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shadowkatThis is not by any means the most enjoyable Olympics I've watched, that honor stays with the LA Olympics that I spent a summer glued to and was less techie and more down to earth.
That said, this Olympics has been eye-opening in ways that I never expected. Feel a bit like Alice walking through the looking glass watching them at times, with all the odd undercurrents.
I thought I knew what China was about - I've had friends from China, worked with people from different regions of China, I dated a doctor from Shang-hai, and my sister-inlaw's little adoptive half-sis (who is Chinese) lives in Shang-hai with her adoptive semi-famous literary Mom, who I've met exactly twice. Also I've read all the reports regarding Tibet and the stuff about China's support of Dafur (which is eerily reminiscent of the US's support of similar African regimes). And I knew that in China you were only permitted to have one child (makes sense when you consider there are 1.3 billion people in China and barely enough resources to feed them all). What I did not realize is how truly frightening a country China truly is - in how it regards women, people, and what it deems important.
Last night they told us about the Chinese female gymnasts - that these girls were taken from their homes at the age of 3, not permitted to see their parents but once a year, and when one begged to go home - her parents ordered her to stay because their livilhood depended on her success. In the paper this morning, it was reported that the little girl (5 or 6 years of age) who sang for the opening ceremonies was replaced because she wasn't pretty enough - her voice remained, but was lip-synched by a prettier and older girl, without crooked teeth or gaps in her teeth.
Meanwhile, we have these amazing swimming races - Michael Phelps is to swimming what Tiger Woods is to golf. If you are or were a swimmer, like I was, you can appreciate what that means. He excels at all the strokes. And has obtained more gold medals than anyone else. Yet, the fact that we care how many golds or trophies people get...makes me edgy.
During the spectacle - which we later learned was enhanced by technology - the fireworks were computer generated due to the smog and other issues - it was clear how bad the air quality of Beijing is. They've tried to make it better, but it is almost impossible. But - they have amazing technology.
The Chinese people are a beautiful people, with amazing skills - the drumming during the spectacle, the calm almost tranguil painting dance, and the grace of the gestures - yet the government is so oppressive. But one can't help but wonder what would happen if it weren't? 1.3 billion people. Half of which are barely getting by as it is. The US in contrast has 303.8 million.
I love the Chinese culture, the people, but at the same time see things in their culture and I guess in my own that scares me. The almost oppressive disregard for individuality and diversity. The insane value placed on "image", specifically superficial images. How beauty is perceived as being thin, perfect, tiny, with no perceptible flaws. Like a doll.
The girl who had been replaced - looked prettier and more interesting to me than her replacement. But beauty to me, is in the eye of the beholder. Often what themob majority deems beautiful does nothing for me. I'm not a Patrick Dempsey fan for example nor do I consider Katherine Heigle all that pretty. Sandra Oh and Kevin McKidd (Journeyman)on the other hand....
The stories the news media is reporting are at times disturbing. There's one about video dating for Pandas who aren't interested in mating. They need to push them to mate to ensure they don't die out.
Never has watching the Olympics felt so disturbingly surreal and educational. And busy. Very busy. Too many interviews. Too much commentary. Was it always like this? At times I miss the days when we had less information...and the world was much much smaller.
That said, this Olympics has been eye-opening in ways that I never expected. Feel a bit like Alice walking through the looking glass watching them at times, with all the odd undercurrents.
I thought I knew what China was about - I've had friends from China, worked with people from different regions of China, I dated a doctor from Shang-hai, and my sister-inlaw's little adoptive half-sis (who is Chinese) lives in Shang-hai with her adoptive semi-famous literary Mom, who I've met exactly twice. Also I've read all the reports regarding Tibet and the stuff about China's support of Dafur (which is eerily reminiscent of the US's support of similar African regimes). And I knew that in China you were only permitted to have one child (makes sense when you consider there are 1.3 billion people in China and barely enough resources to feed them all). What I did not realize is how truly frightening a country China truly is - in how it regards women, people, and what it deems important.
Last night they told us about the Chinese female gymnasts - that these girls were taken from their homes at the age of 3, not permitted to see their parents but once a year, and when one begged to go home - her parents ordered her to stay because their livilhood depended on her success. In the paper this morning, it was reported that the little girl (5 or 6 years of age) who sang for the opening ceremonies was replaced because she wasn't pretty enough - her voice remained, but was lip-synched by a prettier and older girl, without crooked teeth or gaps in her teeth.
Meanwhile, we have these amazing swimming races - Michael Phelps is to swimming what Tiger Woods is to golf. If you are or were a swimmer, like I was, you can appreciate what that means. He excels at all the strokes. And has obtained more gold medals than anyone else. Yet, the fact that we care how many golds or trophies people get...makes me edgy.
During the spectacle - which we later learned was enhanced by technology - the fireworks were computer generated due to the smog and other issues - it was clear how bad the air quality of Beijing is. They've tried to make it better, but it is almost impossible. But - they have amazing technology.
The Chinese people are a beautiful people, with amazing skills - the drumming during the spectacle, the calm almost tranguil painting dance, and the grace of the gestures - yet the government is so oppressive. But one can't help but wonder what would happen if it weren't? 1.3 billion people. Half of which are barely getting by as it is. The US in contrast has 303.8 million.
I love the Chinese culture, the people, but at the same time see things in their culture and I guess in my own that scares me. The almost oppressive disregard for individuality and diversity. The insane value placed on "image", specifically superficial images. How beauty is perceived as being thin, perfect, tiny, with no perceptible flaws. Like a doll.
The girl who had been replaced - looked prettier and more interesting to me than her replacement. But beauty to me, is in the eye of the beholder. Often what the
The stories the news media is reporting are at times disturbing. There's one about video dating for Pandas who aren't interested in mating. They need to push them to mate to ensure they don't die out.
Never has watching the Olympics felt so disturbingly surreal and educational. And busy. Very busy. Too many interviews. Too much commentary. Was it always like this? At times I miss the days when we had less information...and the world was much much smaller.
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no subject
Date: 2008-08-14 03:47 am (UTC)But that all ended sometime in the 1980s... it got so they only covered the USA team, and they cut in and out so fast I never got any sense of excitement. I got so I just didn't care. And consequently I stopped even trying to watch it long ago.
Oh I'll tune for an hour or two during the Olympics, I'll feel them not presenting anything in a way I find interesting, and then I'll go to watching a DVD or pretty much anything else other than the Olympic coverage. Last night the History channel had a great show about the evolution of the jaw! LOL
no subject
Date: 2008-08-14 06:15 am (UTC)The air quality issue was laughable. The topography of Beijing and it's surrounding area ensured that the smog wouldn't really improve unless long term measures were taken instead of the quick fixes. And those quick fixes really were just evil. They shut down factories with no warning so that workers arrived to work only to see that the factory was closed and that they would be losing out on that day's wages. Really tough if you're living day to day like some are. I could just go on and on. And yet I can't turn my back on China.
no subject
Date: 2008-08-15 01:55 am (UTC)It's a beautiful and interesting country, with a fascinating culture. I'm watching a profile on a Chinese letterer who created the Olympic logo and who has a fascination with Chinese folklore. His view is that we should love our earth and each other. And the idea that the sun and moon will always harmonize again.
I'm not sure it's right to condemn an entire country for the actions of its government. We do that too often, I think. Get caught up in seeing just one part of the whole picture. Got to go,
low battery.
no subject
Date: 2008-08-15 07:39 pm (UTC)I was a competitive swimmer and runner in junior high, elementary and high school - so I enjoy the track and swimming events and only really see them with the Olympics. The only sporting events I actually enjoy watching are shown during the Winter and Summer Olympics. (not a fan of team sports - such as Basketball, Baseball and Football or Soccer or Cricket or Hockey, all tend to bore me. Tennis and Golf also bores me, but I like track and field, swimming, the steeple chase, and gymnastics - which seem more graceful and interesting.)
Anyhow, won't be on the computer this weekend, laptop's battery is low and won't get the adaptor until next Wed. Was ordered by a guy at work today - one of my work colleagues took pity on me and ordered it for me via Dell, he fixes Dell computers for a living. And we figured out that what was causing the problems was a defective adaptator. (Never had this problem with my desktop...sigh.)
Have a great weekend.