One World, One Dream Extreme Nationalism

Trip Start Feb 25, 2006
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Trip End Jun 24, 2009


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Where I stayed
Erica's Apartment
(Beijing hotels)

Flag of China  ,
Sunday, August 24, 2008

The theme for this Olympics is One World... One Dream... It's ironic that never in the history of peace time has there been a greater sense of extreme nationalism than the Olympic Games. People are dressed in the colors of their nations exuding a national pride that you wouldn't see anywhere else. You can't miss the Dutch in their bright Orange outfits. It's hard to distinguish the Brazilians and the Aussies as they wear the exact same colors even though Australia's flag is red, white and blue. I on the other hand tried to stick to the dream of One World. Although, I couldn't help feeling a bit of nationalistic pride when the American women won the football match even after being completely out played by the Brazilians for the first 2 halves of the game. I've never seen silver medalists look as sad and dejected as the Brazilian squad. I was also quite happy when the Canadians finally won gold in the Equestrian Arts. We'll show the world when Vancouver rolls around in 2010 for the Winter Olympics. I even felt a strange tinge of pride when a Thai boxer crushed his opponent in the boxing match I went to see.

If you heard Sarah Brightman's voice belting out mostly unintelligible lyrics in both English and Chinese during the opening ceremony, don't worry, you're not alone. I couldn't tell if she was singing in any language much less English or Chinese. But, it was this idealism that she was singing about. "You and me, from one world, we are family... I just kept thinking, you mean all my brothers, sisters and me? It took me forever to figure out what the heck she was singing and didn't figure it out until I saw subtitles. I'm just glad that England didn't get her to sing Whole Lotta Love at the closing ceremonies too. If Robert Plant were dead, he'd be rolling in his grave.

Sorry, I think that makes one too many posts on the Olympic Games.
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