August 19, 2008
Beijing, You Are Winning the Gold (Kathy Kemper)
Twenty-five-year-old hurdler Liu Xiang is China's star athlete. His name, fittingly, means "to soar." He won the 110-meter hurdles race in Athens, and was fully expected to defend his title in front of 91,000 adoring Chinese fans. What many people don't know is that he knew beforehand that he wouldn't be able to compete in the race because of an injured Achilles tendon. Even so, he stepped out onto the field out of respect for his supporters and his country. Liu's story is one of perseverance and honor — it is a story that transcends cultural lines.
Why don't we hear more about that incredible story in the Western press? Or about the breathtaking grandeur, elegance and coordination of the opening ceremonies? Instead, we see endless stories about the computer-generated fireworks, the little girl who was lip-syncing the Chinese national anthem, the stabbing of the father-in-law of the U.S. men's volleyball coach, Darfur and so on.
Do these issues deserve attention? Sure. However, it seems like many newspapers and TV stations are doing everything that they possibly can to delegitimize the Games and the Chinese government. My message to these outlets? Grow up and respect a country that's working its hardest to come into the 21st century. Beijing, I salute you.
I have been here for six days. The sun shines every day and I see blue sky. The Chinese people are proud and thrilled to welcome their visitors. Streets are shiny-clean, trees everywhere, people smile, are helpful, subways the finest in the world. The Olympic Green is a marvel and awe-inspiring. It is like being in a fairy tale in outer space. I never want to leave. Keep me here in this fairy tale. Beijing wins GOLD!
Kathy Kemper is founder and CEO of the Institute for Education, a nonprofit foundation that recognizes and promotes leadership and civility locally, nationally and in the world community.
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Kathy
I had heard the viewship was record-breaking for the Olympics this year. The American people and I would think most people arount the world don't listen to the media anymore. Why would they when they can now see for themselves. They are bypassing the negativity for the pure.
Watching the Olympics has been great. The older I get the more I appreciate it. Our Americans and the young athletes from all over the world really shine a light that sets the example on what the world could be.
Comment by JFK-HRC — August 19, 2008 @ 8:25 pm
"Why don't we hear more about that incredible story in the Western press?" It was on MSM. We also heard the stories of how the athletes are forced to practice, day on day with no contact with their family's, for a police state. "Or about the breathtaking grandeur, elegance and coordination of the opening ceremonies?" And that soldiers were forced to wear diapers while lifting the displays for our enjoyment after having been locked in dorms for the last 6 months. Yes, we also heard about under age girls winning gold, Chinese athletes apologizing for poor behavior when they do not win for the police state. Bibles being taken away in the airport, walls erected to block tourist views of the true China. i do believe the Chinese are wonderful people but the government is putting on a show much like Germany prior to WWII. I did notice there were no stories of Cuban athletes defecting. So that's a positive.
Comment by OldSarg — August 19, 2008 @ 9:07 pm
As a Chinese I have to admit that we DO have problems, but that doesn't hurt the fact that we are trying to fix them! OldSarg, i don't think that you really noticed the fact that people ARE enjoying the games in Beijing. What's more, the problems you talked about do not only exist in China. It is never fair to ask a country for SO MANY, especially for a country that have very different culture and tradition from that of yours. I agree with Ms Kemper.
Comment by veronica — August 23, 2008 @ 9:05 am