INTRODUCTION
At a time when Spain defeated Lithuania and the United States of America defeated Argentina in Olympic Basketball, the days are counting slowly towards the end of the Beijing Olympics of 2008. My feelings about the last days of the Olympics are one of profound sadness and fear. I feel sad that one of the greatest Olympics of the 21st Century is coming to an end. I am also afraid that people will forget about what it means to win with dignity, friendship, and love. I am also afraid that people [or at least the majority] will return to the ways of hatred, fear, and holding grudges that has destroyed the world many times over. The same raw emotion I feel today were the same that I felt in my last days, hours, and minutes in the People’s Republic of China. I would like to further elaborate about my feelings.
I. LAST DAYS IN CHINA
After Qingdao, I returned to Beijing and made preparations for the return to the United States of America. It was a thrill and emotional moment to be able to visit the CRI [China Radio International] Building and see the many displays from listeners around the world. It was also an honour and an emotional moment talking with the staff of CRI English [who are my family in China]. The conversation of sports, music, and family dominated the beautiful time spent. I left the CRI Building with happiness since I met the nice people at CRI and with sadness [my heart was crying since China and CRI left an impression that will always be with me].
I will never forget the dinner for the CRI Listeners with their interpreters held in one of the salons of the China People’s Palace Hotel. We vowed [even with tears in our eyes and hearts] that we will forever remain in touch. The people exchanged E Mails, Business Cards, gifts, and promises. We talked about how we will be received by family and friends. I had my fear that the prizes of the vase, stamps, and beer bottle from Tsingtao Beer would be confiscated by the US Customs Authorities. [In reality, they were not confiscated since the US Customs Officials in Chicago wanted to process everyone and go home early].
My last minutes in China was departing from the China People’s Palace with a heavy heart and proceed with Gao Huiying [my translator] and her husband to visit the palace of the Panchen Lama in Beijing and to visit another restaurant. Gao Huiying, her husband, and the chauffeur were very nice to me. I was able to appreciate what is the real culture of the Tibetan Autonomous Region instead of the artificial one created by Hollywood. During lunchtime, I was able to see a family celebrating the 60th Birthday of one of their relatives. I was touched since in the West, many people who are 60 years old do not get a decent birthday celebration. Gao Huiying’s husband told me about the celebration and my reply was I had fourteen more years to go.
Gao Huiying and her husband told me how the elders are respected in China. They also stated that I need not worry; I am respected in China and by my family in America. After lunch, my heart was still heavy when I arrived at the airport and said goodbye to Gao Huiying, her husband, and the chauffeur. I was sad that I had to leave China and yet fearful of what would happen in America.
Before leaving, Gao Huiying, her husband, and the chauffeur told me to never allow fear to conquer my heart. After clearing customs and boarding the plane, my heart cried but the words of Gao Huiying, her husband, the chauffeur, and CRI [to believe in myself] helped me through the flight and afterwards.
It is this same emotion that I feel as the Beijing Olympics are drawing to a close.
I learned from CRI English and from listening to and watching the Beijing Olympics 2008 on CRI and CCTV [China Central Television] that in order to win, a person has to win with dignity. The way to win with dignity is to treat the defeated with respect and dignity they deserve.
II. NEGATIVE PEOPLE
The negative people [which include those in the profession of mass media] were humiliated in the Beijing Olympics 2008. Regardless, the negative people refused to give up on their attempts to sabotage the Beijing Olympics with stories such as “Whether the Chinese Athletes was underage” and “The Lip Synching”. I had to respond to these lies with my articles especially when Jessica Simpson and other Western Artists use lip synching when presenting their new recordings to the general public. When writing to respond to these lies during the Beijing Olympics, I used diplomacy. One of these people was a certain Mr. Reynolds of the BBC [British Broadcasting Corporation] Beijing Bureau who wrote about the “Insecurity of China”. I have here my response to his last minute tirade against the Beijing Olympics and China:
Dear Mr. Reynolds:
China does not have a victim mentality. They usually remember their history so that it cannot be repeated. The people of China also remember their history since they believe that in order to go forward, one has to remember the past.
If there is anything that has to change is the mentality of the West. The West has to stop judging people on the exterior and accept them for what they are. The People’s Republic of China has accepted people for what they are on the inside and outside. The people of China have also a sense of decency, morality, and fair play which is nonexistent in the West [including my own country the USA]. The people of China also believe that with freedom there has to be responsibility and that marriage is a sacred union between man and woman [This last sentence was censored by the Western Press because according to them, marriage has different definitions].
The Western World [especially the USA] does not remember its history [except for the minorities] and there is the possibility that the Western World may repeat the errors [decadence, materialism, hatred, and aberrations] that lead to the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 AD.
China will be secure in itself and it will not conquer the world. The Western World should learn from China in how to be decent and gracious in sports as well as life.
I also have a message for US Latin Singer and Actress Jennifer Lopez for her comments that belittled the accomplishments of Michael Phelps. For Jennifer Lopez, the accomplishments of Michael Phelps surpassed any accomplishments that you made in your career. Michael Phelps was able to surpass insurmountable odds and was able to accomplish a lot. For Jennifer Lopez [without belittling your accomplishments], Michael Phelps has class and dignity.
III. THE CLOSING CEREMONIES
After seeing the United States Basketball Team defeat Spain and receive the gold medal, I heard the special closing ceremony of the Summer Olympics in Beijing 2008 on CRI English. I was able to appreciate the dances, the fireworks, and the people saying hello and good bye to each other. I also saw how the Olympic Flame was extinguished with the Olympic Regalia passed onto London. My response has been one of sadness. It is the first time in my life that a closing ceremony of the Olympics has left the emotions of sadness and a heavy heart. I also have the profound fear in my heart and soul that people will forget the lessons learned and ask the people to think of the Beijing Olympics 2008 with its slogan of One People One World.
The Dancing and the Acrobatics was excellent and the Fireworks were exciting. Regardless, I have had to reconcile my sadness and fear with the fact that the games are over. Many people in America did not want the game to end because they do not want to see the so called political conventions of two parties that offer nothing but empty promises. The singing also left a state of more sadness because the Beijing Olympics 2008 WAS THE OLYMPIC GAME OF THE 21ST CENTURY.
As I am witnessing the Closing Ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics 2008, I am often thinking of the greatest moments in time. I will never forget how Michael Phelps won his eight gold medals and was able to match and maybe surpass. I will never forget how Togo won its first Olympic Medal in Kayaking. I will never forget the accomplishments of China in its victories. The songs dedicated to the Beijing Olympics 2008 have been composed and recorded from the heart and soul. My heart and soul are still in an emotional state since I have the profound sadness in my heart.
V. CONCLUSION
The Beijing Olympics of 2008 was a historical occasion which has seen people rise to be what they want to be. The world was a witness to the historical pursuits of Michael Phelps and his record breaking victories, the Republic of Togo winning its first bronze medal in kayak, and Latvia winning its first gold medal.
Personally, I think the Beijing Olympics has been a success for the People’s Republic of China. In spite of the attempts of the negative people to use the age factor, lip sync factor, and pollution; the Beijing Olympics have seen people feel good about themselves. This was the game where people felt like family and poor sportsmanship was not tolerated. I saw this during my trip to the People’s Republic of China in June/July 2008. I will be missing the talk of family and friendship after the Olympics. I challenge people to feel good about every day. I also challenge the governments of the world to stop funding wars and start funding athletes.
I would also like to issue a challenge to the Government of the United States of America [I am a US Citizen] to withdraw their tanks and instruments of war and replace them with funding for the US Olympic Team as well as other Sport Associations.
I have decided to maintain the spirit of the Beijing Olympics 2008 in my heart and soul with the friendships forged in the People’s Republic of China with the different representatives of different countries and services of CRI English. I have also decided to spread the goodwill to the rest of the world if only to promote the notion of world peace through sports.
Thank You People’s Republic of China for hosting what was the most historical sports occasion of the world.
