Comments on: Will the Olympics Destroy China? http://cupofcha.com/2008/04/11/will-the-olympics-destroy-china.html This is China Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:17:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Cathy http://cupofcha.com/2008/04/11/will-the-olympics-destroy-china.html#comment-1113 Cathy Sat, 12 Apr 2008 17:14:26 +0000 http://cupofcha.com/2008/04/11/will-the-olympics-destroy-china.html#comment-1113 @statusq, Yes, from our perspective, the Chinese are overly sensitive. But again, my point is, this is their Olympics first and foremost, not the Chinese government's. If anything, we should take it back from the Chinese government, and make it the people's Olympics. It would've been much more effective if the Tibet protestors make their point but also support the Chinese people at the same time. I would want 1.3 billion people on my side. Further, we do not like it that the Chinese government doesn't respect the opinion of the Tibetans and Taiwanese, so all the more reason we should not stoop to their level. Anyway, having dealt with the Chinese, all I have to say is this strategy is not going to work, the Tibetan protestors are winning the battle but losing the war. Oh yeah, actually we Americans could be pretty sensitive too. There was an Absolut vodka ad which depicted a map with California and the southwestern states being part of Mexico. Haha, you should've seen the outrage and indignation from Americans and it was only a vodka ad! So part of the Chinese reaction doesn't seem to be particularly Chinese or unusual at all. @statusq,
Yes, from our perspective, the Chinese are overly sensitive. But again, my point is, this is their Olympics first and foremost, not the Chinese government’s. If anything, we should take it back from the Chinese government, and make it the people’s Olympics. It would’ve been much more effective if the Tibet protestors make their point but also support the Chinese people at the same time. I would want 1.3 billion people on my side. Further, we do not like it that the Chinese government doesn’t respect the opinion of the Tibetans and Taiwanese, so all the more reason we should not stoop to their level. Anyway, having dealt with the Chinese, all I have to say is this strategy is not going to work, the Tibetan protestors are winning the battle but losing the war.

Oh yeah, actually we Americans could be pretty sensitive too. There was an Absolut vodka ad which depicted a map with California and the southwestern states being part of Mexico. Haha, you should’ve seen the outrage and indignation from Americans and it was only a vodka ad! So part of the Chinese reaction doesn’t seem to be particularly Chinese or unusual at all.

]]> By: nanheyangrouchuan http://cupofcha.com/2008/04/11/will-the-olympics-destroy-china.html#comment-1110 nanheyangrouchuan Sat, 12 Apr 2008 06:47:18 +0000 http://cupofcha.com/2008/04/11/will-the-olympics-destroy-china.html#comment-1110 For the Chinese living in China, they can be excused for their thin skin and ignorance. For those Chinese living abroad, they can see both sides of the story and yet take a totally one sided position that regard's Beijing as almightly law written in blood. Their opinion counts for nothing. Why should we respect their opinion when they won't respect the opinions of Tibetans and Uyghurs (and Mongolians and Taiwanese, etc)? The hard and fast facts are that Chinese people need to suck it up and realize that they and their culture are no more special or above anyone elses'. China is a primitive and dirty country and the sooner that Chinese realize this the sooner they can focus on fixing their own country and stop blaming everyone else for China's failings. For the Chinese living in China, they can be excused for their thin skin and ignorance.

For those Chinese living abroad, they can see both sides of the story and yet take a totally one sided position that regard’s Beijing as almightly law written in blood. Their opinion counts for nothing. Why should we respect their opinion when they won’t respect the opinions of Tibetans and Uyghurs (and Mongolians and Taiwanese, etc)?

The hard and fast facts are that Chinese people need to suck it up and realize that they and their culture are no more special or above anyone elses’.

China is a primitive and dirty country and the sooner that Chinese realize this the sooner they can focus on fixing their own country and stop blaming everyone else for China’s failings.

]]> By: Janus http://cupofcha.com/2008/04/11/will-the-olympics-destroy-china.html#comment-1109 Janus Sat, 12 Apr 2008 06:08:23 +0000 http://cupofcha.com/2008/04/11/will-the-olympics-destroy-china.html#comment-1109 Ultimately, if the Chinese want to be taken as a country that has "truly arrived," they will have to learn to separate criticism of a government policy from some imagined deep hostility to the Chinese nation, its culture, and its people. God help us if Americans' uniform interpretation of Iraq protests was that the protestors hate Americans, hate white people, and want to "harm" them. Ultimately, if the Chinese want to be taken as a country that has “truly arrived,” they will have to learn to separate criticism of a government policy from some imagined deep hostility to the Chinese nation, its culture, and its people.

God help us if Americans’ uniform interpretation of Iraq protests was that the protestors hate Americans, hate white people, and want to “harm” them.

]]> By: Josh http://cupofcha.com/2008/04/11/will-the-olympics-destroy-china.html#comment-1108 Josh Sat, 12 Apr 2008 02:30:52 +0000 http://cupofcha.com/2008/04/11/will-the-olympics-destroy-china.html#comment-1108 @CLB Worst case scenario is under 50%? I hope so! I'd put it fairly low that armed soldiers will be patrolling the streets, but it's not impossible. @statusq Isn't is ironic that in a country where people have no say over their own government, they are the most defensive about the positions it takes? @CLB
Worst case scenario is under 50%? I hope so! I’d put it fairly low that armed soldiers will be patrolling the streets, but it’s not impossible.

@statusq
Isn’t is ironic that in a country where people have no say over their own government, they are the most defensive about the positions it takes?

]]> By: statusq http://cupofcha.com/2008/04/11/will-the-olympics-destroy-china.html#comment-1107 statusq Sat, 12 Apr 2008 00:59:24 +0000 http://cupofcha.com/2008/04/11/will-the-olympics-destroy-china.html#comment-1107 "lack of respect for the view of the Chinese people"? i think that's the last of any protester's concerns when they're debating about T1betan's right to free will or Darfer policies. Chinese people need to toughen up, and quit being so oversensitive. If the country's going to enter a modern world w/ modern media you gotta get used to words flying. People criticize american foreign policy all the time, including americans. i guess that's a big difference: the Chinese population is having trouble separating themselves from the government stance. (no surprises there). “lack of respect for the view of the Chinese people”?
i think that’s the last of any protester’s concerns when they’re debating about T1betan’s right to free will or Darfer policies.

Chinese people need to toughen up, and quit being so oversensitive. If the country’s going to enter a modern world w/ modern media you gotta get used to words flying.

People criticize american foreign policy all the time, including americans. i guess that’s a big difference: the Chinese population is having trouble separating themselves from the government stance. (no surprises there).

]]> By: Cathy http://cupofcha.com/2008/04/11/will-the-olympics-destroy-china.html#comment-1106 Cathy Fri, 11 Apr 2008 19:58:49 +0000 http://cupofcha.com/2008/04/11/will-the-olympics-destroy-china.html#comment-1106 Your summary of the problems with the Chinese side is right on mark. You mention that "many in China have a difficult time differentiating criticism of the country’s official policies, with insults to the population or culture." I agree. But it seems to me, in this instance, the protestors are not differentiating the Chinese people and the Chinese government in their criticism of the Beijing Olympics. The CCP obviously has its own agenda. But the Chinese people view it more as an opportunity for them to showcase their hospitality, culture and achievements -- this is their time in the sun. But the protestors are entirely ignoring the Chinese people's view on the Olympics (they are brainwashed so no need to listen) and have criticized the Beijing Olympics indiscriminately -- i.e. Genocide Olympics. So I don't think in this particular instance, it is entirely the Chinese people's inability to distinguish criticism of CCP policies and insults on population or culture that is at fault. The complete breakdown in communications between the Chinese people and the West is probably due in part to CCP indoctrination but also due in part to the protestors' oversimplification of the situation and the apparent lack of respect for the view of the Chinese people. Your summary of the problems with the Chinese side is right on mark. You mention that “many in China have a difficult time differentiating criticism of the country’s official policies, with insults to the population or culture.” I agree. But it seems to me, in this instance, the protestors are not differentiating the Chinese people and the Chinese government in their criticism of the Beijing Olympics. The CCP obviously has its own agenda. But the Chinese people view it more as an opportunity for them to showcase their hospitality, culture and achievements — this is their time in the sun. But the protestors are entirely ignoring the Chinese people’s view on the Olympics (they are brainwashed so no need to listen) and have criticized the Beijing Olympics indiscriminately — i.e. Genocide Olympics. So I don’t think in this particular instance, it is entirely the Chinese people’s inability to distinguish criticism of CCP policies and insults on population or culture that is at fault. The complete breakdown in communications between the Chinese people and the West is probably due in part to CCP indoctrination but also due in part to the protestors’ oversimplification of the situation and the apparent lack of respect for the view of the Chinese people.

]]> By: Larry http://cupofcha.com/2008/04/11/will-the-olympics-destroy-china.html#comment-1105 Larry Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:45:52 +0000 http://cupofcha.com/2008/04/11/will-the-olympics-destroy-china.html#comment-1105 The Chinese response to Jacques Rogge's call for respect of “moral engagement” is even more telling. It really sets the expectation in the future when organizations are making "agreements", "contracts", "understanding"... with China. The Chinese response to Jacques Rogge’s call for respect of “moral engagement” is even more telling. It really sets the expectation in the future when organizations are making “agreements”, “contracts”, “understanding”… with China.

]]> By: China Law Blog http://cupofcha.com/2008/04/11/will-the-olympics-destroy-china.html#comment-1104 China Law Blog Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:55:01 +0000 http://cupofcha.com/2008/04/11/will-the-olympics-destroy-china.html#comment-1104 Great post, though I would say the odds of this worst case scenario are less than 50 percent. Great post, though I would say the odds of this worst case scenario are less than 50 percent.

]]> By: Pappi http://cupofcha.com/2008/04/11/will-the-olympics-destroy-china.html#comment-1102 Pappi Fri, 11 Apr 2008 03:34:15 +0000 http://cupofcha.com/2008/04/11/will-the-olympics-destroy-china.html#comment-1102 Cynical is a synonym for realistic. Cynical is a synonym for realistic.

]]> By: John Guise http://cupofcha.com/2008/04/11/will-the-olympics-destroy-china.html#comment-1101 John Guise Fri, 11 Apr 2008 03:07:47 +0000 http://cupofcha.com/2008/04/11/will-the-olympics-destroy-china.html#comment-1101 A good summary of what's going on and what could happen though a tad on the cynical side. J. A good summary of what’s going on and what could happen though a tad on the cynical side.

J.

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