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Beijing starts countdown to '08

Posted: Tuesday, August 07, 2007 3:20 PM
Filed Under:

By Adrienne Mong, NBC News Producer

"Aiya," the Beijing cab driver turned to me. "Does it get this dirty in America?"

He pointed out the window to air so thick that calling it a haze was an understatement.

Before I could get a word in, the driver barreled on with his monologue, "But it's OK!  It's the Green Olympics, right?" 

Adrienne Mong/NBC News
Tiananmen Square goes through a final dress rehearsal on Tuesday evening for the official countdown ceremony.

He paused to chortle. "It'll be clean next year!"

It doesn't seem soon enough.

Tiananmen Square kicks-off countdown
Tomorrow marks the start of China's official countdown to the 2008 Olympic Games – an event to be celebrated with a vast musical performance on Tiananmen Square.

For the occasion, the square has been overrun by lights, booms, giant TV screens, huge metal scaffolding, and by a potent mixture of smog and humidity that has plagued Beijing all summer, especially the last two days.

Here on Tiananmen Square, NBC has a ringside seat as the only western broadcaster to cover the events live, direct from the square. Between rehearsal sets and setting up, we – with NBC Sports and NBC Olympics colleagues – talk a lot about the weather and the rain.

Across town, foreign correspondents are parked outside the Bird's Nest (aka: the National Stadium – the main Olympic venue).  Seeing them on camera, you can barely make out the stadium's distinct metal twigs in the background. 

Progress Ho!
But Beijing Olympic officials continue to march to the steady drumbeat of optimism. 

Adrienne Mong / NBC News
A glimpse of some of the recent smog in Beijing.

In remarks on Monday that both applauded and criticized their own efforts, they noted that parallel measures to control the climate and reduce pollution resulted in 241 "blue sky days" last year, a far cry from the 100 "blue sky days" in 1998 – "this is the progress we have made. However, we are not satisfied with that."

Officials for the Beijing Games also announced that preparations were ahead of schedule; construction for all the Olympic venues apart from the Bird's Nest would be completed by the end of this year.

The Chinese government also took the opportunity to remind everyone the great strides it's made for the nation's 1.3 billion people in barely two decades. 

So it should be a time for celebration.

Instead, the one-year countdown has triggered a growing chorus of voices, which argue that China has yet to earn its rightful place among the developed superpowers because of its poor human rights record.

Poor track record
In addition to Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, non-governmental organizations have stepped up their criticisms of the Chinese government in the past week.   

Beijing's makeover into an Olympic set piece has resulted in the displacement of 1.25 million people, according to the Centre on Human Rights and Evictions in Geneva.  

Echoing the findings of the Foreign Correspondents Club of China, two western NGOs the past two days have faulted Chinese authorities for failing to live up to their promises for greater press freedom in the run-up to the Olympic Games.

In neighboring India, Tibetan exiles said they're planning large-scale rallies around the world to demand that China leave Tibet. 

Adrienne Mong / NBC News
Dancers rehearse for the big countdown to '08 event.

And then there is the Darfur factor.

Last week, during a whirlwind three-day trip to Beijing, Colorado State House Speaker Andrew Romanoff presented to the Chinese Foreign Ministry a petition on behalf of three groups: Save Darfur, Dream for Darfur, and STAND (Student Anti-Genocide Coalition). 

The letter, which included the signatures of more than 40,000 Americans, asked Beijing "to press Sudan to build a lasting peace and ease the humanitarian crisis" in Darfur.

Romanoff, when asked why he felt compelled to comment on Beijing's human rights record, said China was remarkable for "not just the scale but the pace of the scale of economic development.  It's breathtaking. But what sometimes seems like glacial progress when it comes to political reform is equally striking."

For Romanoff and others, Beijing's role as host of the 2008 Games would be easier to applaud if China were to concentrate on making the same kind of progress in civil liberties as it has for the economic well-being of its people.

Click here to get a behind-the-scenes look at the Today Show's trip to Beijing.

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Comments

If America really want to learn about China, first, give  up your bias from western view. If you guys still pay more attention to Human rights ,Tibet and so called democracy, you will never what China it is. That's also means you guys never get out from "Cold War". Never use western way to think about China and Chinese because you wouldn't get any answer in that way.

Shawn , Philladelphia (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 5:14 PM)

I agree with Shawn from Philadelphia. Despite the fact that apparently, we "poor chinese citizens" live under a "horrible" communist government, we're actually quite pleased and satisfied with the way our country is run. we have few or no cases of underage drinking, farmers and merchants who live in the rural areas of China whom are free to sell their goods on the streets of Beijing as street vendors, and almost no cases of obesity. I'm sure the "Land of the *Free*" can live up to that.

Zhu Huan, Beijing, China (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 9:49 AM)

Those who criticize China's progress on human rights only show their ignorance of the same.  Before the China haters attack me, please reread my sentence.  I'm referring to Beijing's progress, which has been significant.  Just three years ago, many Chinese citizens were required to obtain permission to travel within the country.  Today, that requirement is history.  Ditto for 2,000 year old agricultural taxes - the government didn't merely reform them, they simply eliminated them.  

China has a long way to go, but she has already come much more than half the way.  Those of us who have lived here for any significant amount of time realize this.

Dean A. Nash, ShenZhen, China (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 9:57 AM)

Albert Speer Jr. is the architech in charge of creating a more asthetically pleasing Bejing.  I see the plans call for the displacement of 1.25 million Chinese.  The apple didn't fall far from the tree.  

WASP1 (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 10:03 AM)

the pollution is really bad. i can't beleive that just a year before the game, the air in beijing is still so dirty...

Josie, Columbia, SC (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 10:05 AM)

Give up the Bias from western view? Hey pal, you may see it as a bias, but at least we can think for ourselves without censorship or people watching over us. I have no sympathy for Communists and never will. Hey, if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck.....

James, NY (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 10:11 AM)

It's not only reporters who are denied freedom of movement.  In the last 48 hours, Chinese police have detained eight Westerners from Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. for speaking out on China's human rights records in Tibet.  Their whereabouts are unknown and the Chinese have not responded to requests from their respective embassies.  One of them has been blogging on her experiences visiting Beijing.  You might have a look at her point of view on the Olympics preparation and China's failure to keep their promise (in 2001) to improve human rights at http://beijingwideopen.com/

E. J. Robinett, San Diego, CA (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 10:15 AM)

"If America really want to learn about China, first, give  up your bias from western view. If you guys still pay more attention to Human rights ,Tibet and so called democracy, you will never what China it is. That's also means you guys never get out from "Cold War". Never use western way to think about China and Chinese because you wouldn't get any answer in that way."

Better English please.  No one understands your very narrow minded squabble.

Tom (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 10:26 AM)

It would be much easier to give up a 'western point of view' if China would allow for free and open communication.  The Chinese government hides behind it's state controlled media and only allows for 'approved messages' to be sent out.  China should allow free speech and open honest democratic elections between communist and non-communist candidates.  They are afraid of democracy because the ruling governemnt would lose all its power and influence to a new and young democratically elected body.

Justin, Wyomissing (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 10:37 AM)

China is now part of a system bigger than itself and needs to step up and start acting like it.

As an emerging superpower, China has to learn to think and interact with the West in a non-Chinese approach.  Choosing to follow established international precedents only when it suits you will bring trouble.  Look what's happened to the Bush administration.  What China chooses to do within China is its own business.  What is chooses to do (or not do) in Darfur is most definitely not.

Mark, New York (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 10:51 AM)

I am from the States, and have worked and lived in Beijing for 5 years.  Your article reflected some facts, such as the muggy smog in Beijing in the summer time.  However, some other statements in the article made me flabbergasted. For instance: "Beijing's makeover into an Olympic set piece has resulted in the displacement of 1.25 million people."  The capacity of the all newly built facilities for 2008 Olympics Games won't even accommodate that many people in all the events added together during the entire Olympic period, how could in the past that many people have lived in the same area where the brand new facilities are built?  Maybe you are also counting the construction workers coming into the city for building the facilities for the event as being "displaced" as well.  

Lilly, New York City, New York (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 11:25 AM)

I personally have been to Beijing and yes the air is absoluetly filthy. I think the Olympic Committe should from now on choose locations that have repect for our Earth and our Envirorment. Its despicable how the Chinese treat the Earth.

Justin Ritter, Denver, Colo. (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 11:39 AM)

Ah, so you have found the secret to getting along with the Chinese, have you?  Obviously, you have not studied enough history to know of our country's dealings with China since the latter part of the 20th Century.  From ally to opponent is recorded on history's pages and it's that history that has garnered the mistrust that is so prevalent today.  Once an ally in WWII, they chose communism over democracy after the war and has been a strong protagonist in world affairs.  They have a strong influence in the UN security council and have flexed their muscles there.  We also fought them in Korea and they dislike us for our support of Nationalist China.  They have opened trade with us in the latter part of the past century but still they do not trust or respect our ways and the same goes for our trust and respect for the Eastern bias.  It's pretty hard  not to be wary of them or give up our "western" ways just to understand them.  When we and they can come together in mutual agreement, be able to support each other and especially, trust each other will there be a true understanding  between us.  Human rights?  Where there is a tank, there's a way.  Refer to the picture made famous of the Chinese student holding up an armored column in a lot of books and magazines.  They ran over him anyway.  A good front hides a very bleak intention.

M. Montgomery, TX (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 11:40 AM)

"People who live in glass houses should't throw stones."  Ya'll just allowed your Democratic controlled Congress to give more power to the executive "leaders." Bush and our corrupt lying chief law enforcement officer now have more enhanced power to spy on us than ever before.

C M Nitrac (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 11:44 AM)

I believe, if Chinese people are happy and content with their government, who are we to tell them their government does not work? That their government violates their human rights? If we notice, Westerners from Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. were detained for speaking out on China's human rights records in Tibet. But how many Chinese are speaking? How many of them are actually complaining? Why do we keep trying to “save” other countries and fix their internal problems? I believe we should focus more in fixing our own problems. This country with the Bush administration is going down the drain. Our economy is obviously having a harsh time. Americans are suffering the consequences of bad irrational and impulsive decisions. We should be focusing on ending the war in Iraq and bringing all those soldiers back to American soil. We should be focusing on fixing this government’s policies towards Veterans, Disabled, Retired, etc. We should be trying to provide all of those who have served this country in any form with a better way of retirements, better health care so that they can live the rest of their lives without worries of that matter. I, to this date, cannot or refuse to accept that such great nation still does not provide great benefits for it’s people. We should try fixing this inflation, that could lead to a depression. We should try to fix our current government for us and for those who we will leave behind. After we fix everything that is wrong on our country, let's then turn our eyes into other nations. We are just turning our eyes and seen the Chinese government, since it’s easier to point the finger and say they should do this, they should have that, etc. It is very hard and takes courage and decision to say our nation needs to be amended, but it’s even harder to take that change into a reality.

D, Sunrise, FL (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 11:50 AM)

 China owes us nothing ( other than maybe some thanks for fighting the Japenese along side them in WWII. go Flying Tigers). They don't need to be clean for "our" sake, their own citizens will band together and create the government and enviroment they want. Are there abuses, sure there are everywhere. Is China progessing, yes at an amazing rate. Good for them. US citizen.

Scott (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 12:11 PM)

What?! Give up the biased western view? Freedom of speech and worship should not be just a western belief but should be a world belief also.
What has China given the rest of the world lately - tanted pet food, lead painted toys, bad tooth paste.

Ken Blundell (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 12:33 PM)

You should all be ashamed of yourself giving a biased opinion of another country. When you and I have fixed our own, miserable fake freedom country, then maybe we can give suggestions on how others may as well.
U.S. and now slowly following Canada, are no great place to live, we are among the worst evil, and we smile about as if we are to be better. Wake up and smell all people, the concentratoin of pollutents here in canada kill thousands every yr. and are lied about, all is lied and covered here with a smile, because we are free.

Jamie Day, Saint John, N.B. (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 12:41 PM)

"Bush and our corrupt lying chief law enforcement officer now have more enhanced power to spy on us than ever before."

How much spying have you had to endure? Are you engaged in phone conferences with suspected terrorist? I'd like a list of all the "freedoms" American citizens have lost in the past six years.

Vince, San Antonio, TX (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 12:48 PM)

I agree with much of the above. I lived in various parts of China off an don for past three years and have never had a problem with:1) crime; 2)access to good health care; 3) friendly people; and 4) inexpensive and delicious food. China has its problems, but it is working hard to solve them at home instead of going abroad and creating trouble in other countries. Americans need to rethink China. China and America are very good for each other.

Bill, Austin, Texas (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 12:59 PM)

What is happening in China is in their great rush to modernize the country many decisions were made without foresight. Smart growth stragegies were put aside or not even considered so ever larger and more impressive buildings, roads, and bridges can be built. Now the Olympics has triggered even more growth in the capital and an even faster pace. It remains to be seen when Beijing is the world's showcase a year from now how well the government will have addressed the environmental issues. I hope that the media will represent this in as non-biased fashion as possible. This is not a Eastern or Western issue, it's a humanitarian issue.

lhw (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 1:04 PM)

Not all Chinese dissastify with their government, human rights and else Westerners critize about China.  Majority of Chinese people are happy about their county.  Same logic, not all Americans satisfy with their living environments and government.  Why Westerners only picked something for minorities in foreign countries and totally ignore all these same issues in their own countries.  As a journalist, please do NOT mix with your opinion when you are writing something for everyone to read.  If you're biased, your article will be biased too.  Strongly agreed with Shawn.

Jane, NY (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 1:13 PM)

Perfect does not exist. I would like to see what would happen if any country had the economic opportunities that China is experiencing. China is under a watchful eye of many opportunists.

Look around read the news; many other countries that can't help themselves need to be addressed first. I don't believe in getting caught up in "Western or Communist" discussions. I did not have a choice where I was born and I have 'little' choice of what happens in my own country. Things cannot change overnight and if we are going to blame individuals for a countries direction maybe we should all take personal responsibility for our governments actions.

Maestro, Oregon (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 1:32 PM)

I must quickly confess I agree with the blogger who comments "U.S. should clean up its domestic issues before worrying with other countries"  I had no idea China has ZERO obesity, and NO crime.  Odd then to have such heavy pollutants in their air supply.  What are they cooking with coal?  U.S.A. needs to be taking care of its own, and let China take care of its own.  She (China) obviously knows something we don't.  No crime and no obesity still boggles my mind we have all the "freedom" to make others want to come here, even ILLEGALLY which I detest, yet our crime and obesity rates are ASTONISHINGLY shameful. Certainly provokes deep thought.

Candis Galloway, Myrlte Beach, South Carolina (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 1:36 PM)

Life in China is very cheap.  Of cheap things it is the cheapest.  That is their greatest export.  And that is why Asia will dominant the world if we let them.  Things always goes to the lowest common denominator.  People who believe in Western values are not reproducing, but Asia, and the rest of the Third world is expanding rapidly: 6 billion and counting.  That many people is incompatible with Western thinking and Western values.  Life becomes cheap.  That is why the West will be overwhelmed.  

Dan, CA (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 1:42 PM)

I see alot of self-righteous fools posting on this blog and it sickens me and amuses me at the same time. I will absolutely guarantee all of these China bashers have never stepped a foot outside of their crappy little town or city in their lives for any significant amount of time. These same idiots sit on a pedestal and bash anything and anyone that they don't understand or know about. Some of the comments on here sound like 5 second sound bites that they more than likely gleaned from watching Fox News Network which probably painted China as evil and all of its people as mindless lemmings. Take it from someone who was born and raised in Beijing then came to the States for College and Graduate school, I can say I have seen both sides far more extensively than 99.9 percent of the people on this blog. You people would be utterly amazed at the amount of similarities between the two supposedly "polar opposite" cultures. Here's my point, instead of talking trash without ever actually going to China and living there, travel and attempt to become more worldly. It wil do you some good and those around you as well.

Yu Lo (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 1:56 PM)

Oh yes, the Tibet people are very happy and very satisfied with their Chinese government.

George, Seattle, Washington (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 1:56 PM)

Go back and reread the post from D, Sunrise Fl. Nice Post

F, NJ (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 2:05 PM)

Our political system has been disgracing itself for a very long time now - 20+ years - and this current admistration is proving to be just as Communistic as China has been.  Yet China's citizens show the USA up in physical fitness (no obesity until they live in the USA), better healthcare for their citizens (until they live in the USA), and they are better educated in math, science, physical activities, most can speak more than one language - Chinese and American (our version of English is another disgrace with all its versions of English.  They show us up due to our being sold out by our own government with its never ending give away unrepaid loans for everyone but its own natural born citizens.  And we still have more than 1 year left with the least intelligent and worst wolves in our White hen House and Congress.  May God be with us and protect us all from our own self serving, self important, and lazy incompetence.

Disgusted Connecticut Citizens (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 2:36 PM)

All very interesting comments, about a country that we (America) still know very little about.  At least at present, the interest is not increasing all that quickly. Most of the conversation has to do with their economic growth, and our perception of what that will eventually mean for our economy.  OK, but not enough when you consider that China has 1.3 billion very interesting people.  I might say the same general thing about people in India.  

But this I know.  Of the Chinese I've met, there is quite a bit of longing for something more.  They don't jump on the USA wagon without deep thought, but they do know that there is something wonderful about the freedom that they experience here in their choices.  Of all the Asian's, they are the most "Western".  Of those who speak fairly good English, they interact with American's very well.  For a “Communist” nation, a surprising number of them enjoy “God” talk.  I find this very intriguing!

What get me the most is that most Chinese students talk about how "unfriendly" many Americans are.
Perhaps, this is what we need to hear, and listen to the most.  Not just towards the Chinese but also towards ourselves!

E.Louis, Bridgeport, CT (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 2:38 PM)

USA is such a great country isnt it? Human rights and all this stuff about giving chances. What about when a person isnt human anymore. This is a great country where a criminal can still be treated like a human even when his/her rap sheet is as long as the harry potter novels. Where criminals have the advantage of shooting at police first, because police can't draw their gun unless they see one. Dont forget that many gangs out there also have more firepower than the police. Then we have the greatest president who decides to send our armed forces all over the world and spends billions on all this "anti-terrorism" effort when we have bridges collapsing, overcrowded classrooms, and unsafe streets. We were attacked because we couldnt mind our own business. Only in america where a CEO can get a $10 million christmas bonus, but the teacher that taught him can barely afford to live in the city where she teaches, the cops cant afford to live in the cities they protect and firefighters cant afford to live with the people they save. All this while the junkies and the scum of society are getting low-cost housing, being given money(welfare), free medical care, drug addicts always get their free methadone, prisoners get free lodging for doing a crime and they just eat and work-out 24 hrs a day and dont forget these inmates get cable TV while many of us cant even afford it. The USA is in debt for the trash of society, while china is putting its money in its economy and the chinese are not complaining. Its time to stop looking across the ocean and look down at our feet.      

Eddie, NYC, NY (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 3:00 PM)

Spending a year in China can do wonders to one's prejudice.  A year ago, Chinese sounded so alien and harsh.  A year ago, Communism was the evil empire.  

We may be the leader in wealth, but like wealth - only the few have brains or reason.  Remember, our country only became the world power since 1945.

Since then, only a fraction of our people worked to better the world - the other 99% bitch and moan.  The 99% of 240 million do more harm then all the 1.3 billion Chinese combined to the environment, world politics and security.

The 99% care more about Wall Mart prices, our $3 gas, and pimp ride SUV.  Our government knows this and via elected representation, represents our political views.

The Chinese people have endured thousands of years of change - and managed to survive. Last 15 years is just another blip in their amazing journey.

Before we westerners PRE-JUDGE another society, lets examine our own standings.

James of NY, walk the streets of Shanghai and tell me if Communist DUCKs walk and talk like you say and I'll show you a right wing skin head in NY.

Tom, do you speak Chinese? Any other language?  Stop being an idiot you babbling fool.  Learn another language and be the open minded person you pretend to be.

Red blooded American (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 3:02 PM)

The Hell with China, I'm Chinese and I don't even like China.

Davis Wang, Chicago IL (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 3:05 PM)

Is anyone patrotic anymore?Communism leads to worst corruptoin.At least in theryoy power is  divided up in usa

tyler newport news,va (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 3:52 PM)

Seems to me that a lot of people like to complain… about their own country, about other countries, about anything.  Politics are fun and all, but politics make us complain.  Think of something you love about your country and culture.  Then think about something that seems neat about another country or culture.  Excellent, now doesn't that feel great!?  I'm from the U.S.  I love my country and I'm loyal to my country.  I also love many things about our culture.  I was in China a little over 10 years ago.  I loved their country and I loved their culture!  Just because I'm loyal to my country doesn't mean that I have to feel that "we" are "better than" other countries.  We all have strengths and weaknesses, and so do different countries and cultures.  

Now as far as the obesity arguments and stuff, I personally am not fat… and I'm offended when people call Americans fat.  We get in trouble when we call individuals "fat"… it's rude.  It may be true, but it's not kind.  Do we pick on, tease and make fun of people in African nations who are skinny… do we call them "bean pole" and "stick men"?  Do we call Asians "shorty"?  No, that would be rude.

Anyways, the point of this posting is to call for a group hug!  I love my country and I feel very grateful and privileged to be able to live here!  That's all I have to say!

Kevin, Seattle, Wash. (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 4:05 PM)

I totally agree with Yo Lu. Unless yo have actually bee to china and have experienced what it is like there, you really have no word. Who cares if fox or cnn says anything about china. I am sure that many of the reporters have been there, but only for a short time to cover the story. Dont base your blogs oon what other people say.

:]]

Paul Stevens, Boise, Idaho (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 4:12 PM)

China is formost one of the oldest and most beautiful cultures in the world. Patience and time for the Chinese is a virtue. The Chinese aesthetic has always turned to the timeless beauty of flowers to express what is good. In china a five pointed star is a symbol for the flower. When the Chinese first saw the Amerian flag. They called it; The flower studded flag people. For this and other positive reasons, beween these two cultures, relations began on a good foot.  And has, no matter what, always been predicated on those first good impressions. Now again we see the Chinese enthusiasm for what is beautiful. By arguing within the terms of present conflict a very imporant historical perpective is being overlooked.  

Kevin Otis (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 4:43 PM)

China no longer has a communist govt. It is a capitalist dictatorship. Why is it we get along with capitalist dictatorships but not socialist ones??

Nick, Alameda, Ca. (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 5:01 PM)

I couldn't help but giggle a little bit while reading these highly amusing comments. I'm a young college student with a full life to live ahead of me, so yes, I am not a wise person. But I do know that I have lived in a dorm in highschool with different cultures, even Chinese. We shouldn't "bash" on other countries, but we should help them find, and/or point out their very obtusive mistakes. Sure Bejing is polluted, I don't need to live there to know that. I would fly there and live there myself if I had money, sadly, my job pays be an "awesome" $5.85 an hour. I agree with fixing our (U.S.) problems first. We have a lot, and some of us don't like to admit it. Despite your wildest beliefs, our media is "controlled" to a certain point, so we don't get all the news that we should. We hear about out the big stuff, like the miners, or a teacher going to space, or the stock market going up and down. When is the last time that you have seen a longer than 5 minute segment of positive news? I think the 1.5 million displacement is truthful. They were tearing down apartment buildings and the such. Many families live together, or so I am told by my classmates. Since it is VERY expensive to rent in big cities, it's cheaper if a whole family lives together. So when you have to build all these new buildings and parking lots and subway lines, w/e for the Olympics, we are talking about a massive chunk of land being bull-dozed. Of course, we don't really hear about where these displaced people went to. Frankly, I could say that most don't care. U.S. or the "West" even, myself included, have this ignorant sense about them. We think we know everything, but do we? I think it's best I don't know everything there is to know. It would create a mass panick, kind of like the anthrax scare did. I believe China has a very sketchy background, however, they are trying to "clean up" which is more that I can say for other countries, including the U.S. We've been in Iraq how long? Lastly, I like being spied on, makes me feel, protected. I know that I am a "clean" citizen, so what do I have to worry about? The only thing that I have against China is their governments cover-up, still today too, of Tiennamen Square, sorry that I spelled that wrong (I think.). Even Google has entered a seperate contract with China to make sure that you can't search the tragedy. It's been a long time since it happened, but if they can't let it go, I won't either.
Our economy is doing rather well too, it's CLEARLY not declining, due to some peoples' comments before. You are getting paid more than your grandfather are you not? Inflation is a problem, if you can fix it, I'm sure there is like a couple hundred thousand economists that would pay you big money to do so. Also, instead of complaining on here, like I am, do also what I do, write to your senator, write to your house rep. write to your government officials if you are in other countries. Heck call them. They listen. College students have the power to rise up and say yes, or no. Adults do too. But if you get a big enough group, anything is possible.
Now for the unthinkable:

God's Blessings to all. :)

Todd, Lincoln, Nebraska (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 6:00 PM)

I'm only 16, and I do not disagree one bit that the United States has MANY problems of it's own that it needs to work out. And I also don't disagree with the fact that China has made huge progress in quite a short time amd does many things much better than the US does.

Yet, I do not think this means that certain aspects of the Chinese government should not be looked at closely and criticized. Just the same way I would (and do) with the United States.

If that report is true, and construction has forced over a million people from their homes, that is very sad for an event that is supposed to bring peace and unity. Nor do I feel the censoring present in the Chinese media is a practice that should be comended. And I do think it is a shame on the Darfur situation, just as I think it's a shame that the US and other nations are sitting back and doing nothing, which I think is just as bad.

What I'm trying to say is, as I see it, I think the comments here have been too black and white. By criticizing certain areas of the Chinese government, that is not saying China is all together bad, nor is it saying that the United States is the holy kingdom of perfection (as it most certainly is not).

Only by dialouge on both and all country's weakness will there ever be a chance to improve any of them.

Just my two cents.

Matt, Green Bay, WI (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 6:01 PM)

This is boloney. The people who run this blog are doing the very thing the Chinese are accused of. That being of censorship. Worse yet, it is selective censorship. It is directing the argument by filters. It is creating a subjective bias or a hidden agenda. It is manipulating truth to creat the sponcers own domain. Perhaps one should take Chinese studies before playing mind games. Do you for instance undertand the concept of patience to a culture that is continues for 2,000 years. Rather this is a clever manipulation to accert one sides dominion.

Truth (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 6:46 PM)

I myself have been to China and my background is from there. Yes, the government is communist and I will not deny that it's not great. However, how much is our "demcratic" government better then that? In a poll, many more citizens from Europe and Japan know that global warming exists, and support trying to do something about it, while less than half of that percentage say the same thing in the US. We are the country which produces the most emissions at the moment. Who are we to complain about others when we, the free people living under democracy, cannot seem to do have mandatory cuts on fossil fuel emissions?

Wendy, New Jersy (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 7:09 PM)

WOW, it's a message board not an english critizing board.  enough with western or eastern views, keep it up and you'll still be using that narrow view.  Get a better sense of the world around you, and don't follow the mass population or else you'll never be an individual.  gook luck overcoming you're mind's narrow focus!

UAR (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 7:57 PM)

I will leave it up to China itself to make my case for it's view of free and open communication.  Go to Google, and do a search for Tiananmen Square.  You will no doubt see thousands of entries on every aspect of the place, including the student riots in 1989.  Now go to the Chinese portal for Google, and do the same search.

Look carefully at that, and then tell me they are anything but an oppressive, controlling regime.

Bob, Seattle, Wash. (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 8:06 PM)

Yes I agree with about half of the above blogs.That America should start dealing with it's own problems and stop blaming China.Because we put the A.Holes in office that took are jobs away.So the big fix is to put pepole who have morals in office not pepole who are interested in their Bank account.All that realy matters is that we Amricans come togethere and get rid of the A.Holes in office and get rid of the lobbist,and start conducting are selfs as Americans instead of blaiming everybody else."WE WILL SOON BE ANOTHERE BANNANA REPUBLIC" if we do not start voting with are brains instead of are hearts.

Frank Marsh (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 8:20 PM)

Those who has never been to China and go on judging will always criticize with no basis. Why? Because they are easily influenced by what the media has to offer and simply believe what they say without finding it out for themselves. China is indeed polluted and they have their own problems. I think Americans should focus on their own problems before focusing on others.

It's interesting how emerging superpowers that are not like American democracy become a target for negative media. Instead of always reading what's bad about a country, maybe you should find out what's good as well?

Jason, New York, NY (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 9:29 PM)

Why is it when ever I read the comments section it always seems to be full of americans deriding other people? In this your freedom of speech? Then you are abusing your freedoms by writing nothing more than badly educated nationalistic drivel that demonstrates the simple fact - that americans do not travel often outside their own borders despite their own self proclaimed wealth to do so - I am ex-american and I glad to get away from all your narrow minded hypocrasies. I embrace China and all other developing nations with open arms - they are not perfect, but then neither is the U.S. - the big difference is that the americans sit back on their fat asses and do nothing that does not make them any fatter, whilst other nations simply get on with another style of life that is NOT interested in america.
A better quality of life CAN be found outside the U.S. and in an increasing number of places... How many more children murdered at U.S. schools today Mr. President?

cibertrix (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 9:38 PM)

As a Chinese who have lived in the states for 7 years, let me share with Americans my perspective on this issue. One reason why so many American are obese is because you are taught to be tolerant of different life styles and to be sensitive about people's weight. As a person with good manners, you don't tell an obese person in her face that she is so fat and thus ugly and she needs to clean all the junk food from her freezer. You know only too well that nobody, even a fat person, likes to be told fat. That's why when a school sends an invitation to an overweight kid to join a weight-loss program, the good will is only to be met with attack from outraged parents. How dare you think our precious child is fat? But honestly, you don't believe that these parents are blind, do you? They know too well that their kid is over-weighted, and they are probably trying to figure out a way to solve this problem. But they don't want unsolitated and condescending advice from you.

Chinese have the similar mindset as those parents with fat kids. We know our problems and we are trying to solve our problems. But we don't need Americans to come and tell us what's better for us. After all, we have survived all the natural disasters and human mistakes and maintained a continuous recorded history of 5000 years. Do you think you know better than us?
No. So stop being so condescending and leave us alone. Learn to treat our current problems with some sensitivity just like how you treat your over-weighted kids.

Sasha, Seattle, Washington (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 10:00 PM)

MSNBC NEWS THIS WEEK U.S.

Parents denied in bid to name newborn son '4Real'

Is this a freedom of speech that foreign countries are supposed to be jealous of? 4Real is not a good name but Billy Jim Bob or Shirline are????

Bridge collapse kills 6
Is this a civil engineering infrastucture to be proud of?

Miners Trapped (yet again)
Not much difference there with other countries that also have questionable safety records

China's air is polluted, yet check the facts - the USA is the most polluting country on the planet, and they are going to bitch about it for the next 20 years before anything gets done about it.

Who here buys a television made in the USA? Why not?

The list can go on, but the point here is that times change, and in some cases such as China's, they change extraordinarily quickly that opinions are out of date even before you have had a chance to consider them. I am fully confident that china will address it's problems quickly and efficiently, something the USA is not doing because it has it's nose in everyone elses business instead of solving it's own problems at home.

cibertrix (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 10:21 PM)

There are pros and cons about every country. And the opinions are as divers as the people are and their experiences. I am fascinated by china and the tremendous economic growth. I actually would love to live and work there. I see it is progressing fast. Good or bad remains to be seen. I guess good for some and bad for others.
What I was always wondering is why people talk about the western world and the eastern world. Doesnt it depend on the perspective? I mean if I was in China and went all the way to the east I would end up in the US or not? So is the US the east of the world? I thought the earth was a globe and if you walk straight in one direction you would get back to the same place. So where does this eastern world western world perspective come from? Food for thought.

Sven (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 10:24 PM)



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