as a humanitarian society doesn't compute for me.

They are an aggressive country that will do whatever they want in the way of pollution, corruption and repression of their people. To try to gloss that over with one night is fallacious.

I admit I have not read any of your other posts on your blog. However, one night does not make perfection.

[robertvance]

How exactly did I equate “the opening ceremonies of a staged event to China’s growth as a humanitarian society...” I am not sure where you got that. I simply said that I was happy for the Chinese people and their big night. I did not say that China was a democracy. I did not say that everything is ‘hunky dory’ here. And yes, you should take a look at some of my other posts because I have been a harsh critic of the CCP time and time again. Nevertheless, you cannot deny that the performance last night was breathtaking; everything went according to plan. Note that my post was not entitled “A perfect China” or a “Perfect Communist Party.” It was entitled “Beijing’s Perfect Night.” That’s what it was...