Thursday, August 14, 2008

Let's Stay Off This Tangent

Ray criticizes the ridiculous attention that's been focused on the "scandal" surrounding China replacing a little girl singer at the Olympics with a "cuter" lip-syncher. He wonders why we're not focusing on the many good and wondrous things happening in Beijing this week.

11 comments:

Unknown said...

You're right, it really doesn't matter. It doesn't matter about the Milli-Vanilli girl and I suppose it doesn't matter about the Chinese gymnists being 14. Wait, their 14, lets not expose them to worldwide scrutiny. If you're going to be on the big stage, be ready for the big stage scrutiny.

Ray Richardson said...

Your point is well made, but don't you think this has gotten way too much discussion. Sure, as a part of the scrutiny of the Olympics it warrants some discussion, but it is being turned into a world-wide scandal, getting front page coverage in newspapers all over the world.

With so many great things going on, why can't the major focus be on those and the minor focus be on this?

Anonymous said...

Well of course we gotta talk about lip-sync and child athletes ... few want to talk about whats really going on in China during the Olympics ... as was the same in the '36 German Olympics regarding ...

* Jews no longer allowed to vote and lose German citizenship
* Benefit payments to large Jewish families stopped
* Jews banned from parks, restaurants and swimming pools
* Jews forbidden to use the German greeting 'Heil Hitler'
* Jews no longer allowed electrical/optical equipment, bicycles, typewriters or records
* Passports for Jews to travel abroad restricted
* Many Jewish students removed from German schools and universities

... it's the Olympics for gawds sake. Politics have no place.

Ray Richardson said...

I am confused.

This is the Olympics. This is not supposed to be political. We have had 3 years and 50 weeks to expose China. Now because we are together in a spirit of brotherhood, which is what the games are supposed to be about, we suddenly summon up the courage to address China's human rights transgressions?

The Olympics are supposed to be an opportunity, for a few weeks every four years, to show the world that we can stand together, side by side even with those whom we oppose and compete with honor on the athletic field instead of killing each other on the battlefield.

Is it an idealistic notion? Of course, but if we cannot attmept in the right spirit here, where then?

We have had and will have again the opportunity to address these issues with China and other nations around the world. The fact that we haven't only means we have lacked the moral courage to stand up to an important economic partner.

IF we do this now, it is not done because we are just. It is done because it is easy.

Finding constant issues with China as they welcome the world to their culture is a disservice to the Chinese people who have taken such pride in these games and dissrespectful to the Olympic spirit.

By the way, when you invite guests to your home, don't you put your best foot forward?

Anonymous said...

"By the way, when you invite guests to your home, don't you put your best foot forward?" - RR

I can truthfully say I've never had to try to hide any bodies, or blood.

We just see things differently, as many also did in '36. But stayed silent.

Best,
PJ

Ray Richardson said...

Good point, so what should we do? China is not nazi Germany, however, their record on human rights is not admirable.

The IOC made this bed.

Do we dishonor the Chinese people because their government is bad?

I guess I just do not understand why we must mar the the games to make a political point when we do not have the morality to do so the rest of the year.

I guess it boils down to there is no opportunity in this world that cannot and will not be upset by politics.

Hitler was completely different, by the way. I think it is completely unfair to equate the China of today with the Nazi Germany of 1936.

China is attempting to join the world and while their progress is slow and their methods and ways are not our methods and ways, they are making slow progress.

Hitler and Nazi Germany was doing just the opposite.

By the way, is substuting one little girl for another really any different than when we watch a movie and the star actress can't really sing so they dub her voice?

The opening ceremony was entertainment, no different than a movie.

Anonymous said...

Totally agree, RR. It's only entertainment ... political street theatre, if you will. Sadly, Leni Rienfenstahl is no longer available to have filmed it.

Bruce said...

What is sad is the emphasis put on looks even for very young girls and boys.
Jon Benet ring a bell?

I guess the Chinese really are trying to westernize
The Chinese thought they had to present a good looking face with the voice to have it work.
I guess they are not Manilow or Streisand fans.

So when you invite guests to your home, should you hide the ugly kid in order to "put your best foot forward"?

Bruce said...

Ray
You must pull your well groomed hair out when you see that this post gets lots of comments and your previous one on more substantive subjects get none.

The chinese are becoming westernised . They know good looks sell.
Jon Benet ring a bell.
I guess they are not manilow or Streisand fans

Bruce said...

Ray
You must pull your well groomed hair out when you see that this post gets lots of comments and your previous one on more substantive subjects get none.

The chinese are becoming westernised . They know good looks sell.
Jon Benet ring a bell.
I guess they are not manilow or Streisand fans

Bruce said...

Ray regarding the drinking age , I am with you on lowering it to 18.
in all states.
Don't forget though that it was "The Great Communicator" your GOP hero who blackmailed the states into raising the age back to 21 by threatening to withhold highway funds.

Sorry about the double posts yesterday. It did not appear to me that the first one went through