Favorite Political Sites

Aug

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Yes, it was the most amazing opening ceremony I’ve ever seen. The firework footsteps approaching the stadium, the drum/light sequence, the ginormous LCD monitor with the elements that lifted off the screen – absolutely stunning visually. And yes, they get kudos for embracing (some) aspects of their past in the creative portion of the program.

BUT, for me it does not change a thing, or make it okay that they’re giving a political regime like they are with an opportunity like this. Can you forget their appallingly slow response to the Sichuan earthquake earlier this year? (Not that W’s response to Hurricane Katrina was any better, but that’s another story). Can you forget Taiwan? Tibet? Hong Kong? Tiennamen Square?

Or look more recently at their actions – they *literally* threw ALL of the homeless people out of Beijing – didn’t help them, just kicked them out. They also forced restaurants and shops to close if they were visually unappealing. They gave director Zhang Yimou a basically unlimited budget for the Olympic opening ceremony, while a huge chunk of their population is impoverished (especially those who were forcibly removed from their homes – without compensation – so they could build the Olympic venues).

They don’t want to OPEN themselves to the world – what all these idiot commentators keep saying. They want to paint a beautiful picture for the world and pretend that the picture if real. Unfortunately, a lot of people are buying it. And it’s just not okay.

The fireworks were wicked though!