August 11, 2008 12:20 PM
Olympics - China rocks opening ceremonies
I'm a few days late - but I want to know if you were as amazed as I was. Wasn't this the 2008 opening the most spectacular thing you ever saw?
The human precision and self-discipline was absolutely amazing. How did those people running in opposing circles - with no markers - keep from crashing into each other? How did those men in silver boxes know when to move?
It was amazing - and a little scary to think how as a country we lack the discipline, dedication and patriotism we saw on display.
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Comments
I don't think we lack "discipline, dedication and patriotism". I think it's more a matter of when you work for a brutal dictatorship, you get this kind of stuff right or else.
Posted by: Tari | August 11, 2008 1:19 PM
I was utterly amazed as well. Particularly proud since I consider China my "second home."
And on an unrelated note, the "anti-China" propaganda that I hear here in the US is quite discouraging, especially when it comes from people who've never interacted with the Chinese people themselves. The Chinese are a wonderful group of people who have much to offer the world; there is a lot we can learn from their values. Taking care of family, giving great thought to community and "the whole." And that's just a start.
I have great pride in America but am ALSO glad to see China succeed as well.
Posted by: Stretch Mark Mama | August 11, 2008 1:45 PM
Our whole family watched in awe and amazement! I thought it was awesome!!
Posted by: Brandy | August 11, 2008 2:00 PM
I unfortunately only caught the end of it, but it was amazing!! I did really wish that the announcers would have just kept their mouths closed, I wanted to hear the music! But man, it was breathtaking. I can't imagine what it would have been like in person.
Posted by: Debra | August 11, 2008 2:59 PM
It was amazing.
I cried.
Posted by: paigeu | August 11, 2008 3:22 PM
While it was awe-inspiring to see such precision from 2008 individuals and while I wish, as a country, we cared just a bit more about the details in so many thing I was also very sad by what else it symbolized to my eyes and in my heart - a great lack of individuality, the excessive control that the Chinese government has over so much of it's people.
Again, it was amazing!
Posted by: SmockLady | August 11, 2008 4:28 PM
I agree with SmockLady. While I found it facinating, all I could think about was that they looked like robots. The announcers even said that the officials had to tell them to smile more.
On a side note, when the little children came out dressed up as representation of each country my husband pointed out that every single one of those children didn't have brothers or sisters. They all are a "single" child. That made me cry. Can you imagine not having any brothers or sisters - and everyone you know does not have brothers or sisters?
Posted by: Mrs. Damian Garcia | August 12, 2008 2:18 PM
I have not seen the Opening Ceremony, or any other part of the 2008 Olympics.
We are boycotting the Olympics this year because we just cannot support an organization that would chose to highlight a country that, according to the CIA, is an active particpant in child trafficking, and, according to the State Department, uses coercive "family planning" tactics, including forced abortions and sterilizations.
All religious groups in China must register with the government and recieve "offical permission" to meet. This includes both Protestant and Catholic groups whose services and prayer meetings are regularly raided by the police.
I agree with Tari: I think China is best described as a brutal dictatorship rather than a society based on "discipline, dedication, and patriotistm."
Posted by: Anna | August 13, 2008 9:49 AM
Wow. Sometimes the harshness in the comments takes me by surprise. And the misunderstandings.
I am certainly under no illusion that China is a wonderful government. I too weep for the unborn babies and forced abortions suffered there.
I still think the discipline and dedication and precision that I witnessed were part of the potential God built into us as human beings (my Montessori background) and I don't think He would be displeased at anyone admiring the beauty of His creation.
Do we have to pass our judgment of the Chinese government on to the individual people of China? Thank you StretchMark Mama for offering a different perspective:
The Chinese are a wonderful group of people who have much to offer the world; there is a lot we can learn from their values. Taking care of family, giving great thought to community and "the whole."
While there's much to admire in America's fierce individualism, we are definitely seeing the downside of that two centuries into our unique social experiment: with a citizenry characterized more than ever with a lack of patriotism, discipline and thoughtless, anti-social behavior.
My comment on the ceremonies was more an innocent musing and marveling at our God-given potential than a paean to the Chinese government.
Posted by: barbara | August 13, 2008 7:35 PM
