The Beijing Olympics has just concluded!
I was watching more events in its last week, though I wished I watched more in its first week!
Anyways, my commentary on the Olympic controversies!
1) Many have questioned the age of some of the Chinese gymnasts!
For the Olympics, the gymnasts have to be at least 16.
Some of the Chinese gymnasts look younger than that!
Anyways, there's always people who look younger or older than their age!
Some say on this age controversy -- get rid of the age limits!
However, my main concern isn't how old those gymnasts look!
The age limits is supposed to protect younger athletes from over-exerting themselves!
Training for Olympic level competition requires strenuous training!
However, having Olympic level training for children has many negatives!
It takes away their childhood! Children need a more well-rounded experience than just training all day! They need time to explore other things as well, as well as unstructured time!
Also, because they are growing, strenuous training could interfere with their growth and cause joint damage!
2) Spain's basketball team appeared in ad in which they put their fingers near the eyes to make it look as slanted as an average-Chinese person's eyes!
Obviously that caused a racial controversy!
Some pointed out it has offended Asian-Americans more than Asians in Asia!
There's a reason for that!
In China, the Chinese are the majority! They never been a minority in their life, unless they visited foreign lands! They never experienced the stigma of having their accents, names, languages, or eyes mocked!
For Asians living in North America, Europe, Australia or other non-Asian places, that ad with the Spanish basketball team gives them some bad memories!
That ad reminds them of the racist bullies who went up to their face, make fake slant-eye and yell at them in a fake Chinese accent! It reminds them of those who said "go back to China" while pushing them around!
It also reminds some of all those Korean stores burned and Asian drivers attacked by racist mobs during the LA riots in 1992! (which by the way is in the same city as where Spanish basketball player Paul Gasol plays during the NBA season!)
The Spanish basketball team most likely weren't thinking about those things when they made the ad. To them, it's one of those middle-school level, frat boy things that many young males do when visiting their friends house!
However, they're not in middle school anymore, they're adults representing their country in the Olympics!
3) some complained about Jamaican track star Usain Bolt thumping his chest when he crossed the finish-line!
I think those complainers need to lighten up! He wasn't insulting his competitors, he was just happy he won!
4) some feminists complained about women beach volleyball players wearing bikinis whereas men beach volleyball players wore long shorts! Nevermind that many male swimmers/divers/water polo players were wearing nothing but Speedo underwear!
If you dont like looking at any of that, change the station!
5) An Iranian swimmer refused to swim because an Israeli was in the same pool.
Iran & other Muslim countries refuse to compete with Israel due to it's on-going battle with Palestinian militants
This is stupid!
While there are some concerns over human rights in Israel, it pales in comparison over the human rights violations in Iran & other Muslim countries!
We don't see USA athletes avoiding competition with China or Cuba! In fact, we embrace competing with those dictator-run countries!
I think that Iranian swimmer (& other like-minded athletes from Islamic countries) is too chicken to lose to an Israeli! What a coward!
6) the 2010 Winter Olympics is in Vancouver. However, in 2014, it will be in Sochi, Russia. That is very close to the Russian-Georgian border! Very big concerns, as it might be vulnerable to terrorism, as well as controversy over Russia's handling of the Georgian crisis!
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Enough of the controversies for now let's talk of other things
7) The next summer Olympics will be in London in 2012.
Here are some places where I think are possibilities for future Olympics
India -- this past Olympics highlighted China's rise as an economic power. The next most populated country -- India-- is also a rising economic power.
Plus, unlike China, India is a democracy. So it makes it a less controversial choice!
However, India doesn't have a strong sports program like China does.
China's athletic program is state-operated and basically recruits young children to train for various sports, ranging from gymnastics, swimming, track, basketball, table tennis, badminton, etc.
In India, however, most of the athletic focus is on cricket, a sport that isn't featured in the Olympics! The other sports have been basically ignored by Indian society, which is why India falls behind in the medal count, not just behind not just big countries (ie China, USA , Russia, etc), but also smaller countries with strong athletic programs like Jamaica, Kenya, Belarus, Cuba, Netherlands, South Korea and Ethiopia!
However, India's economic growth could possibly fund more athletic programs for children & teens in the future! After all, it wasn't long ago when China & other East Asian countries weren't as strong in the Olympics as they are now!
And bring cricket into the Olympics to give India a chance for Olympic success!
South Africa -- The Olympics has never been held in Africa, though the soccer World Cup will be held in South Africa in 2010! The International Olympic Committee can study how that World Cup is handled, learn from whatever mistakes and success happens there, and use that to plan a future Olympics in South Africa!
A South African Olympics can also bring a great narrative -- a country once oppressed by apartheid becoming a relatively stable democracy and now hosting the biggest stage in world sports!
South Africa has had success in international competitions in swimming, track, marathon, soccer & rugby.
We can add rugby to the Olympics, which could also help the South Pacific countries which also loves rugby
New Zealand -- just imagine if there's rugby in the Olympics, the Olympics held in New Zealand, and the haka being performed in the opening & closing ceremonies as well as before the 1st Olympic rugby match! The first Olympics in Polynesia! That would be something for the ages!
United Arab Emirates (UAE) -- This would be the first in the Muslim world. The UAE is a modernizing country with great facilities. That would be a great Olympic story line -- a land that was just desert, found oil, gotten rich and hosting the Olympics.
However, that would be a controversial choice for an Olympic site! Like China, the UAE is known for human rights violations. There is concerns over immigrant labor being abused, and the UAE is known to be anti-Israel. It is also vulnerable to Islamic terrorism!
So unless the Olympics want to repeat the controversy of Beijing, it might avoid the UAE at this time!
Egypt 0r Turkey -- not as prosperous as the UAE, but their government is not as anti-Isreal, so it's a more suitable site for a 1st Olympics in the Muslim world!
Brazil -- The Olympics already had it's 1st Latin American site in Mexico City in 1968. But never had it appeared in South America! Brazil would be a good place to start!
Indonesia - another possible 1st site in a Muslim country, but not located in the Middle East. Still, a 1st for Southeast Asia!
Monday, August 25, 2008
Obama in Hawaii
A few weeks ago, presidential candidate Barack Obama came to his childhood home of Hawaii for a week-long vacation from his campaign.
He visited his grandmother, his sister, and all the major tourist sites on Oahu!
1) Catherine Toth questioned Obama's "local credentials" in her blog!
In Hawaii, questioning someone's "local credentials" is like saying "you're not one of us"
http://dailydish.honadvblogs.com/2008/08/11/obama-local-%e2%80%94-or-trying-to-be/#comments
It’s not breaking news the U.S. senator — and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee — has Hawai’i ties. He was born at Kapi’olani Medical Center and graduated from Punahou School.
But I’m sure few of us knew about his affection for all things local.
In his 16-minute speech on Friday, he mentioned plans to get a plate lunch, maybe stop by Zippy’s or Rainbow Drive-In, maybe get some shave ice.
He said he wanted to go bodysurfing — then hung out at Lanikai Beach this weekend — and even called his grandma “tutu.”
But would you consider Obama — who didn’t campaign here at all, by the way — “local”?
Sure, he was born here and returned to the Islands to attend Punahou for seven years. But is that enough for Obama to claim Hawai’i as his home?
I did find it interesting that he dropped so many “local-isms” in his speech. Shave ice, Zip Min, tutu, “howzit.” It’s obvious he wanted to relate to his audience. But I doubt he uses these words and phrases in his everyday life.
But what do you think about that? What makes him — or anyone — “local”? And do you think his reference to local foods and places was appropriate? Misleading? Cheesy?
You tell me!
http://kgmb9.com/main/content/view/8965/40/
I know his grandmother lives in Hawai'i, and I know Hawai'i is a state. But it has the look of him going off to some sort of foreign, exotic place."
Roberts went on to say, "He should be in Myrtle Beach if he's going to take a vacation at this time."
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Foreign? While Native Hawaiian activists want Hawaii to be separate from the US, they're only a minority (though a very vocal one) of Hawaii's population!
Those who question Hawaii's "American-ness" needs to understand a few things!
Some of USA's gold medals in the just-completed Olympics came with the help of Hawaii athletes like Brian Clay (decathalon), Natasha Kai (women's soccer), Clay Stanley (men's volleyball) as the silver medal in women's volleyball (with Robyn Ah-Mow-Santos, Heather Bown, Lindsey Berg and Kim Willoughby)
But more importantly, some of the troops who died for the USA in Iraq & Afghanistan (as well as previous wars) come from Hawaii!
If Obama didn't visit his relatives in Hawaii, the news pundit would criticize him for "lacking family values", or "being an angry black man who couldn't get over his racial loneliness growing up in Hawaii" Dammed if you do, Dammed if you don't! Barack Obama did the right thing in vacationing in Hawaii! That's where his family is, that's where he grew up!
The idea that Obama could win a single vote by visiting Myrtle Beach (in South Carolina) is silly! It would only give him an image of elitism, it's located in one of the most conservative states in the USA, and it wouldn't give him a swing vote!
I know, Obama won the Democratic primary in South Carolina! However, that state is dominated by Republicans! Most of the state population is conservative European-Americans, whereas most of Obama's support from that state is from its African-American community. While South Carolina has more African-Americans than most states, they're still outnumbered by very conservative European-Americans!
Obama might have a better chance of winning North Carolina, Virginia, or Georgia! While they're usually Republican states, their liberal population is increasing. And an increased African-American voting turnout would help too! And it wouldn't have mattered if Obama visited Myrtle Beach!
Florida, while a swing state, might fall to McCain. Though that state's Jewish and Cuban population is not as conservative as its European-Americans in the northern areas, they might prefer McCain on foreign policy issues! Though an increased African-American turnout, plus other liberal voters in Miami metro area could help Obama!
He visited his grandmother, his sister, and all the major tourist sites on Oahu!
1) Catherine Toth questioned Obama's "local credentials" in her blog!
In Hawaii, questioning someone's "local credentials" is like saying "you're not one of us"
http://dailydish.honadvblogs.com/2008/08/11/obama-local-%e2%80%94-or-trying-to-be/#comments
It’s not breaking news the U.S. senator — and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee — has Hawai’i ties. He was born at Kapi’olani Medical Center and graduated from Punahou School.
But I’m sure few of us knew about his affection for all things local.
In his 16-minute speech on Friday, he mentioned plans to get a plate lunch, maybe stop by Zippy’s or Rainbow Drive-In, maybe get some shave ice.
He said he wanted to go bodysurfing — then hung out at Lanikai Beach this weekend — and even called his grandma “tutu.”
But would you consider Obama — who didn’t campaign here at all, by the way — “local”?
Sure, he was born here and returned to the Islands to attend Punahou for seven years. But is that enough for Obama to claim Hawai’i as his home?
I did find it interesting that he dropped so many “local-isms” in his speech. Shave ice, Zip Min, tutu, “howzit.” It’s obvious he wanted to relate to his audience. But I doubt he uses these words and phrases in his everyday life.
But what do you think about that? What makes him — or anyone — “local”? And do you think his reference to local foods and places was appropriate? Misleading? Cheesy?
You tell me!
---
Those sentences highlighted in orange obviously questioned Obama's local credentials and are very insulting!
This was my reply to Catherine Toth
---
Let’s think about this scenario — A local Asian or Polynesian grows up in Hawaii, and lives his/her whole adult life on the mainland.
Would that person’s “local credentials” be questioned in the same manner & tone in which Catherine Toth’s questioned Barack Obama’s local credentials?
Look, I’ll withdraw the race card if Ms Toth questions the local credentials of Norm Chow (Punahou grad who has been coaching college & pro football in the mainland for DECADES), Duane Akina (Punahou grad played college footbal @ Washington and coaches @ Texas) and all those other local Asians & Polynesians who left Hawaii after high school and never moved back!
Some say I don’t “look local” ( i’m of Latin American & European ansestry) but I’m born here, I’m more local than most of my high school classmates (McKinley, mostly immigrant school) and I’m a UH grad (making me more local than some local Asians &Polynesians who went to mainland colleges)
------
just to clarify things, I’m NOT putting down non-locals or any racial groups, nor am I questioning the humanity of those who move to the mainland! I’m just pointing a double standard of whose considered “local”, a double standard that is perpetuated by Ms Toth’s blog!
http://kgmb9.com/main/content/view/8965/40/
I know his grandmother lives in Hawai'i, and I know Hawai'i is a state. But it has the look of him going off to some sort of foreign, exotic place."
Roberts went on to say, "He should be in Myrtle Beach if he's going to take a vacation at this time."
---------
Foreign? While Native Hawaiian activists want Hawaii to be separate from the US, they're only a minority (though a very vocal one) of Hawaii's population!
Those who question Hawaii's "American-ness" needs to understand a few things!
Some of USA's gold medals in the just-completed Olympics came with the help of Hawaii athletes like Brian Clay (decathalon), Natasha Kai (women's soccer), Clay Stanley (men's volleyball) as the silver medal in women's volleyball (with Robyn Ah-Mow-Santos, Heather Bown, Lindsey Berg and Kim Willoughby)
But more importantly, some of the troops who died for the USA in Iraq & Afghanistan (as well as previous wars) come from Hawaii!
If Obama didn't visit his relatives in Hawaii, the news pundit would criticize him for "lacking family values", or "being an angry black man who couldn't get over his racial loneliness growing up in Hawaii" Dammed if you do, Dammed if you don't! Barack Obama did the right thing in vacationing in Hawaii! That's where his family is, that's where he grew up!
The idea that Obama could win a single vote by visiting Myrtle Beach (in South Carolina) is silly! It would only give him an image of elitism, it's located in one of the most conservative states in the USA, and it wouldn't give him a swing vote!
I know, Obama won the Democratic primary in South Carolina! However, that state is dominated by Republicans! Most of the state population is conservative European-Americans, whereas most of Obama's support from that state is from its African-American community. While South Carolina has more African-Americans than most states, they're still outnumbered by very conservative European-Americans!
Obama might have a better chance of winning North Carolina, Virginia, or Georgia! While they're usually Republican states, their liberal population is increasing. And an increased African-American voting turnout would help too! And it wouldn't have mattered if Obama visited Myrtle Beach!
Florida, while a swing state, might fall to McCain. Though that state's Jewish and Cuban population is not as conservative as its European-Americans in the northern areas, they might prefer McCain on foreign policy issues! Though an increased African-American turnout, plus other liberal voters in Miami metro area could help Obama!
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