This was China's chance to show what it could do with the world watching. What the world saw was a lavishly excessive display that brings up questions as to whether the $40 billion (by conservative estimates) invested in the Opening Ceremonies was put to good use.
The Washington Post's Thomas Boswell rightly scolds the Chinese government for investing so much money in the spectacle, asserting: "No democracy can or should invest the money and manpower that went into this city-wide fireworks-spewing deification of national pride, athletic aspiration and Communist Party self-congratulation. Public money could never be justified for such an insanely exhilarating night. Only a People's Republic could squander so lavishly."
Boswell goes on to talk about how the ceremonies also served as a propaganda tool for the Chinese government -- a chance to fool the Chinese people into thinking their suffering and oppression is all part of the plan.
"All this, of course, celebrated the Olympics. But it was just as much spectacle to convince 1.3 billion people that they were living out a glorious collective destiny, a march into a perfectible future that justified any current hardship or lack of basic liberties."
It remains a shame that China was even given the opportunity to host these Games -- we really shouldn't have expected any more or less from that government.
Leave a comment