Friday, August 8, 2008

Beijing

Huh, weird. That last one didn't post for a week. Oh well...

So. Beijing. As most of you probably know, the Olympics just got under way: http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/story/2008/08/07/olympics-ceremonies.html

While I admit, during the Olympics, even a jaded, cynical (young) miser like will occasionally come out of his shell, raise the Red & White Maple Leaf, and become an ardent nationalist... this year, I find it difficult to do so. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad China got the Games. A lot of people have raised a lot of questions about it, but I'm glad for two reasons: Reason the First--it's an acknowledgment that, regardless of it's political choices, the PRC is a global power. While some (http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/08/06/f-china-risebg.html) might argue that it might result in a more aggressive China, by the same token, the Olympics may cause China to have to confront some new tensions internally as some Chinese begin to embrace the ideas of other cultures. At the very least, it appeases the sense that China is somehow a "sick man" of Asia like the old Ottoman Empire. Giving them the games hopefully will appease the Chinese, and ease tensions somewhat. Reason the Second--even though it will not change anything, it does force the world to look at what they're supporting when they work with China, such as the oppression of Tibet (the BBC's resources on that troubled region are quite good: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/country_profiles/4152353.stm), the issues in Xinjiang, and, of course, their long-standing issue with the Kuomintang in Taiwan.

Suffice it to say, China has a lot of things they, from a Western perspective, need to address in order to overcome what has been a shockingly bad human rights record. I could point to the Great Leap Forward, the Cultural Revolution, and other remnants of the old Maoist days, but even Hong Kong and the other "Special Economic Zones" represent issues. Hong Kong has to continually fight for their long-standing democratic traditions (granted, these *were* imposed on them by the British, but they appear to want to keep them--http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/01/13/hong-kong.html), whereas the Special Economic zones are Capitalism-Redux--these areas are capitalism without any of the controls, and often are hotbeds of human rights abuses.

If the Olympics do nothing else, they should at least focus attention around the world on these issues. If the IOC and the other major powers had any brains, they'd at least try to politely suggest that the PRC consider making at least some minor concessions on some of these issues, or begin opening dialogue on the matter. Sadly, I don't think that's going to happen--the Olympics and the rest of the world have this rather annoying tendency to ignore the human rights abuses of countries hosting the Olympics (forgive me for invoking Godwin's Law, here, but Dan Simmons says it better than I about the 1936 Nazi Olympics: http://www.dansimmons.com/news/message.htm, though they're not alone).

If anyone expects serious change out of this, they're probably sadly mistaken... I admit to some modest hope that maybe they can result in some modest diplomatic gestures to improve the worst of the conditions in China, but I know they're doubtful. Sadly, the Olympics continue to serve a propaganda purpose when they're given to regimes like China. I can enjoy the pageantry, butI continue to hope that the belief of people like Nelson Mandela will someday come true about the Olympics: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAjKoYIwsfA. It's not true, yet, but someday, maybe...

Best regards,

Chris

PS: Okay, here's where my nationalist streak comes out--> http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/olympians/story/2008/05/27/f-olympics-taekwondo-sergerieprofile.html

I practice Tae Kwon Do, as well, and I'm really rooting for Sergerie on this one. Best chance we've had in a while to win...

And as for Soccer--Go Girls Go! :) http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/soccer/story/2008/07/10/canada-brazil.html