gee, i didn't see that coming

Today’s daily zeitgeist snapshot: Olympic torch protests chagrin many Chinese-Americans and Olympic Officials May Reconsider Torch Relay.

From the NYT:

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind trailer

Chinese officials had originally hoped that the torch relay would serve to highlight China’s triumphal emergence as a global power. But it has turned into a high-profile venue for protesters angry over the Chinese crackdown in Tibet, intolerance for political dissent, environmental degradation and other issues.

Dear China, are you really surprised that the rest of the world might be slightly annoyed at your international behavior? No one likes a bully; take a lesson from America. While the Chinese leadership may be ecstatic to “emerge as a global power”, it’s not something the rest of the world is overjoyed about. Of course they’re going to live with the reality, but it doesn’t mean they have to give you hugs and kisses along the way.

As for the CSM article, this quote is indicative…

“We are disappointed that some politicians and interest groups are threatening to stage protests and ruin the Games, for the sake of bad-mouthing and insulting China,” she [Betty Yuan] said in a statement in Chinese she released as head of the Northern California Chinese Culture-Athletic Federation.

“Only time and mutual understanding can bridge the gap among Chinese from different parts of the world,” she says. “The bottom line is, you can have your own opinion [about the Games], but don’t endanger the safety of others.”

There’s actually a bit of wisdom in that second thought there, but equating protesting with endangering safety is a signal that maybe you just don’t quite get what “freedom of speech” means.

For my part, I have never cared that much about the Olympics in general, so I can’t say I’m terribly worked up about the current brouhahas. As a Chinese-American — a uniquely different breed from the Chinese diaspora — I get to pick and choose the best parts of each culture. Thus, believing that the Chinese government is getting its due comeuppance and simultaneously expressing concern that global protesters may not be able to separate political protest from racism and xenophobia is not cognitive dissonance.

These are the sorts of thoughts engendered in one raised in the crucible of America’s melting pot.