WOW! We came, we saw, we were conquered. Short of a real life dragon breathing on the Olympic torch, the lighting of the Olympic flame and the opening ceremony could not have been more spectacular and indeed, the best show put on in Olympic history (you believe a man can fly!). This was more than a show, its symbolism writ large for the world to see - China had arrived on the world stage, the Dragon had truly awoken! The artistic genius behind the ceremony, Zhang Yimou, displayed two faces of China to the world. The first was its ancient and cultural heritage in art, poetry and theatre embellished upon a giantic moving scroll. The second was a modern China steeped in technological advancement and innovation (just how did they lift the Olympic rings off the floor?). The Chinese have honoured their commitment to the world to put on a spectacular Games and boy, did they do it justice on Day 1. What this shows more than anything else is that China can no longer be viewed as a 'developing nation' or a country in the 'Third World'. This was the day China celebrated its coming of age, its debutante, its graduation day. What this also means for China is that it must take a leadership role in world affairs, the war on terror, the ecological and economic problems afflicting the world. It must not sit idly by but must take a more proactive role in creating a more harmonious, peaceful and prosperous world. With great power comes great responsibility and if China can construct a skilful foreign policy, it will change the way the world sees communism and the one party state that is China. Benovlent dictatorship IS a viable and alternative system of rule and can work if it is truly focused upon the good of the Chinese people. There has never been an economic model as the one that exists in China today, one which Deng Xiaoping described as 'communism with two faces'. It has worked so far by lifting the vast majority of Chinese out of abject poverty. There will be interesting days ahead as China seeks to jostle for its rightful position on the world stage with the USA and Europe.
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technomist
- 2008-08-08 @ 18:19:44
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achan
- 2008-08-14 @ 02:07:32
Not propaganda at all but merely a re-addressment of the shocking Anglocentric way in which world news is portrayed in this country. Where's the balance for intellignet people to decide for themselves??? Oh by the way, did you read my first blog? Here'a another one for you: war has broken out between Russia and Georgia, Medvedev is the President but it's Putin who is on the telly all the time making pronouncements and being interviewed by the Western media. Nobody wants to speak to the puppet that is Medvedev. And you tell me 'democracy' (such as it is in Russia) is a great thing?!? At least the Chinese know where they stand under Communist rule!
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You wouldn't be another one of the army of Chinese guys who are busy flooding the blogosphere this afternoon being employed to trying and talk up the Olympics, would you? There are all sorts of people who have never blogged before suddenly commenting on how great they China is.
For what it matters, it wasn't bad, though I tend not to like the schmaltzy children thing so much, (What was that 5 year old doing on the piano with Langlang?) The fireworks were as excellent as I would expect, and the big crowd sequences very well done.
The bit I couldn't take seriously was where the old guy went up i the roof to light the torch. It went on too long and was frankly more humorous than dramatic.
Good luck with the propaganda