Land of the Free

The raw human emotion that has emerged throughout the first days of competition at the Beijing Olympics has been fascinating to watch. There are so many stories about overcoming adversity and triumphant achievements, but there have also been stories about disappointment and tragedy. For every winner, there are dozens of disappointed athletes going home without the gold.

From Michael Phelps' amazing winning streak to disappointment for the ladies of the U.S. gymnastics team, I've wanted to laugh, cry, jump around and hug the athletes on my T.V. screen every night. And it's only day five of competition.

One of the coolest stories I've heard so far involves Lopez Lomong, the Sudan native elected to carry the American flag in the Opening Ceremonies. Lomong has only been a U.S. citizen for 13 months. He was separated from his parents at age 6, escaped to a refugee camp in Kenya and was brought to the U.S. in 2001 as part of a program to relocated lost children from Sudan.

At age 23, he's a 1,500-meter track runner representing the United States in the Olympics. That's quite a turn-around. He even has his own website. When asked about the honor, Lamong was more excited to be part of the democratic process involved in electing a flagbearer than the experience itself.

The U.S. athletes that elected a native of Sudan to carry the American flag in Beijing, China made quite a statement. While I don't believe the Olympics should be used as a political forum, it's difficult to ignore the host country's investment in Sudan's oil industry, despite the humanitarian crisis in Darfur. China is also one of Sudan's largest arms suppliers, which some say makes them an enabler to genocide. Read up on your China-Sudan news here.

I think the U.S. athletes found a respectful way to express their discontent with China's handling of the situation in Darfur, while still getting their message across loud and clear. I disagree with activists that called for a boycott of the so-called "Genocide Olympics." The athletes that have worked so hard to earn a spot on their country's Olympic team shouldn't suffer because of the Chinese government's decisions. And the Chinese people shouldn't be blamed for poor leadership.

As I've said before, don't judge a country's people by its government. Kudos the Team U.S.A. for expressing their opinions and maintaining the integrity of the Games.

"All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become." - Buddha

I’ve been staying up much too late these days because I can’t stop watching the Olympics. I’ve always been fascinated by the Games, but this year’s location is especially intriguing. Every time they show a shot of the Great Wall, the Bird’s Nest or any major tourist attraction, I yell from my spot on the couch “I’ve been there!” My family is getting slightly annoyed.

The media coverage has been overwhelming. I don’t know if there has been more coverage of these Games than in the past or if I’m just paying closer attention this time, but China is everywhere. I’ve been reading articles and watching television shows about the food, culture, government, people, environment and, oh yea - the Olympics in Beijing - just about every day for months now. I’m addicted.

Unfortunately I missed the Opening Ceremonies due to bridesmaid obligations, but people say they were spectacular. Hopefully, some sort of Beijing 2008 highlights video will be available soon. I want to soak up as much China as possible before the world stops caring about our friends in the East.

My trip to China last May taught me so much about myself, human nature and the world in general. Walking up and down the insanely busy street in front of the Friendship Hotel in Beijing by myself one day (don’t worry, it was broad daylight in a safe neighborhood), I felt so small, so insignificant. People looked at me funny because I was the only white person around. It was very intimidating.

At the time, I didn’t like it one bit. I was also hungry, tired, hot, sick and miserable. But reflecting on that experience now puts things in perspective. Sometimes we need a reminder that most of our every-day mumbles and grumbles are trivial in the grand scheme of things. This world is a big place, but not so big that we should be out of touch with the other side of it.

There are many things I’d rather forget about China – the smell, the scary food, the squatter toilets, etc. But some things I hope remain with me forever, like the breathtaking beauty of the Great Wall and walking the paths of emperors that lived thousands of years ago in the Forbidden City. I don’t want to forget the thrill of seeing the Terra Cotta Warriors or the tranquility that comes with finding a quiet corner to meditate at one of the sacred Buddhist sites, like the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.

Most importantly, I don’t want to forget the lessons about people, like the patience required to communicate without words or the simplistic way of life that most Chinese know, happy just to wake up and be able to provide for their families another day. The American way is certainly the way for me, but it’s not the only way. It’s important to respect that. Thank you, Olympics, for refreshing my memory.

Don't Hate on the Chinese

http://www.buffalonews.com/149/story/328149.html


Mr. Douglas Turner pisses me off. His opening line, "This summer’s Olympic Games might have been held in Toronto instead of repressive, smoggy and unbearably hot Beijing had it not been for the loose lips of Toronto’s mayor," speaks volumes about his lack of respect for the Chinese. Although he disagrees with the popular sentiment these days that George Bush should boycott the Games' Opening Ceremonies, his reasoning is all wrong.

"The loss of “face” for the Chinese if Bush snubbed them now would collapse whatever good our diplomats can do on North Korean nuclear arms, maintaining peace in the Taiwan straits, influencing the Chinese on Darfur and a host of much more important issues," he said.

True. "Guanxi" or "face" is what it's all about in Chinese business relationships, government included. You lose face, you lose the deal. However, the Olympics should be viewed as a special event, completely separate from any government, Democratic or Communist. The Games don't belong to any one country. They are a tradition shared by everyone all over the world, regardless of nationality, race, sex, religion or political status.

All of this nonsense about boycotting the Beijing Olypmics to protest the shenanigans of the Chinese government ruins the spirit of the games. And attacking torch bearers? Yea, that's a really great way to protest violence with violence. I certainly don't agree with killing monks in Tibet or looking the other way in regard to genocide in Darfur, but I don't think the Olympics is an appropriate forum for political criticism. If the Games were in the U.S., would there be talk of boycott from other countries to protest Iraq? How would Americans react to that, especially considering how many Americans are against the war in Iraq themselves?

Which brings me to my next point, don't judge a nation by it's leaders. There is so much more to Beijing than smog and humidity and there is so much more to China than violence and repression. If people took the time to learn about Chinese culture, they would know that the common citizen doesn't consider themselves a Communist, particularly lower class Chinese. These people live in alleyway shacks with mud floors, ride their bicycle to work through the smog, earn enough money to buy food and not much else and are perfectly happy to see the sun rise every day. They don't care about the government because they're too busy surviving.

China is a beautiful country with a rich history. Don't think so? Climb the Great Wall, visit the Buddhist temples or check out the ever-changing skyline lit up at night. Sure, it has it's negative points, like the overwhelming smell due to lack of proper wastewater treatment and pollution really is a major problem, not to mention political issues. But China deserves to host a peaceful, harmonious Olympic Games, just like any other country. If only for the sake of it's people.

The most important lesson I learned while visiting China was to respect things I don't necessarily understand. That doesn't mean it's OK to beat up monks, but it does mean that people shouldn't be so quick to judge. One World One Dream. Let's all play nice.