Wrath: Anger (a.k.a. pissed off constantly).
It is about g-damn time an event finally gets me pissed off enough to continue this series. And I am furious this time. Granted this is nothing new, in fact this news in 8 years in the making and officially begins 8.8.08. Guessed it yet?
Damn right I'm pissed about the Olympics. And why shouldn't I be? For that matter, why aren't you?? Now just to clear up any misconceptions you might have pre-formed in your mind based on the first bits of information I have provided I am not pissed at the Olympics as a global event that brings people together. That trait is inherently good. But it is the sheer goodness of the Olympics that causes me to be so pissed off. Since when does such an undeserving country somehow manage to get the Olympics on their turf?
Now don't tell me you think Beijing has some kind of right to the financial gains and honor that the Olympics bring to a hosting country. With their track record they should be lucky not to have a "friendly" visit from the U.N. smacking their asses into shape. That of course is a whole different matter since I believe the U.N. and other leading nations need to sew their balls back on and take a stand against China and their current state of affairs.
The hope back on the 13th of July 2001 was that by allowing China to host the Olympics finally it might bring about much needed change to the country in trouble. This was supposed to be a nice wake up call so the sibling bringing the world down might take the challenge and shape up. Seven years later and that is a bust.
For those readers who have forgotten to turn on the news these past few months/years I will gladly give you some basics on exactly what state of China I am talking about.
First let us start with the games themselves:
*China lies about underage gymnasts.
*Covering up the "messes" to make a faux image. Cover up those who could use the income the most is the obvious solution.
*We all know China for their horrible censorship, but their promise to open the internet for journalists during the Olympics has turned out to be yet another lie.
Or how about the general issues:
*Despite an agreement to clear up their skies before 2008 they are now needing emergency plans to clean up. Go ahead runners, breath in that fresh Beijing air.
*A lot of pressure may go a little way, but remember never to mix "politics and sports".
*Our athletes feel pressure to keep quiet about their distaste for China's human rights because sponsorship refuses to take a stand as well.
Here are some other non-news websites that discuss the problems:
From Paris, France
From the EU
Alright, I can't take any more right now. Wrath takes a lot of a girl. I know there must be some good over in China and there are good people there. In the area people are living perfectly normal and healthy lives, at least to the standard they know. That is all well and good, but on the national spectrum China ain't looking so good and it seems that promises mean nothing and business will manage to beat out ethics every day.
Oh the times we live in.
The Olympics is a great honor for a country and I do respect for the committee for wanting to help China become more open to the world by giving them the chance of a lifetime, but China has failed to prove themselves worthy. The worst part about it that now that August how come around it is too late to turn back now. Personally, if not for human justice then for our athlete's health, I would vote to boycott the Olympics. Unfortunately that would lose a lot of people a lot of great opportunities to succeed on the international stage and this is often a once in a lifetime shot. Yet how can we have clear conscious about letting them get away with all this?
Hence the anger people, hence the anger.
I just have to ask.. what's up with the flashy banner in the post?! It's the most annoying thing I've seen all morning!
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Like writing? So do we!
~Fallon~
"If I fall asleep with a pen in my hand, don't remove it - I might be writing in my dreams."- Pace
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looks like she tried using an image that the host website doesn't want other people using. :-/
"What I lack in decorum, I make up for with an absence of tact."
Don Williams, Jr.
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Well boo. They could have made it... I dunno, not annoyingly flash?
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Like writing? So do we!
~Fallon~
"If I fall asleep with a pen in my hand, don't remove it - I might be writing in my dreams."- Pace
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I'm sorry, I could try to find another image to make it less flashy. This was the best image that came up for "wrath". I am actively searching to replace it but that was all that came up last night. :)
...You Know You Wanna...
The new one looks great, thank you very much. I wouldn't have bitched, but I have migraines and things like that act as a trigger. Seeing it flashing from the front page every visit was not on my list of happy things lol.
And just for the record, that last comment was griping about whoever made the graphic.
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Like writing? So do we!
~Fallon~
"If I fall asleep with a pen in my hand, don't remove it - I might be writing in my dreams."- Pace
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I agree with you... the Olympics are supposed to be about bringing the world together and everything, and China isn't being much of a shining beacon.
~C
Check out the latest entry in the Between The Lines column!
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and it isn't often that I don't agree with someone's entire blog entry, but in this case, I'd have to say I don't agree with anything.
Here is why:
1) China's pollution issue that everyone keeps citing as a good reason not to have the Olympics there is really our issue...who do you think buys the goods that fund the pollution? All that stuff in Wal-Mart, the mall, in your local Ma and Pa corner store...have you looked at where that stuff is manufactured lately? Nine times out of ten, it is manufactured in China. Just because we don't make the stuff here, doesn't mean we shouldn't take responsibility for pollution we've created. I mean, use your heads people!
2) Human rights violations...really? Aren't we the biggest abusers of human rights in the world....I mean, there are some serious talks going on in the Senate and Congress right now about possibly bringing OUR PRESIDENT up for trial for disregarding basic worldwide agreements about TORTURE!!! Talk about human rights violations...(Guantanamo bay anyone?)
3) Lying about the eligibility of athletes? Again, I don't think there is a country in the world that doesn't pull this shit...
So, the real reason Americans hate the idea of the Olympics in China? Well, we are still overwhelmingly racist, whether we admit it to ourselves or not, we still have a residual long-lasting fear of "Red China," we still hate other world superpowers who might trump us in bullying the world (we'd like to hold the position as the world's biggest bully for as long as possible.)
Love ya,
Carrot
I do agree that my blog does not explore the entire world as being a part of the issue (which we all are). I do briefly mention the fact that corporations let business stand ahead of ethics, which I can elaborate on. I do hold the belief that those who use China for production and aid in the extensive pollution caused there should be held ethically responsible for much of the pollution. I also believe that each government, including China, should use their governmental power to help lower pollution permanently, not just for a few weeks while the world is watching.
I have no argument about the human rights issue. It happens in America and around the world and no matter who is guilty it is disgusting all around.
I realize that every country has bad spirit when it comes to the rules for their athletes, but I do not believe any country should get away with forging government documents, let alone the hosting country. Especially since this is not the first time China has done so. But since they are communist and feel the right to cheat any way they can it seems very much against the spirit of the games. And that goes for every country. It completely defeats the purpose of holding the Olympics if we cheat and lie our way through the games.
Personally, I believe Toronto should have gotten the games. Last time I checked their record was better than a majority of the world.
Like I said, this was not a two sided argument. The purpose of my Heathen's series has been to show one particular side of the argument dealing with the sin in question. I am glad you have taken the time to round out the debate with another point of view that did not fit with the initial post.
...You Know You Wanna...
I do not think that the author is blaming China or clearing our name. They are essentially saying that they are fed up with China getting away with everything and still being able to host the Olympics. I highly doubt that she thought we were innocent in the whole ordeal.
You do make some very very good points. Maybe we wouldn't deserve to have the Olympics here either.
"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." -F.N.
Well I agree with you that we're all responsible for pollution and we do take advantage of China's manufacturing cheaply made overpriced ( once it reaches America, that is) crap via cheap labor. but um...about Guantanamo Bay? At least there are now investigations going in to how the prisoners were/are treated. At least we can admit we do have issues with mistreating prisoners. I mean, I even saw a novel the other day (I think it was called "My Guantanamo Diary") about an interpreter who spoke to prisoners and described what they went through. In China, you would never have a novel like that being published, talking about torture and mistreatment in prisons. They also have this uh, quirky little 'habit' shall we say, of lying about how they mistreat prisoners and peoples they view as inferior (like the Tibetans).
While I agree that America certainly has its share of problems and certainly doesn't have the right to take a moral high ground with someone like China, I think there is one major, fundamental difference in this society that makes us at least somewhat better: the freedom to express our opinions.
In China, people are arrested for expressing opinions contrary to the government. I remember one story a while ago about how China was trying to supress a Tai Chi group because they were getting too widespread and organized, not even because they had any sort of political agenda. They fear organization of their people and their policies reflect that.
I think that we're probably also a small part of the problem in this case as well, though, since America so far hasn't taken a major stand and really pushed China to clean up its act in this regard. I thought that the Olympics might be a good chance for us and the rest of the world to do this, but now I don't think it will happen. In order for that country to have any ability to change, that needs to change first.
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Honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress. --Mahatma Gandhi
My Blog: http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/kablock
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A new article popped up on NYTimes this evening that fit perfectly with this topic. It discusses why China got the honor of hosting this year and the pros and cons associated right now. I thought it was well written and without a heavy negative or positive vibe. You can feel how the article leans, but I feel it stayed towards the median to avoid extreme bias. You can judge, but it fits this blog perfectly.
The World--Why China Has the Torch
...You Know You Wanna...
I was in China living and working among the daily people. The lies and deceit are part of their way of life. They do it to everyone. Then again, so does a lot of the rest of the world.
I have to agree with parts of your post. Since I was there, I had my eyes opened up to a lot that they do their to portray a certain image. I found it revolting. Then I came home and found it here in America too. It is still revolting. All the world is guilty of such things.
The problem is, as you said, no one will do anything about it. China manufactures a lot of the goods that people use. No one wants to interfere with that. The situation is complicated. I don't pretend to understand the full extent of the politics, but I don't think it would be that easy to punish China for any of the wrongs that they have.
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You can't ignore me, for I'll not lie down quietly.
http://insanitek.net
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I think helping you come up with the Title for this series of blogs is my greatest achievement of the last year.
-acertainsaint-
LOL I owe you big time for the tip. It has inspired my writing to infinite levels. Thank you! I'm so glad you approve.
:?!)
(That would be you coming up with a brilliant idea)
...You Know You Wanna...
I am pretty amazing.
-acertainsaint-
Having lived and gone to school in the heart of San Francisco - two blocks from Chinatown - I had many friends who were of Asian origin. I had two friends who were from China. They were totally brainwashed into thinking China was the center of the world and no wrong could be done by their country's government. I was appalled, needless to say, over most things I learned straight from my friends, most of which you have mentioned in regards to the Olympics.
I utterly support the Olympics as a concept and event, and I do believe that its attempt it to bring people together. However, giving the honor and privilege to China to hold the Olympics was completely wrong. China has a bad human rights record, period. It doesn't matter what country I am from, how I was raised, etc. China is awful when it comes to human rights and value of life (not to mention honoring Mao all these years later). They brainwash their own people with propaganda. They control, the manipulate, and yes, they tear plenty of people apart. That's why I agree with your post.
I'm not anti-China. I don't hate the people: I hate the government and what their believe is right to put on their citizens. Plenty of Chinese have come from their country to other places in the world and "seen the light", if you will, about their homeland. I don't think they are a hopeless cause. Their government? Well, that's another story, I suppose.
Anyway, great post. Glad I'm not the only one who feels this way.