Brits/Beijing Closing Ceremony???

If Zimbabwe and belarus give out bids which are deemed to offer the best by the Olympic Committee then yes they certainly should host it. Its unlikely that they could give out such bids but they should be allowed to do bid if they want. You seem to have a very narrow and strange view of what is "free".  Apparently only nations who follow a certain form of government are free.

Originally posted by Sparten You seem to have a very narrow and strange view of what is "free".

Originally posted by Act of Oblivion Originally posted by Justinian I was not overly impressed with the british display during the closing ceremonies, ecstasy turning to horror; watching Jimmy Page perform, but having to listen to some pop "star" I've never heard of sing along.  The double decker bus was a great idea, but the actors walking up a stairway to nowhere, (now that could have had potential to seque into a certain rock song, but 'twas not to be) .......... It was amusing to see the london mayor up there looking casual and somewhat nervous, I rather liked that to be honest, made him seem less like a crotchety, uptight suit; (which is the impression I get from most of these officials involved with the olympics) he showed some emotion.      .....Now that would have been superb if 'Stairway to Heaven' was given a good airing Justinian!!!!!..... with rumours abound that Pagey, John Paul Jones plus 'a drummer' are back in the recording studio, and if Percy Plant hops back on board, then 2012 could see an (almost) full-blown reuinion gig by Led Zeppelin to open the games!!!!...mind you, by then i a sure that the band will have to be carried out on stage to play.....   ..i have to agree with you about bumbling Boris, he is less uptight and more casual, and i do like that.....however, the stifling and crippling polictical correctness currently breeding out of control in Britain will ensure that Boris will put his foot in his mouth on the odd occasion, and good for him too....i also wonder how much of a 'physical' spectacle Britain will be allowed to show given the current reign of the 'health and safety' overlords???....you would not believe the kind of sanctioned stupidity that is enforced nowadays by these closeted, narrow-minded, blinkered local council officials........   ..still, enough moaning, i will be looking forward to Boris and his cabaret act sometime in the near future.....   ..thanks for your post......AoO...

Originally posted by Omar al Hashim Mate you should look after your own backyard before you pick on China's. I could stand here and list a whole list of grievances and human-rights abuses from Germany as well, but I know that you won't agree with them, and nor will you consider them to be human rights abuses.

Where are those snowy-highlands? On the moon? You're right, there were injuries mentioned in a human rights report. With some I go ahead, with others not. But they are discussed in Germany, here are so many movements that deal with those problems, nobody is arrested for the report, nobody tortured or killed. Do you want to tell me that's the way it is in China. I heard they had a bureau of comlaints opened in Beijing, all citizens that went it to tell their complaints were arrested immediately. Well done, wasn't it?

Edited by beorna - 30-Aug-2008 at 19:09

OK, all is western propaganda against China.

You're right. The communists led China into the modern era. The age of the chineses emperors wasn't lovely for a great mass of people. I am convinced they changed the emporor against a red emperor, like the Russians changed the Zar against a red Zar. Look what Stalin has done. He brought Russia into the modern time too like Mao and friends. I am sure you believe everything was good in Russia under Stalin and that he was a honorable man. His glory is fading away since the 50th. And Mao's star is declining too. Perhaps you notice it.

I did, thank you. So let's hope all states will take china as ideal. f**k off human rights, free press and all this fuss.  

Originally posted by Omar al Hashim I'll say it again. The Chinese Communist party has done a damn good job, and I would much rather live there than Germany.

   Ok guys I think it's time I as a Chinese have to step in.
 I used to be a staunch anti-communist when I was younger. My family suffered under their rule during the 50's and 60's. My grandfather hated them, my father hated them, I hated them. Around 2001, someone gave us a a calender for the new year, and it was the portrait of Mao on the first page. As soon as my grandmother saw it she started swearing. And she never swears.
 
   But in the past ten years, my dad's views have changed, judging from some of the converstations we've had, and so have mine. The CCP from Deng Xiaping onwards is completely different from what it used to be. Surely it can't be that different, a typical Westerner would say, when you have the Tiananmen Square incident and the situation in Tibet. But that's only because they only care about human rights and freedom and their obsession with their concept of democracy. From what I've read in the majority of the posts here, nobody seems to care about the amazing progress China made in the past 30 years of economic reform, where the living standards of the average Chinese people have increased so dramatically, that every time I visit China, I am surprised by what I see. And all this is possible because of the vision and perseverance of Deng Xiaoping and his successors. Give the CCP some credit where it's due. My dad can, I can, and so can you. I'm sure the CCP would've redeemed itself in my  grandfather's eyes too, if he'd been alive today. Shame he can't see the Motherland of today.

   And I reiterate what Omar said, the CCP has done a damn good job over the past 30 years.


Edited by babyblue - 31-Aug-2008 at 03:24

Is there another Germany?

Babyblue, I think nobody disagrees that China is in a change. But not every change is a good one. Of course there is a economical wonder. But with what results for a broad mass of people? The chinese economical behavior is not those of communists but of neo-capitalists. There are a lot losers. Of course every economical system has its, but I think China has to do a lot in the future to stop this development. And if you believe I just critsize just China or Russia, no, the developement in Germany in the moment isn't good yet, as well. I critisize it too. But not to notice the political situation in China, all those points according to human rights, is for me hard to understand.