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Bao Tong: The Truth about the Olympics
An article by Bao Tong, one of the most well–known important Chinese dissidents. He speaks out about the true political aims behind the Beijing Olympics.
The truth about China and the Olympic Games
Bao Tong
14 July 2008
AsiaNews
1. The problem of 'Saving Face'
The Beijing Olympics are a great opportunity for China to show off its splendour to the world. Since the Olympic Games take place every four years, a new venue must be found every four years. It is not that hard for world leaders to deal with the matter if one’s psychology is “normal”, not so for China’s leaders. For them, I fear it is quite impossible.
Why impossible in China? Because China was awarded the Games after the Tiananmen Square massacre. In support of the Chinese people, the international community continued to condemn and denounce a few "Chinese butchers," but to show its friendship to more than a billion Chinese, they picked Beijing to host the Olympics.
This is what comes when peoples are on friendly terms but for those who succeeded the people responsible for the 1989 massacre, the first attitude (condemnation) is symptomatic of a desire to demonise China, embodying the "not yet extinguished desire of hostile forces to exterminate us"; conversely, the second (awarding the Games) is seen as a lucky break that fell from the sky showcasing all of our transformations. Thus, China like Cinderella can say that it has turned into the most beautiful princess of the story.
For decades some people have referred to the Olympics as the end-all and be-all, as (China’s) engine, for the sole purpose of showing off (our) splendour, doing all that is possible irrespective of its cost in human or economic terms. Obviously the splendour in question is not that of the Mothers of Tiananmen [1], or that of the people who submit petitions demanding justice, or that of migrant workers. The splendour that China wants to show is that of a stability that has steamrolled over everything, out of which the current greatness and harmony have oozed. Everyone must understand that this is the result of the massacre. Without it the country would not have risen to new heights; without it there would not have been the existing harmony.
Hosting the Olympic Games legitimises Chinese-style rule, the best kind there is and the best kind practice can show. Foreigners; Glorify us! Patriots; be proud! When I think about this my blood boils. How can this be considered "normal psychology?"
You can read the rest of the text at:
http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=12756&size=A#
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