Olympics Media Banter

The general sentiment of the 2012 London Olympic Closing Ceremony was "cheesy" and "chaotic."  I didn't have high expectations as even the 2008 Beijing Olympic Closing Ceremony started strong but devolved into a pop mishmash.  Here, I want to comment on the back and forth between media reviews of London's Opening Ceremony:
1. British outlets lauded it as "spectacular" and a "masterpiece."
2. Several U.S. outlets tossed around the word "bizarre."
3. British outlets responded that Americans just didn't "get it" or that American's were just "overwhelmed" by the spectacle.
3. Media headlines responded that Opening Ceremony was a party but only the British were invited.

Viewing the Opening on American television, perhaps my peers and I missed the full picture or were on the receiving end of poor videography/ editing.  Nonetheless, I did find it almost aloof to declare that Americans are essentially simpleminded or too ignorant to understand something that was meant for a world stage when it is just possible that the Ceremonies fell short of expectations.  I felt there was a programmatic weakness.  What was meant as a review of the history and culture of the British "Isles" spent much of it's time on pop.  Certainly, Britain has made immense and ongoing contributions to pop culture.  Yet, Danny Boyle bypassed rich cultural tomes of Britain's mythology (particularly Camelot and Celtic), great authors such as Austin, Dickens, and Tolkien, and the massive contributions to mathematics and science from the likes of Isaac Newton or to music from the likes Vaughan Williams, Elgar (whose music was featured), and Handel.

On second thought, I believe I did miss the point of Boyle's display.  Many in the U.S. approach the British expecting royalty, pomp, ceremony, legend, charm and a little elitist stuffiness.  Pair this with the Boyle's string of cinematic hits, the anticipation may have been too high.  A friend took the opinion that Opening Ceremonies have already gotten out of hand and the pageantry is too drawn out.  He may be right.  We've come to expect a performance that is full of gravitas and grandeur but Boyle chose to offer something more quirky and perhaps thematically humble.  This really did not matter because ultimately, London was a wonderful host for a successful event.

Tibet as Polarizer

I often criticize the self-serving business practices and dangerous shortcuts that China has allowed or overlooked. This has been not out of malice or scorn, but always in grief towards the Chinese and hope that things will change with exposure to truth. The voice of media is accountability to the people.

I feel the Tibet-Olympics protests is a completely different issue. I cannot stand the irrationality of so many Chinese mainlanders and the hands-off attitude of the Dalai Lama. By consciously refusing to tell the Tibetan riots to stop or refrain from violence, the Lama effectively approves of violence demonstrated by Buddhists and Buddhist monks. Does anyone see the irony in ignoring their own tenets? I question the Lama's motive here even as he continually grins. And we see also the ugly Chinese (akin to the ugly American); the ugly Chinese now takes the form of rabid reactionary hyperpatriotism. If a Chinese person calls for dialog or rationality, many mainland Chinese turn on him or her, an act that confirms their irrationality by threating the victim's life and family.

The Chinese government and Olympic organizers believe the riots were timed to disrupt the 2008 Olympics and the actions of the world confirm it. If spectators continue to threaten the passage of the Olympic flame the ugliness will only be fed. The whole Tibet issue is out of proportion on both sides. Everyone is missing the point.

Don't destroy this event for which athletes world-over have worked so hard to reach.