Hurray for the Beijing Olympics

I can remember sitting on the couch with my father, after eating a large meal, and watching the television screen intently, anticipating which country was to host the 2008 Olympics. The bid went to China, and I must say on that moment I was very proud and happy for my country of origin. When China announced it's dream come true, it was as if a new world was being open to them.

Prior to this class I had never seen the Beijing opening ceremony. I had seen the Olympics and watched as China triumphed and gained the most gold metals, albeit through cheating. You have to admit the Chinese really wanted to succeed and show to the world how awesome of a country they had become.

The first chance they got to do so was at the opening ceremony. It was spectacular. The massive amount of money seemed well spent. They technology was far advanced, more so than I have ever seen before. And the numbers of people performing bordered on the obscene. 15,000 performers were placed in the show, none of them were repeated. Only in China could this be done, like director Zhang Yimou said, China definately has the man power. An example can be exhibited by the fact that man power, human power, was used to generate and move the Chinese typing blocks.

The show was truely a spectacular show, one that I believe no other country could live up to. The show instilled a Chinese national pride in me that I didn't really know existed. Yes, I am Chinese; however, I believe being born and raised in the West has brought me different ideals and values than the traditional ones brought over from the old country by my forbearers. I believe this opening ceremony and the Beijing Olympic games in general brought Chinese all over the world this same pride. However, despite being extrememly prideful that China is seeking and being granted international recognition, I can't help but remember all the totalitarian moves the government made in order to ensure the success of the Beijing Olympics. Thousands of people were displaced and forced from their homes and car driving was restricted in order to reduce air pollution. Other conflicts include the brutality with which the Chinese government used to suppress Tibetan protesters.

Sometimes I wish I was just ignorant and didn't know the whole situation of China's authoritarianism. I really do. The ceremony was beautiful, but the lenghts to achieve such a success was not justified.