It's Friday. Don't the Olympic Games kick off today? I found a picture of the opening ceremony. It's good they got a bright sunny day, and obviously they've now got the smog under control. About 90% of the athletes have tested positive for high levels of chemicals, but it turned out to be pollutants from the surrounding city. They are allowed to compete, if they recover in time.
Stop by and drop a comment. But before you read on, warning - this 5 minute brain dump may be far too contemplative for a Friday of idle chit chat. Read it at your peril. Or are you yellow?
Many people are already over the Olympics. Part of the problem is that China wanted to use them as an entree into the Western World as a new, improved, re-marketed, re-branded and re-modeled country. In many ways they are, and China is a country full of promise and potential and it's impact on the world stage in the next 50 years is perhaps going to be bigger than we can imagine. However, China has one major problem, as far as the western world is concerned. I think this stems not so much from it's political history, but it's culture.
We view China through very western eyes, our brains interpreting things in very western ways. Thus, our criticisms are often very harsh and somewhat unjust (in my humble opinion). That is not to say they are not without foundation, but we make our judgments on the basis that we are absolutely right. Our own history, built on the development of Christian ideals has been tested and battle tested and our economic superiority has allowed us to feel confident our moral superiority is justified.
But as time goes on, we are losing the economic battle and the moral one. Our society is in decay. Our values and traditions have been attacked and eroded, and as society continues to change and evolve, more and more people are questioning if these changes are a good thing. Have we peaked and don't see the inevitable decline if we remain on this course?
Interestingly, China which its own distinct and rich culture is also changing, but the potential is to bring about a synthesis of the best from the west tempered by the wisdom of the east. Christianity is a fast growing religion in China, and as China grows to embrace the values of the West, we may see them in the position where they can use their new economic might to ensure they reject the materialistic excesses of the west, and absorb the spiritual values we demand they adopt. Soon, they will be able to judge us, and will they say "hypocrites"?