The Party Pulls The Trigger
Claudia Rosett was in Peking when they opened up on the protestors in Tiananmen Square. Here’s what she wrote then; and her current reflections on that day are here.
In that 1989 article, in the closing paragraph, I tried to set down something that still applies today; not least as visitors to Beijing survey the massive security efforts, not all of which are intended strictly to protect the Olympics:
“No doubt when the Chinese government has finished dealing with its people, the tidy square will be presented again as a suitable site for tourists, visiting dignitaries and the Chinese public to come honor the heroes of China’s glorious revolution. It will be important then to remember the heroes of 1989, the people who cried out so many times these past six weeks, ‘Tell the world what we want. Tell the truth about China.’ “
China’s repressive conduct leading up to this Olympic farce shows that they haven’t changed a bit, and their Orwell Machine still hums along without a hiccup. At least we have an opportunity to see it working. When you see the happy cartoon mascots and the light shows of the five-ringed circus, remember what lurks behind them.
___________________
{Post by See-Dubya.}
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Shiny things, lights and big productions don’t distract me from the truth. C’mon now, that only works on liberals.
I am thankful for the time delay, because I am not watching any coverage of the Olympics.
Until the people of China - especially it’s religious people, and Tibet - are free.
I can’t believe that China was even able to get the Olympics, scratch that, I can believe it.
It wasn’t a hard to decide that I wasn’t going to watch any Olympic coverage as well, or watch NBC at all during the Olympics.
Pray God something like that never happens in America. When we read and see cover ups in the media protecting liberals while reviling conservatives, it gives me a cold chill. Even see-dub talked about having two resumes.
Let’s all keep talking and writing our government officials, we do not want to lose our freedoms. Methinks Political Correctness has lost us ground we need to make up and make up soon.
only reason the olympics are in that craphole is they promised to spend a gazillion $$$$$$$$$$$$$$. IOC is a disgrace.
I am not watching one minute of the olympics!!
I love watching athletes who are the best at what they do compete for their countries against the rest of the world. Politics and commercialization aside, the Olympics always provides amazing performances and stories. Great stuff. Hopefully, and I agree with Bush on this, the Beijing Olympics will help push China toward a more free society. In the meantime, I’ll enjoy the hell out of myself watching the best of the best compete over the next couple of weeks.
I’m currently watching the NBC broadcast of the opening ceremonies and I find it all vaguely disturbing—especially when their “color” commentator remarked how the chinese “state” was the “guarantor” of the nation’s children. eewwww!
Ditto that but mostly because they show 20 seconds of event and 20 minutes of talk and syrup in between the 10 minute commercial breaks.
Ah China… lgm’s, rusty’s, San Fran Nan’s, and Obama’s idea of the perfect government
Save the demagoguery JT. You sound like a mirror image of a Dkos clown.
I missed the re-enactment of Tiananmen Square so I lost interest. A gang beat down with flowers and armoured vehicles I guess.
I am sure it is quite impressive as was Berlin in 1936. North Korea puts on nice shows too. All the best to the athletes but I’ll not watch it.
The Olympics are on? And its in China?????
I didnt know that it snows this time of year there. hmmmm, I seriously need to start watching the news
It’s fustrating that people turn such a blind eye to this. Try mentioning Tinnemann Square (sp?) and they wave a dismissive hand and say something to the tune of “oh that was so long ago. *Sigh*
No interest in anything olympic this time.
Was at a friend’s house tonight and they had the opening ceremonies on so I caught a little bit. A woman was dancing on a platform supported by a troupe of men while the announcer went on and on about how it symbolizes how no one has ever accomplished anything without the support of everyone else. In short, a fairly standard paean to Communism in which the state is everything and the individual nothing. Made me wonder how the announcer could get the words out without choking considering the Olympics has always been a tribute to individual accomplishment.
I don’t plan to watch much of the Olympics. I watched a little of the opening ceremonies. while it was impressive I will not forget what has an continues to go on behind the curtain.
I especially loved the commentators explaining away the pollution by saying that it was just the humidity.
While I wish all our athletes the best, I have no plans to watch nor to buy any products hawked by the broadcasts. 72 years after the Berlin games, the IOC, NBC and other businesses looking to cash in by selling their souls to despotisms still don’t get it, and unless we don’t watch, they will remain stuck on stupid. There are plenty of places worthy of hosting the Olympics. Not only London four years from now, but Copenhagen, Warsaw, Rio de Janeiro and New Delhi come to mind, all where fundamental freedoms are upheld.
As others have said, I’m not watching this time. I usually like to watch the gymnastics and the equestrian events. But, I think it is disgraceful that China was allowed to host the Olympics. Already, they have reneged on promises to be more open with things like the internet for foreign journalists during the games. And I’ve heard stories about how they are incarcerating many of their Muslim minority as a “preventive measure” when only a fraction of their Muslim population would actually be considered dangerous jihadis… I haven’t even read any news stories online about the games.
I hope to see this combination at the GAMES:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKQgTiqhPbw
Yes-for those who are familiar w/ my strong - anti-socialist takes - I will be watching the games.
After watching the eventing dressage-I stayed to watch the run of the opening…the commentators were very clear as to T Square and et.al.
I also know (from the “horses” mouths-Chinese friends) that there is a STRONG CHRISTIAN movement there-I saw many subtle signs of it….
I’m not giving up on those who seek freedom - anywhere!
Remember-WE here in the U.S. are riding the slippery slide to socialism ourselves…
If you don’t like the barely lingering cult of personality surrounding the dead Chairman Mao, maybe you prefer our sickening version of the cult of personality surrounding vile professional athletes. While the Great Helmsman’s portrait adorns Tiananmen, consider the oversized portaits of law-breaking, professional athletes hawking Gatorade or Nike shoes that are plastered all over billboards and the sides of buildings in every metropolitan area in this country.
Rather than be given carte blanch to debase our culture, these Sunday afternoon “warriors” should be wearing military garb, and killing our Islamo-enemies on the battlefield, not waiving flags in the PRC.
Also, it’s time get over 1989. I was in China in 1990, while marshall law was still in effect and the tank tracks could still be seen on Tiananmen Blvd. I’m sure I’ll take flak, but the Chinese government was faced with anarchy, and took the right steps.
I fail to understand why the majority of Conservatives in the US are as demented about China as the Nutroots are about Bush.
And derranged ones, why would you conclude that China is the kind of country S.F. Nan or B.H. Obama would like? Since when have they favored free markets?
Anyone who is interested in capitalism, the power of entrepreneurialism, and societal change like you will never see in the United States (or other developed countires)–at least not in our lifetime, should read about and visit China.
While some Chinese companies did manufacture poisonous and defective products, the true blame rests upon the US companies who did not implement the proper quality controls over items they sold to American consumers.
Don’t be like the Democraps who mindlessly oppose drilling. Not watching the Olympics won’t solve one problem in the world.
And remember sports fans, four legs good; two legs bad.
The opening spectacle was quite spectacular.
Although I did notice that in their quick runthrough of Chinese history they sort of skipped over the whole Cultural Revolution and Great Leap Forward bits…
I will not be watching. I dislike communism intensely. And I dislike NBC nearly as much.
I won’t be watching much of the Olympics and not because they are in China. They could be here in the Bluff City and I wouldn’t go. There just aren’t that many sports that I’m interested in.
Maybe if they had a NASCAR event or American type football…….
I’m just waking up this a.m. to news an American tourist was stabbed to death there and the Chinese killer committed suicide…. fox news.
Communists will not tell The Truth. Liberals will not. Corrupt officials will not.
Only honest people with the ability to exercise free speech such as here on the internet are still able to write The Truth.
Hearing more now, American was one of the volleyball coaches….
It bothers me how NBC’s Matt Lauer, Bob Costas, and the “NBC Chinese correspondent” whatever-his-name-is fell all over themselves praising all things Chinese.
“China invented this, that, and the other thing.” “Brilliant technology and engineering!” “Unlimited resources!”
Whatever. They wouldn’t gush like that if the host were the United States or virtually anyone else, and it’s not like it was this incarnation of the Chinese government that invented paper and printing and all of that. It’s like giving the United States credit for inventing the kayak, which was developed by the American Indian, just because it occupies the same piece of real estate.
It also galled me that Bob Costas made his very snort-worthy comment about the fact that the only two female athletes from one Middle Eastern country were the daughters of the prime minister (”I’m sure that’s just a coincidence.”) once I realized that he had a hundred opportunities to make similar comments about China but refused the opportunity. How about when they talked about “the state” as guarantor of the futures of the Chinese children the government paraded across the stage? I made 50 smart-ass remarks myself just talking to the TV.
I’d like to qualify what I already said by adding that I appreciate the work Bob Costas does. While he might occasionally wax poetically about topics that don’t generally warrant poetic waxing, he doesn’t mind poking fun at himself about it and he is a top-notch broadcaster. (Matt Lauer and whatever-his-name-is… not so much.)
ajmontana… relatives of the volleyball coach (not a coach)
30 years ago, I would not have moved from the sofa in front of the tv, to watch the Olympics, Jim McKay and ABC. I would have tried to watch every minute. Today, I know it is in China, and that’s about the extent of it for me. Between all the commericals, the worthless side-bits and politics, and the few minutes, every hour, for an actual event, I have no interest, anymore.
thanks behiker, it’s early, sorry. fox and all other stations are stuck on
edwardsstupid.Kevin from Ohio in VA… I totally agree! But, did you notice how they kept gushing about these were the best opening ceremonies ever; I have to say I don’t agree. Of course there was some amazing technology and parts, but overall, I found them to be very cold and detached. Did you catch the comment about the drummers were told to smile more so they wouldn’t seem so “scary”? I almost think they were told to smile so they wouldn’t seem so “scared”. It almost makes me wonder what the punishment would be to any performer who made a mistake. I think I started laughing out loud when they started talking about how important the connection between man and the environment is… China? Environment? LOL
My vote still goes to Sydney, Australia for the best opening ceremonies. Their performers were relaxed and you could feel the enthusiasm. Very much unlike the forced smiles of the Chinese last night.
I said I wasn’t going to watch the Olympic coverage this time, but I will watch some of the events. I’ll change the channel when the sappy “China is wonderful” stories comes on.
Hear! Hear! To be honest, the Olympics haven’t held any appeal for me since the 1984 games, which was the last time I watched them with any interest, but this year I feel especially justified in not watching. China should never have been granted the privilege of hosting the games. It was dishonest of the Olympic committee to have selected them, and hypocritical of nbc to present China as having cleaned up its act on civil rights.
Nutz! Civil = human rights
Once again Americans travel to another part of the world and expect it to be run the way they think it should be run.
We can’t even handle our own country and we are trying to tell China what to do?
China will probably be around longer then
AmericaMeximerica will….I did watch a sizable chunk of the opening ceremonies,some impressive stuff, but overall not much better than past olympics. It seems like the over riding philosophy of show was use as many people as humanly possible.
The highlight of the whole broadcast for me is when they were talking to one of the champion U.S. lady beach volley ball players. When asked about the experience so far she gushed, I do mean unabashedly gushed about having just spent some time with President Bush and his wife and Bush’s father.
Knowing how things work I hope it doesn’t cost her any endorsement contracts.
Good Morning! Voice of the Martyrs has Olympic prayer bands for sale. The first band is free.
In explaining the bands, the website says, “Despite what you may hear in the news, Chinese Christians who refuse to register with the government controlled church are being persecuted. Many have undergone horrific suffering. Recently a prominent representative of a group of house churches in China asked Christians throughout the free world to pray for China during the Olympics.”
President Bush received his prayer band just before travelling to Asia.
Here’s the link :
http://etools.780net.com/a/vomso/bg_vomso_wdbm_327.html
Have a great weekend!
Any thinking being - say a worm - could have predicted some major issues by doling out the Ollies (hard to spell olympics) to China. Where to in 2020, Iran?
The IOC, as a body and individually, is/are dips***s.
FIslam at 4:50 AM
It’s not a choice of one or the other, and the two examples hardly compare. The cult of personality surrounding athletes is strictly voluntary. Some guy is very good at playing a ball game, and I willingly turn on the TV to watch. That’s all. The “Great Helmsman”, as you so reverently call him, was one of the great tyrants of the 20th century. In a century of tyrants, this opium fiend shared the summit with a handful of others. Mao leaves a legacy that only begins with an 8 figure body count. The over-pampered ball players you rail against are used as marketing tools to play on human nature. The megalomaniac that oversaw the “Great Leap Forward” sought to change human nature, by any means necessary. I don’t have to wear Nike gear. Back in the day, the Chinese had to carry Mao’s little red book.
I’ll get over it when the Chinese government stops blocking it from the internet.
What’s a few thousand dead bodies when you have a revolution to preserve?
The ‘anarchy’ was tame stuff. Four decades of living with the possibility of re-education makes for a very cautious populace.
The ‘right steps’. Just, wow. If the ChiComms needed so badly to clear out that peaceful crowd, perhaps tear gas might have been an appropriate intermediate step. CS would make the point without impaling anyone.
I’d rather not visit China, thank you. I prefer to breathe clean air. I also prefer to not have someone lie to my face and tell me that smog is mist. We take for granted a certain amount of regulatory constraint.
Why should the Chinese manufacturers be held blameless here? And weren’t you praising capitalism in China just a paragraph earlier?
Sell a tainted product, blame those stupid enough to buy it.
I’m willing to give it a try. *click*
It was meant at least in part… tongue in cheek. I don’t go over to kos kids to troll, they provide nothing of value of interest. Once they started wishing painful death on various conservatives, I was out. MM and other keep me informed enough re: huffpo, kos et al.
or interest.
First thing that soured me on the Olympics was allowing Professional athletes to take part … sorry … guess I am a purist in that regard …
Second thing was taking the coverage away from ABC … it was ABC that made the Olympics the noteworthy international television event it has become by the fantastic 24 hour coverage they started and all the innovation and effort they put into creating the interest it still enjoys today … the Olympics was not the big deal it is now before ABC took it to a higher level …
The aggrandizement of the Opening Ceremonies is a direct result of the broadcasts by ABC … prior to their worldwide TV coverage the Opening Ceremonies were plain and simple … no spectacle at all … athletes marched in … they lit the flame … they started the games … no big deal … now it is an opportunity for the host country to spend a ton of money and put on a basically meaningless circus event …
NBC is absolutely horrible coverage … just look at how bad their NFL coverage is if you want an example of their ineptitude …
Frankly, I won’t watch because of the “liberation” of Tibet.
I can hardly wait for the “liberation” of Taiwan, which an Obama presidency will no doubt hasten.
#38 Mom24ks.
I completely agree. As a Christian, I can’t take the way Christians are persecuted in China.
I try very hard not to buy things that are made there (very difficult to do now) and I won’t watch one minute of the olympics.
Fox News is reporting that a Chinese man stabbed and killed relatives of the coach of the US Volleyball team on the first day of the games. We need to get our people out of there and bring them home. The situation is what it is and athletic games won’t change it.
I watched part of the opening ceremonies last night..
reminded me of this poster of Achievement
If I catch something that interests me, like swimming, I may watch. I’m not going out of my way.
Chicomms and the IOC perfect together.
I agree. I always thought the olympics were for amateurs only. When I was young, I would watch the olympics from beginning to end, but unfortunately now I couldnt care less.
When the U.S. sent over the men’s basketball “Dream Team” and slaughtered every other nation, I became disgusted with America’s ambition at that point. (Dont try to justify it against other countries, because we are better than that) Blasting the Dominican Republic into the ground is embarrasing, not jubilous.
My feeling is that any athlete that ever takes an endorsement, receives compensation for their athletic ability (not donations), or competes at the professional level, should immediately be disqualified from any future Olympic event. And I dont believe sponsorship of an athlete should be allowed during the games. And dont talk to me about that it takes money to compete, if you want it bad enough you can make it happen.
The games today, with all of the 24×7x365 training, with all of the support systems, with all of the computerized training, with all of the cutting edge gear and athletic wear, are bogus. I see nothing wrong with an athlete doping or doing steroids, because its no different than any of the other training regimen.
(I apologize to the individual atheletes that have the abilities that I dont have, Im just ranting at the big picture..and my coffee really kicked in this morning. lol)
It is for the sake of the Chinese people to boycott the advertisers, since these pitchmen are out to make a buck on repression. And where will the IOC award the games next? Rangoon? Riyadh? Havana?
I wonder if Donkey Joe thinks this is a socialist government too.
I used to enjoy the Olympics, especially the winter games. I remember Sugar Ray Leonard winning his medal in the 70’s and the 1980 US hockey team beating the Russian professionals.
But I lost interest in the 90’s when pro athletes were allowed in (NBA in the Olympics? Please). If I tried I couldnt care any less about pro sports than what I do right now and that includes the Olympics. When the amateurs come back to the games, I’ll watch.
And the fact that the games are now being held in Communist China (somebody has to say it) doesnt help either.
But we have to be nice to China - dont they own our national debt?
Yeah, and our trading with them and buying their cheap junk over the last 30 or so years has worked really well in that regard hasnt it? I dont agree with Bush one iota on this issue. The Chinese government is going to make a mint off of the Olympics and the average Chinese will still be a slave.
That’s the other reason I gave up on the Olympics.
Amen to that, brother.
I realize most are against the Olympics for various reasons, but this is what I saw: I watched the Parade of Nations. When the American team came in, the crowd was soooo loud in cheering us on. I know it isn’t that there were more Americans in the audience either. Not everyone on the planet hates America, as most lefties would like us to think. THEN, I saw President and Mrs. Bush stand up in the audience and wave their little American flags. They both had the hugest smiles on their faces. You could see how proud they were of our athletes. They were waving to the athletes as they passed by. In all honesty, it brought tears to my eyes. No BDS here. It was a magical thing to see : )
I had the opportunity to watch the Beijing Olympics last night. While it was a colorful, spectacular, theatrical display, the director/designers wanted to awe both the native Chinese and the foreign visitors into a state of “admiration.” The Beijing opening ceremony was as much fantastical wish fulfillment as was the Athens and other olympic opening ceremonies.
As another poster commented, China left out parts of its history it doesn’t want anybody to see such as the Civil War, the Cultural Revolution, and Tienemon Square among other things. China put on a show that played all the right notes. Did anybody notice the part where they had Tai Chi masters (or whatever Martial Arts it was) surrounding a bunch of school children to show concern for such things as “global warming.” What about the part where the Chinese military was manhandling the Olympic flag? I wanted to barf at that.
Then there were the commentators. I really think on their part it was quite a lazy display of acquiescence. They made the usual disturbed noises about Sudan, Tibet, and the Olympic torch protests. There was even a brief mention about Joey Cheek (olympic speedskater) who was denied a visa because of his criticism of China’s support of Sudan for the way it handled Darfur.
The Beijing Opening ceremonies was one of THE most political events I’ve seen in quite a long time. Getting the Olympics was a PR coup for the Chinese Communists. I don’t think that China will be any more “open” after the olympics. Dakine and Pres. Bush may wish it so but it doesn’t make it so either.
Another thing that started to grate on me was the China expert’s totally apologist tone he took with the Chinese. I found it particularly pathetic how the Chinese used the little boy that survived the recent earthquakes. There are 500 million people who live on 2 dollars a day. A few who lead many. NBC made these soundbites rather than what they are: major flaws by a nation that believes more in state control than individual will or achievement.
Another interesting thing that the “China expert” failed to talk about was what some others in his field see as an approaching collapse. Another China expert noted that China’s using taxis to spy on foreign visitors. What of its human rights record? What of its environmental record? What of its dwindling water table that if not replenished will leave major Chinese cities without fresh water sources. As one expert identified it it’s the: Coming Collapse of China. Does anybody really think that China will stop imprisoning its political dissidents or spying on its citizens? The Communists are using the games to increase Chinese nationalism and hold on to its grip on power over its own people.
This opening ceremonies was a successful PR show for the Chinese. However, it failed to demonstrate an olympics free of politics, hypocrisy, or world passiveness toward a totalitarian regime.
That pretty much says it.
I almost agree.
I suspect that China is probably too free for Nan, The Sail-eared One, Life’s Great Nobrain, and Rust-pate.
After all, they allow some private ownership, and a token “Loyal Opposition” in China. That’s something the Lefty-brownshirts are doing their very best to jackboot out of existance in the U.S.
I’m pretty certain our church has a missionary presence in China, and the Chinese gov. is loosening up control in fits & starts.
They know that prosperity in linked to Freedom, (obviously smarter than the Lefties here…).
They’re trying to find the tipping point between where they control the population and enough when the population has enough Freedom to make their country mighty. And then to not cross that point.
I’m hoping they underestimate and soon go one step too far.
When that happens Freedom will come like a landslide. Bloody and confusing, but smashing and clearing all the old forms in its path.
Well, everyone has a daydream, don’t they?
BTW:
I always capitalize Freedom in that context. I consider it a proper noun.
I do wish the Leftards considered it a noun proper for us.
aaah!
Sorry! Its LGM, not LGN!
Last night was my turn on Dad-watch… h aven’t been to bed yet.
He’s still type 1.
We haven’t given up.
If you haven’t seen Democratic Congresswoman Maxine Waters say she whats to socialize the oil industry… have the government take it over, you should. I find it chilling… click HERE
I don’t find it chilling at all, it is not even close to suprising me, I have on many occassions put links up to show commentors on this site members of Congress whom are members of Socialist organizations and Maximus Waterus is one of many, She was actually saying what she and others believe (with her slip of the tounge) that private industry not just oil companies, should be taken over by government, that is just their first target. I believe at last count it was 73 members of Congress associated with Socialist organizations.
My prayers and best wishes to you and your family. Take care of yourselves, your dad will need your strength.
God Bless you and your Dad, I know where your coming from, 1 month 24/7 and 2 months 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. in the hospital with my Father in law.
Now go get some sleep your going to need it cause your not going to get it in the hospital.
Are the Olympics political? Yes, and always have been but I prefer to watch them in the original spirit of cessation of hostilities and celebration of athletic excellence.
I will not punish myself by refusing to watch the worlds best athletes compete in the events that interest me just because I do not agree with the host countries politics.
With the others on their best wishes. You are no good to dad if your drop yourself.
If it helps, remember:
Little
Girly
Man
He will not wish you well BTW
my other favorite for him is:
Low
Grey
Matter..
if that helps you as well..
Prayers for your Dad and family.
Violent crimes against foreigners are rare in China and lest we forget, in 1996 we had our own problems during the Atlanta Olympics with the Centennial Park bombing where one woman died and another man died of a heart attack while running away. 111 were injured.
#57
I felt this was a wonderful way to honor a little boy who had suffered and survived so much. I am sure it was a night he will never forget. He was in the arms of Yao Ming, on TV, and watching a spectacular event. He was being honored for his bravery.
There are “missionaries” in China, but they go there to teach English or something like that. Our church sponsors 2 such missionaries, but they do not release their names in order to protect them. We went to a church in China that was for foreigners and we had to show our passports to get in. No Chinese citizens allowed. Our guides waited for us outside on the bus. PBS, (believe it or not) actually did a very accurate assesment of China in a series called “China From the Inside”. If you ever come across it, it is definitely worth setting the Tivo for. It even talks about the millions involved in the underground churches and the consequences when they are discovered. The series also discusses the “rights” of women and the lack of control they have over their own bodies.
My thoughts on the Olympics in China are that the Chinese people don’t have a lot to be excited about and I would hate to take this away from them. I do know that they are truly excited as I have friends in China from our adoption trip and we still correspond frequently.
I pray for my Chinese brothers and sisters in Christ who are in prison for their faith. The world has not forgotten you.
Sad how others don’t see it the same way…