Will Beijing 2008 be flawed?

The Olympic Games is no longer the same as before....

Due to current events in France, where people protest and "fly" high Tibetan, Olympic "handcuff" rings and its "Free Tibet", makes me wonder if Beijing 2008 is "cursed" by the year of the Rat? I don't know about you, but I think the Tibetans, human right groups, Reporters Without Borders etc has been waiting for this perfect timing; to protest or shall we say voice out their unhappiness towards China.

Let me 1st clarify that I in no way support these protests, any Free Tibet movement nor the Chinese government. The irony is I'm born Chinese!! Thank goodness I'm born in Malaysia!! muahahahaha.....

First of all there's always two sides of a story. For the Chinese side, they say that they are modernising Tibet. China has always "owned" Tibet it seems, dating from the Ching Dynasty (or was it beyond?!) . But it was during the Chinese Communist - led by Chairman Mao, that really took over Tibet in 1950s. Now during those times, land and economic reforms has to be done in order to free Tibetans from slavery and serfdom. Then came the Cultural Revolution, whereby Buddhist heritage has to be vandalised in order to free Tibetans from tides of beliefs. So all in all, can say that the Chinese claim to save or improve Tibetans from its pre-1950s feudalism-lar!

But from what I've seen (documentary on TV) and heard (from Chinese and Tibetan friends), they are merely tearing down old (and mostly traditional/monumental) buildings and make new ones, which is a a shame for tourists and future generations. Then they "move" Chinese people into Tibet to make sure that Tibetans "turn towards" the Chinese way of living, which is also a shame because Tibetans way of life and its culture being "washed off" from its people. Yes, there's Tibetan monks but they are sent in by the Chinese government, (so can say that they are NOT THE REAL monks) to make sure that the REAL monks don't plan or have any ideas about bringing in the Dalai Lama, free Tibet or revolt against the government. Can say that they are spy-lar! ;)

So enough about Tibet and Chinese history/feud etc. The point is, they get what they've asked for - what goes around comes around. The Chinese governement has long being known to oppress the rights of Tibetans and its fellow countrymen. Its widely known. So now Tibetans say that its not independance from China that they want but just to restore their rights for preserving religious beliefs and their way of life. I don't know if its going to happen with protests and boycott held before, during and after the Beijing Olympic 2008.

The Olympic Games , its torch, emblem and olive branch is symbols of hope and peace.

"The flame symbolizes the purity which embodies the eternal youth of the Olympic philosophy. The universal symbol of the flame would lead all competitors to understand that it is necessary to work towards the lasting unity of mankind."

On the reasons why this Tibet issue is so widely supported, got publicity from inside and outside mar! Well let's face it, China is well known to throw its fellow countrymen from all walks of life; journalist, bloggers, farmers etc, into prisons or forced labour if and when they get fresh with the idea of exposing the injustice done to them or others. Remember Tiananmen Square bloodshed so many years ago? Its own citizens exposes it to the Western media while seeking refuge or are exiled there. There's so many books written on the subject of Chinese government injustice so on and so forth.

Has anyone seen how the Torch rely was handled in London and Paris? Well it was A MESS!! Chinese Olympic officials and other authorities are running the show like chicken without head. And yet they have to guts to say its the other authorities that is not well manned. But if this were to happened in China (or will it ever?), people will be thrown to jail or beaten to death. And it won't be made known also-ler!! Much like Malaysia imposing the ISA-lar.... Siapa tau?!? Siapa cakap kena mar! Mental note: better stop talking about M'sian gov. Otherwise kena ISA-ler! MATI liow.... :p

Yes, I agree that the protesters are opportunist and Tibetans are spreading propaganda, and trying to "smear and ridicule a country that will one day replace the Americans as the economic powerhouse". Let's face it, how come Aborigines in Australia (Sydney 2000) didn't protest? How many layman in western countries know about it? How about the FARC in Colombia? The Moro Liberation Front in Philippines-ler? How about the south of Thailand issues? The point is simple; no media coverage mar! Even if there is, will it be as interesting as China/Tibet issue? And besides, I don't think the Olympic Committee will ever vote for Indonesia, Thailand or any other SEA, Latin America (besides Mexico), Middle East, East Europe and central Asia countries for the games. Although I hope and wish they would consider us, but to them perhaps we're not as rich, as powerful, as democratic (in their terms) or even as developed as they are. Ever heard of India or even South Africa hosting the games? What about Brazil? Talking about "mixing a cocktail" of political and socio-economic with the "spirit of athletism", as the Chinese would say. By the way, China was criticised as well for their part in business dealings in Sudan (remember Darfur?), for the imprisonment of journalists (local and foreign) and perhaps the sudden death of a blogger (may be?). So its not only the Tibet issue.

The point is, even the International Olympic Committee practice double standards, taking bribes etc. The modern area of the Olympic Games seems to me no longer hold true to what it was eons ago. It has some what "lost" its meaning further with these protests, having barricades/enforcement people to block supporters/on lookers cheering on the Torch runners, Olympic officials changing the routes at the very last minute or switching "on/off" the Torch flame, the torch "running" in a bus (really ridiculous!) etc. From what I see now, even the rely has been flawed, I don't dare to say what's going to happen during the games itself. Anything could happen, no? We'll just have to wait and see then.