Well, So Bleeding What!!

China is trying very hard to bask in the glory it sought, in hosting the Beijing Olympics. Incredible; $40-billion smackeroos; just trying to visualize all that money invested in such a national conceit - it's mind-boggling. Of course, China has an immense economy, and it's continuing to grow.

It's middle-class is burgeoning, and it has accomplished much in its advance toward material entitlements for its vast population. The country has fast-tracked itself to economic success and is taking its place as a world power. National pride evidences itself also in its ability to select and burnish natural athletic talents.

It's been able to stage a world-class event, much anticipated internationally, despite grudging acknowledgement that even if the Chinese politboro doesn't deserve this opportunity to shine and demonstrate for the world what China has accomplished, its people do.

Their pride in themselves, in their country, for all the complaints from international communities that their country doesn't quite equate with standards and values upheld elsewhere for human rights, is understandable. And truth is, they've plenty to be proud of.

This is a country with a profound and ancient past. Its culture, arts and traditions have nothing at all to ask forgiveness for. That the huge, unwieldy conglomeration that became unified China was a monstrously difficult entity to administer, to haul into modernity, to advance the lives of its billion-plus population is beyond contention.

That its sternly Marxist totalitarian ethos that sacrificed so many of its traditions and people, is a living reminder of human vulnerability and imperfection is also beyond dispute. Great strides have been made in China's great leap forward. Apart from the appalling sacrifices foisted on the population.

What, after all, is the loss of several million people, when the country has so many more to fill in the gaps? Having said which, errors in judgement are made, and life goes on. China is proud and anxious for validation of her more current, more judiciously appropriate undertakings. Minus those little problems linked to matters best left unnoticed.

So, the big show is on, and the enraptured world is entranced by the nightly entertainment. Oh sure, there are those grumpy reviewers who have taken full note of some irregularities.

That in her great anxiety to shine before the gaze of the world, China has indulged in a few little tricks of the entertainment trade. If Hollywood can do it, why not China? Bid deal, the fireworks were digitally enhanced for electronic transmission. They were magnificent nonetheless. What other country could assemble tens of thousands of entertainers so impeccably synchronized?

So what if the proudly "sold-out" seats are anything but, staffed to save face by "volunteer" seat-warmers. And all right, it's been done before; one cute little girl's visage exchanged for the exquisitely perfect one of another, while the former child's miraculous voice at the opening ceremonies entertained, and the latter child's mouth lip-synchronized the words. All is forgiven.

Well, not quite all. There's the little matter of officialdom and police presence, and military presence muting even minute observations that can be construed as critical of their hosts.

Although it's impolite to criticize one's host; very bad manners indeed. On the other hand, for the hosts to physically manhandle those whom it suspects of undermining the genuine appeal of its world-class product, that's fairly unspeakably poor behaviour on the part of a host.

Which makes things kind of even, right?