Bengfort.com

As the camera panned from the waving athletes parading their colors at the Olympic Open Ceremony to their respective nation’s leaders sitting in the stands, it was clear that the joy of one world coming together and engaging in friendly competition was not a sentiment equally shared by the world’s top leaders, at least according to their facial expressions.

As the camera panned from the waving athletes parading their colors at the Olympic Open Ceremony to their respective nation’s leaders sitting in the stands, it was clear that the joy of one world coming together and engaging in friendly competition was not a sentiment equally shared by the world’s top leaders, at least according to their facial expressions.
When the British team entered the stadium, the camera shot to Gordon Brown, who smiled reservedly and waved. President Bush and wife gave their classic, well-rehearsed wave and bemused smile that they display at every public event, which at least imparted a small sense of enthusiasm and joy of attendance. Russia’s Vladimir Putin didn’t even crack a smile when his compatriots paraded in, and instead remained rather grim, as did the elderly Chinese woman sitting by his side (Who was she?) But his grimness was no match for the Chinese statesmen, who despite all the hype, media attention, BILLIONS of dollars spent, countless international battles to save the “face of the nation,” extraordinary economic policies and pollution measures, and 7 -count them, 7- years of waiting, their faces did not show the slightest trace of pride, joy or enthusiasm. Instead, they were stoic, blank, even hostile looking, as they watched, as we Americans joked, for any one of the thousands of performers to mess up and then order him jailed for “subverting state power.”
I guess the Chinese government has always been above the law it dictates and the slogans it spews, including the sartorial slogan, “Volunteer’s Smile, Beijing’s Image.” I guess in it’s efforts to clean up Beijing’s “image,” the Capital Spiritual Civilization Construction Commission missed the country’s leaders. Hu was not smiling, and was probably even wearing white socks with black shoes (gasp! what an uncivilized country this is!).
However, in truth Hu’s dour face was an anomaly amongst the super excited Chinese people within the stands and out on the streets of Beijing. In the two hours leading up to 8:08 on 8/08/08, even babies were proudly displaying their Olympic spirit with flags stuck into their hats, in their pockets, taped onto their shirts, and fake tatooed on their faces. Having had the day off, the atmosphere reflected that of a holiday. It was like Christmas. We even began shouting “Happy Olympics!”

(奥运节快乐！）with the same cheer as one would say Merry Christmas or Happy Birthday. The volunteers and even the policemen were in a good mood. Earlier that day I even had a nice chat with a policeman and helped him help lost foreign tourists. Everyone, except Hu, was in a good mood and showed it openly.
Even the goverenment’s idiocy in closing off an entire ring road (way to convenience your citizens and tourists there government) was not enough to really dampen our mood in the beginning. It was hot and we walked 1 mile to our destination after the subway could only take us so far. However, we finally got to the Emperor Hotel and sat on the roof of Yin bar, drinking free champagne as we watched the first half of the Opening Ceremony. The ceremony was truly incredible. Zhang Yimou does know how to put on a good show, although it is interesting to note that many of his films are banned by the government, and now he is a tool of the state. I guess times change.
Many more Olympic posts to follow!