Chinese Olympic Surprises
August 20, 2008
Looks like even the critics were wowed by the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony. It may have taken a year to fake the fireworks footprints in a computer lab, but the most spectacular thing Americans can remember about our Super Bowl is a wardrobe malfunction.
The no-two-identical-parts birds nest stadium, one of a number of stunning buildings the Chinese have hired Westerners to design, was built with Chinese steel and an army of newly trained welders - the water cube got rave reviews as well. No American stadium has a giant computer-floor display, a giant globe thingy rising from a trap door or trapeze flying rigs. All I thought was “How in the heck did they DO that?”
Talk about moveable type. The light-brite dancers and undulating blocks take the idea of a marching band formation to a whole new level. The globe spinners looked straight out of the Chinese-influenced Cirque du Soleil. I imagined the soldier drummers, jumping up screaming with rifles, re-enacting running over shocked U.S. forces in North Korea instead of running around in circles. The leggy cheerleaders dancing and clapping in white boots must have Mao rolling over in his grave.
*****Keeping up with Olympics:*****
2008 Beijing Olympics Meet Your Asian American Olympians!
****************************
The singing girl didn’t have teeth perfect enough for the cameras, but other pop stars were pulled because of photo scandals as well. At least piano star Lang Lang was real. And it wasn’t just the girl in the long red silk dress - nearly all of the 51 ethnic costumes were worn by local “white folks” of China, the Han.
The Chinese gymnasts do look like they should be selling cookies. But looks can be deceiving when Texas authorities hauled away women in their 30s from that polygamist compound because they looked underage, and Hannah Montana looks more developed than some of the Americans. (what’s up with no American minority gymnasts anyways?) But rules are that previously published birthdays don’t count if passport says they’re old enough.
Beijing has been bedeviled by half empty stands because they don’t have scalpers who could have resold the free tickets to locals who evidently can’t afford to go. Many foreigners who couldn’t get their hands on real tickets stayed home; hotels report that business is actually down for the games.
It was America’s first move when our athletes stepped off the plane in pollution masks. It seems many Americans still remember China from the “Good Earth” and Mao suit days. Three hundred bibles were taken away from visitors who didn’t know bibles are only OK if locals buy the official government version. Others continue to be surprised that you can’t protest in a communist state. Asian Americans jumped all over the hapless Spanish, who aren’t PC enough to avoid the classic “Hey look I’m Chinese” eye gesture or to apologize once they’re told it’s not funny. What is funny was the commercial where Steve Carrell (of The Office) says that he doesn’t watch women’s volleyball for the outfits - it’s what’s underneath that counts.
***********************
AsianWeek Note on photo: AsianWeek would like to create a healthy platform for multicultural discourse on issues that affect our community. As an integral part of the Asian American community, we would like to know how you feel about this photo and what should be done. Is the photo of the multi-colored nooses too much? How does the community feel about this picture, found on a blog? Is it disturbing? Should our community react to this photo?
Please make respectable comments in accordance with our policy stated below.
Thank you.
Comments
3 Responses to “Chinese Olympic Surprises”
Got something to say?
Folks:
Maybe its the neoicon submission for the closing ceremnoies?
It’s meant to intimidate, and reminds of the Ivins matter in re the anthrax letters.
Or swastikas spray-painted on synagogues or nooses hung on trees or, even, mere online outbursts of hate and contempt.
This one is pro in its presentation and a pointed reminder that “we” should keep the antennae up constantly.
Education won’t work with these haters.
Our first step is NOT to be intimidated.
Frank Eng
And, by the way, why haven’t we heard of late from Huang Fong?
Should we send a search-and-rescue team out?
Miss his candid wisdoms. And hope he’s just taking a personal time-out.
Frank,
I’ve been checking in, not much to comment lately. Glad to be missed.