David Schussler
Anyone who watched the opening ceremony for this year’s Olympics experienced the energy and desire of the Chinese people to be free. The artistry and pageantry were fantastic and all was performed to perfection. As the athletes paraded in, the cheers for the USA, for Australia, and for Iraq among many free countries were contrasted by the noticeable lack of cheer for Iran and the lack of solidarity with North Korea. Yet there were cheers for all. The artistic depiction of Chinese history and the music, dance, and song of tens of thousands of laughing, smiling citizens was heartwarming and you could feel that this is an opportunity for great change in China. A people that display such emotion and desire to be a part of the rest of the world will no longer tolerate oppression, having their newly acquired economic and social advancements threatened, or having their country’s leaders oppress or threaten others.
The Olympics and the Olympic spirit as perpetuated by world athletes serve as an example of how competition deserves to be performed on our planet. It does not matter what we look like or who we pray to, we are equals in sports competitions except for our depth of accomplishments. Competition on all levels of life should be fair with all players following the agreed upon rules. Good life convention.
Olympic athletes come from all walks of life and set a great example for us all. Some African runners run through the countryside to train with no track available. This year’s Lebanese swimmer has no Olympic pool to train in. American athletes have a high school and university system to train through. The Chinese athletes have no university system but have a state sponsored training program. Most all of the athletes come from diverse backgrounds and experience a variety of training opportunities yet they all compete equally and have the same opportunity to win a medal. All must follow the same rules. If only we could apply this simplicity to the rest of life.
By the time the Olympics are over, millions of Chinese will have experienced tens of thousands of athletes and visitors from the free world as they all mingle and interact together socially. Good or bad, American and European music, internet, clothing styles, movies and business attitudes (among many things) are already being emulated and sought by much of the population of China. The freedom of speech and expression is also naturally sought by all. The delight of yesterday’s crowd in the Olympic stadium with the diverse and happy crowd of athletes can only serve to excite the desire of the Chinese people for more freedom and peaceful interaction with the rest of the world. This year’s Olympics can only serve to be a catalyst for the greatest opportunity in centuries for the Chinese people to make a historical change for the good and by the passion of the opening ceremony crowd, they are ready.
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9 users commented in " Fantastic Olympic Opening Ceremony in Beijing Gives Hope and Promise for Billions of Chinese "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackI was quite dissapointed with the opening cermonies. Although I found it quite organized and well choreographed, particularily during the “bobbing box” session and the opening drum pounding, spirit and emotion was missing. The ceremony was choppy and seemed to jump themes very quickly and ackwardly. The contiuous progresion from one theme to another, as was masterfully demonstrated during the Athens Olympics, was not there. Additionally, there seemed to be very militaristic and combatie undertones to the celebration. Whether it was the military progression to the raising of the chinese flag, or the repeated martial arts demonstrations, I think the themes of peace and harmony were greatly understated. Overall, for so much money and so much preparation being thrown towards these opening ceremonies, I was greatly dissapointed. Hopefully Vancouver and London will bring the beauty of the Olympics back to us.
The previous comment just shows that tastes can really vary. I thought the opening was wonderful and the themes of peace came across very well. I didn’t even mind the martial arts segments, as they are about so much more than what we see on the surface. To me, there was an overall sense of serenity and balance about the whole production, which are the two main focuses of religion there and some martial arts training.
“Anyone who watched the opening ceremony for this year’s Olympics experienced the energy and desire of the Chinese people to be free”
How can anyone believe such nonsense! The “energy and desire of the Chinese people to be free” was seen in Tiananmen Square in 1989. It was brutally crushed - as it would be again today by the band of Tyrants still running China. The Show in the Olympic Stadium was a Paean to their glory, not to the repressed in China’s cities and countryside and the brutally oppressed people of Tibet. Get real!
Paddy Briggs
I think we owe this young generation of Chinese an opportunity to rise up above the disgrace of their brutal government. You are of course correct about Tiananmen Square and the brutal oppression of the Tibetans but this Olympics may provide the people a chink for an awakening and I believe the Chinese government must now start changing their ways if they expect to hold any credence with the free world. Likewise the free world better step up fearlessly with condemnation and action to help those being oppressed by the Chinese.
The opening cermeonies were fantastic and filled with a spirit and passion and artistry. they were incredible.
davidschussler
Please read:
http://www.bloggernews.net/116624
…you’ll know then why I care.
Paddy Briggs
I read your blog and I commiserate with you, In the 1980’s I worked with the free Chinese of Taiwan and many Southeast Asians who escaped communist regimes. That is one of the reasons I understand the passion of people to be free. I am an optimist when it comes to believing a people can be awaken to change or even anarchy. Especially when good and evil are so easily discerned as it is in China. Much tougher here in the US.(although clear to me). China should never have been allowed the Olympic venue just based on their atrocious human rights record, just as Germany never should have been allowed. But… they were and the Olympic opportunity that shows harmony among all peoples through sport may prove to awaken some spirits and bring more attention to the Chinese government, world pollution, economic blackmail and especially those atrocities being committed. We need to write about it for the world to stay aware and petition our own government to do something about it.
There are a lot of misunderstanding between China and western countries. you said”Anyone who watched the opening ceremony for this year’s Olympics experienced the energy and desire of the Chinese people to be free.” I would say everybody but chinese themselves. I as a Chinese myself do admit that there were times peep would be thrown into prison just because what they said or even by what they were might thinking. But it is not the case now. Speech itself is a “new” thing considering the long history of China. There were no things like speech until the end of Qing dynasty.
freedom of expression is not an issue in modern China. I dont need to worry about what I say execpt it is someting like”im going to kill someone in the next few hours or I plan to rob a bank.” From what I understanding, the biggest problem that China is facing is the corruption of the governors. It may be caused by the fact that there is only one party in China. But I dont think this can be changed any time soon. However, no problem can be solved in one night. It takes hunderds of years for western countries to have today’s achievements. And ignoring China’s background would not help solve any problem either. Anyway, I like your article. 4/5
Did you know the younger girl that was singing at the ceremony was actually lip singing! another girl recorded it but was to ugly to sing live!
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