Martin wrote:Did you read the article I posted, MTR? Most of the answers to your questions are there. If you disagree with China's strategy, a more detailed post would be helpful.
Did you read my post? I DON'T CARE WHAT CHINA'S OR ANYONE ELSE'S STRATEGY WAS, IS OR WILL EVER BE!
You made an assertion that the games are strictly about athletic competition. Skarp and I said it most definitely is about A LOT more than that. I have provided an article that outlines how hosting the Olympics is a major aspect of Chinese foreign policy which backs our claims. We have provided several examples of how the games are much, much bigger than a simple athletic competition.
Again, I DON'T CARE! It is supposed to be athletic competition . What other people make of it is solely up to what some people will buy into. Doesn't make it right and is not part of the Olympic mission. From the Olympic Charter:
Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of
body, will and mind. Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a
way of life based on the joy of effort, the educational value of good example and respect for
universal fundamental ethical principles.
The goal of Olympism is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of man,
with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.
The Olympic Movement is the concerted, organised, universal and permanent action, carried
out under the supreme authority of the IOC, of all individuals and entities who are inspired by
the values of Olympism. It covers the five continents. It reaches its peak with the bringing
together of the world’s athletes at the great sports festival, the Olympic Games. Its symbol is
five interlaced rings.
The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practising
sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual
understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play. The organisation, administration
and management of sport must be controlled by independent sports organisations.
Any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion,
politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement.I understand and agree that the Olympic ideal is a great concept. I also am willing to concede that many folks such as yourself do not read anything more into the games than that. However, the vast majority of people cannot help but be influenced by the bombardment of imagery and commentary that comes out of Beijing, and that is PRECISELY why the Chinese have worked for decades on developing their Olympic program and hosting these games.
So what does that tell you about the "vast majority" of people and where the problem lies? The world, not excluding the US, is inhabited by many fools. As you note, the Chinese are taking advantage of that. The problem in this country is that the electorate is populated with these fools and our leaders will play to that and, as obvious as the face on your nose, it works.
Rant on!
I refuse to gather and move with the sheeple. I have a mind of my own and know how to use it. Look at everything in our life. Commercials, political speeches, promotions, legal defenses, contract negotiations and elections are all marketed based on an apathetic, uneducated and lazy public. The same people that have so little concern for their own lives, that reality TV is one of the most promising markets at this time in history. We have people living vicariously through other's celebrity whether the medium be TV, cinema, stage, music or just a rich bitch which upon the media has bestowed some type of special privilege while producing absolutely nothing. Meanwhile, they remain the fool and making life altering decisions based upon. I choose to not be or play the fool.
The fact that you mentioned the digitally provided fireworks and the lip-syncing tells me you place some stock in the media. The firework footprints were identified shortly after appearing on the screen as being digitally-enhanced graphics added and we not real. Yet, the media lacking the ability to provide intelligent coverage, chose to try and make you, the viewer, feel as if you were cheated out of something. If anyone wasn't smart enough to realize those fireworks were not actually occuring as being shown on their TV screen, they probably also believe that people conveniently die in alphabetical order. And lip-syncing? So what? This is not an uncommon practice, especially at extremely large venues and events. All of a sudden it is an international incident? Were there not plenty of other things going on in Beijing and the rest of the world that are just a tad more important than this that NBC felt compelled to make sure every one of their network shows covered this to some level?
The days of Cronkite and truthful and meaningful reporting of fact are long gone and why? Because the crash dummies in this world suck it up like there is no tomorrow.
To me, the general view of the Olympics is no different. Whatever "message" the media is shoving down your throat is only as meaningful as you allow it to be. Somewhere along the way, somebody has to say, "stop!" Stop watching stupid shows. Stop buying the products of those who treat you like an idiot. Stop electing people who think the you aren't smart enough to make decisions for yourself. Stop playing the fool and as we have all heard this from our parents, "start using the good brain God (or whatever concept of life's origin in which you believe) gave you."
Rant off!
JMHO
