Chinas next shameful act
Mikey 15 comments
What is it about China and their constant quest to appear perfect in the eyes of the rest of the world? What are they so self conscious about? Or the bigger question, how could they be so naive to think we are falling for it?
Making headlines this morning is seven year old Yang Peiyi (pictured right). You might have heard Yang sing during the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics, but you certainly would not have seen her. Apparently they thought little Yang was , so she was replaced by the cuter Lin Miaoke, who lip synced to Yang's voice through the singing performance.
I would really like to know how this was explained to little Pang and her parents.
Let me go on the record and say that having China host the Olympics has made what is normally a great event turn into one of the ugliest spectacles in recent Olympic memory. Taking into account the human rights abuses, and the efforts taken to portray themselves as perfect despite the rest of the world knowing just how far they have gone to fake their way through it all, I would say China's effort thus far has been disgusting and they should be ashamed.
Rodney
Wednesday 13th August 2008 | 11:31 AMAustralians, who have a culture of making fun of our own country and taking very little seriously, simply cannot comprehend the massive importance of "face" to the Chinese culture. It's the most important thing imagainable to them. Every culture likes to look good but in China, it's something else entirely. Then you add into the mix the whole communist "everything is great and we like eating dirt and grass, so it's ok that 90% of our people can't afford food" aspect and it just becomes a parody.
The sad thing is, no one is buying it. The level of propaganda they're using is so much a joke it's becoming more entertainig than the actual games. If they just played it cool, no one would even notice and the focus would be where they want it. But sticking fences everywhere only makes people peek over them...
Yolanda
Wednesday 13th August 2008 | 01:32 PMThey've even admitted to using cheer squads to make the stadium look more occupied
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/olympics/article4512306.ece
Yolanda
Wednesday 13th August 2008 | 01:35 PMAnd they used wind machines to make the flags flutter. Image obsession is an understatement.
http://sports.cbs5.com/olympics/story.asp?i=20080809103838303505908&ref=rec&tm=&src=DOLY
I can't find a link but they also had the grass 'painted' greener.
Rodney
Wednesday 13th August 2008 | 01:38 PMAnd while the World stares at people doing laps in the pool, more than 30 people have died in ongoing terrorism and counter attacks in Xinjiang Province and no one notices...
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/08/13/2333563.htm?site=olympics/2008
Jake
Wednesday 13th August 2008 | 02:41 PMI think you're being overly critical Mike.
Ever done business with a middle aged Chinese or Japanese business man? If they loose face at all, the business is fubar.
andrew
Wednesday 13th August 2008 | 03:28 PMwell that kid has a great voice and hopefully she will blossom when she gets older!!
Jonno
Wednesday 13th August 2008 | 04:45 PM...in response to this comment by Jake. Strange people. I know a guy who went there on a business trip and the company he was meeting wouldn't do business with him unless he did 3 days visiting Karaoke bars with them - and he had to sing at every one of them!
Jonno
Wednesday 13th August 2008 | 04:46 PM...in response to this comment by Jonno. Correction - he just told me that was Japan.
Jake
Wednesday 13th August 2008 | 05:28 PM...in response to this comment by Jonno. Yeah, I think there is a good chance that the joke was on him... unless he was good...
Amanda
Wednesday 13th August 2008 | 05:56 PM...in response to this comment Oh boy...where did that come from? Proof that no site is safe from brain dead morons who suffer from 'youtube-commenter-itis'.
...in response to this comment by Amanda. Thanks Amanda. It was a pretty dumb comment. I use the term 'was' because it's no longer there :-)
Jim
Wednesday 13th August 2008 | 08:15 PMWhat's funny is I think she's a cute looking kid.
Gong
Thursday 14th August 2008 | 02:09 AMpoor little girl
she looks so innocent
Rodney
Friday 15th August 2008 | 03:14 PMJust keeps on coming...
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/08/15/2336697.htm?site=olympics/2008
Turns out the children from "all 56 ethnic Chinese minorities" for the opening ceremony where all in fact, from the Han majority ethnic group.
Also the "live fireworks" shown around the world on TV where in fact computer generated (although anyone who needed to be told that must have had their eyes shut)...
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/200808/s2333175.htm?tab=latest
Cron
Wednesday 13th August 2008 | 11:02 AMSo China does have some Western traits after all - they care about image.