Running and Pushing Yourself - Finding That Half Marathon Motivation
In case you Google "China" or "Olympics" on any given day in recent months, with the exception of the few weeks Shanghai Marathon was laid low with lethal earthquakes, you'll be overwhelmed by the shower of adverse protection from the mainstream Western media in opposition to China and its hosting of 2008 Beijing Olympics.For months main as much as the Beijing Video games, China has been put beneath the Western microscope with accusations and complaints towards the nation and its authorities sweeping across all terrains, from large political points such as Tibet, human rights, protest rights, press and non secular freedom; to social problems together with air air pollution, authorities relocation of Beijing residents; to conspiracy tales about special visible results of the opening ceremony and extremely performance of Chinese athletes; and to more trivial displeasures about dropping a pair of high-priced sunglasses, difficulties to entry Olympic Green, English standard of volunteers, and over-eagerness of residents to assist the foreigner visitors. The listing goes on and on.
As if that's not sufficient, an NBC correspondent went on a dwell TELEVISION hunt for Chinese meals in Beijing. Let's check out what she discovered: giant scorpions, lizards, silk worms, seahorses, iguana tails and dung beetles. Other Western reportors also cited rabbit head, pig brain and animal penis. Being a local of Beijing with 20 plus years of dwelling there and a meals lover myself, I have little information the place to look for these unique things, to not point out ever consuming them. Come on, China has a civilization of 5,000 years - Western reporters can't be critically fascinated with portraying the Chinese language as barbaric aboriginals or man-consuming cannibals, right?In truth, Dave Barry of Miami Herald admitted to a blog "beijingboyce.com" that "The Chinese language people I noticed all gave the impression to be buying things like lamb kebabs and fruit. Then again, the people gathered across the centipedes and scorpions on a stick had been, in virtually each case, vacationers or American TELEVISION reporters doing fun features on weird Chinese meals.... The Chinese don't eat scorpions. They feed their scorpions to TELEVISION reporters. I would not be shocked to learn that the Chinese phrase for scorpion is "TELEVISION reporter food."
2016 TCS New York City Marathon runners from China from runbuk on Vimeo.
Granted, China is just not completely harmless from lots of the aforementioned allegations and criticisms, but it's neither an evil host which deserves no credit in any respect. As the world's fastest rising economic system and one of many world's most historical civilizations, there has received to be something optimistic to report on.You will be easily annoyed, however, if you are looking to read one thing more positive or, at the least, constructive concerning the nation and its hospitable folks. Certain, there is at all times the official Xinhua News or China Day by day one can read for a change, but any reward from self-proclaimed impartial and objective mainstream Western media is surprisingly onerous to return by.
Meanwhile, for average Westerners, it is hard not to be misled by the drowning adverse coverage on China. A homemaker within the US told reporters that she doesn't need to "legitimize the Chinese language government" by supporting the Beijing Olympics." Did not President Bush just open a bigger US Embassy there? What are we talking about right here exactly? I'm as puzzled as an Atlanta man who demanded an online reply for not seeing Russian tanks there.As much as I disagree with President George W. Bush on many things, I've to applaud his recent TELEVISION interview in Beijing with NBC by which he careworn that the US and China as two very totally different international locations and cultures are sure to have agreements and disagreements on a spread of things, but it is important to have a constructive relationship which can help one another communicate disagreements.
Wow, how I want that he had possessed this knowledge earlier than starting the Iraq battle - lives of estimated 1.2 million Iraqis and 5,000 US troopers may have been saved.Ought to the 2008 Olympics be awarded to Beijing in the first place?
Although the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games is arising in a matter of few days, the arguments surrounding if IOC had made a mistake in letting China host the 2008 Olympics and if China had fulfilled its related guarantees seem to have simply began.Why pick a heavily-polluted nation that is dictated by "free market Stalinists" which suppresses human rights, religion and press? China broke its promises to IOC for all of those areas, charges the mainstream Western media.
Nevertheless, based on the IOC, its mission is "to construct a peaceable and better world within the Olympic Spirit which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and truthful play - Olympic Spirit strives to inspire and encourage the youth of the world to be the very best they are often via academic and entertaining interactive challenges. Olympic Spirit seeks to instill and develop the values and ideals of Olympism in those that go to and to advertise tolerance and understanding in these increasingly troubled time through which we dwell, to make our world a more peaceable place."Does China deserve to be awarded the internet hosting right of Olympics? Apparently, the Chinese language people mentioned a loud "sure". The whole world witnessed how a lot grass-root assist China obtained from its people when it utilized for and won the internet hosting right of the occasion.
As a country with a couple of fifth of the world's inhabitants - ought to it not be given an opportunity to host one of the many games? With 1.three billion folks not represented, can any Olympic Video games really promote its mission of "building a peaceful and higher world with mutual understanding"? That is why the IOC made its decision and it is undoubtedly a correct one.By comparison, I have severe doubts if the mainstream Western media actually understands and honors the spirit of Olympics - questioning China's legitimacy to host such a global occasion only offers away its vanity, self-righteousness, entitlement and cultural supremacy in worldwide affairs.
If the mainstream Western media is still the true believer of human rights and continues to uphold the common belief that "all men are created equal", it should acknowledge the birthright of any nation including China, for hosting the Olympic Games.While China needs enhancements in lots of areas as each different country on this earth does, the modifications and progresses made by the country in the past 30 years are unmatched within the its personal historical past, which cannot be hidden from view by the mainstream Western media.
China shouldn't be forced to make any concessions or promises to any interest teams to be able to be "bestowed" the internet hosting right of Olympics, because of the downfall of colonialism and imperialism! The nation's pursuit of reform in all home political and social-financial fronts, including however not restricted to human rights and freedoms of its people, can and will solely be driven by wishes of its personal people, quite than being imposed on by exterior forces.Along with disputing China's internet hosting rights, the mainstream Western media also has aired many conspiracies about China's intention for hosting the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Show of power? Self-interiority? Selling China's improvement path to switch the US mannequin? Bla, bla, bla....
We all are humans and predictably we all need similar issues in life at the finish of the day. Splendid shows, inflated egos or adorned ideologies cannot replace people's primary wants for food, clothing, shelter and healthcare.For hundreds of years, the Chinese people have craved for a peaceable environment the place they can concentrate on making a better residing for themselves relatively than laboring for self-serving emperors or greedy foreign opium traders. They've been quite successful prior to now three decades and now they simply wished to social gathering and rejoice with the world by means of Beijing Olympics. Is that so laborious to grasp?
Why is the mainstream Western media so offended with China?In his latest article "Are the Media Being too Mean to China?" published on slate.com, Prof. Tim Wu of Columbia College wrote that "China's concept of what makes for a better Olympics for foreign consumption-tightened safety and cleansing up marginal parts-is precisely what makes Western reporters crazy."
While Prof. Wu's commentary solely touched on one of many floor symptoms that irritated the mainstream Western media, it does shed some light on the current stress. What he described is actually a cultural distinction in how the Chinese language and the Western individuals obtain and entertain their visitors. But the root of problem is the ethnocentric mindset of the Western reporters to the cultural differences and their entitlement that issues ought to solely be completed in their ways.Related examples are ample, whether it's about different ways beneath which Chinese and Western athletes are educated or about how they differ in conserving their personal appearance or etiquettes. I'm notably disappointed with Prof. Wu's feedback that "China doesn't have the manners and style of the richer countries, even if it has rising financial and political clout."
Whereas making noises during consuming is a taboo in many Western cultures, being openly confrontational in social interactions is a sin in many Asian cultures. These are merely cultural variations that shouldn't be judged as superior or inferior, or we danger coming into the boundaries of cultural supremacy.Sadly, it's this conceited mindset that has led the mainstream Western media to judge China by its own culturally biased standards and self-centered expectations. It's not a shock they drew the conclusion that China broke its promises for internet hosting Olympics, an allegation China has denied.
What followed was an irrational unleash of anger by the mainstream Western media in the direction of China in an try and drive the nation into the route the Western media desired to see. The collective media assault on China, nevertheless, is more based mostly on self-interests and ethnocentrism, quite than fairness, objectivity and independence which the mainstream Western media often preach.Let he who is without sin solid the first stone!
A current issue of Newsweek carried an article, "Rise of the Sea Turtles", that discovered "Westernized Chinese folks" are typically extra resentful to the West. Although I wasn't significantly impressed with its analysis of the basis causes, the article does provide us with a great pointer to an emerging pattern.I can most likely qualify as one of the "Westernized Chinese individuals" the article was referring to, though I desire to determine myself as a Chinese language American after turning into a naturalized US citizen for many years.
I think it's unfair and simplistic to conclude that the "Westernized Chinese language people" are more resentful to the West, because the situation is much more sophisticated than portrayed. The resentments, in fact, aren't the towards the West in its entirety however more focused at the double commonplace and illiberal attitudes often adopted by the mainstream Western media and Western governments towards China and other non-Western nations. "Westernized Chinese language individuals" are usually elites who are educated in the West and their superior training and intellect make them impartial thinkers. They are sensitive in direction of the hypocrisies of the mainstream Western media which scrutinizes China with one set standards while closing its eyes to the identical problems at residence.No one particular person or one country is ideal and the Bible tells us that everyone is a sinner. If we (Individuals) can permit ourselves make errors and settle for skeletons in our own closets, why should we dissect different countries beneath our tinted lenses and punish them for not satisfying the requirements that even ourselves often can't meet?
We should always pursue "constructive dialogues" slightly than endless "regime modifications" by using drive - satirically each strategies have been supported by President George W. Bush. I salute his newly-found wisdom which helped him reach a peaceful resolution with the North Koreans and hopefully the same may be achieved with the Iranians.If we desire international solidarity against terrorism, why is the mainstream Western media all the time so reluctant to sentence those that terrorize China? Read its coverage of recent terrorist assaults in Xinjiang and you realize what I am speaking about.
If the mainstream Western media wants to be the function mannequin for its Chinese friends, why does it conveniently distort info, use phony photos and brush away individuals who have totally different opinions and deny their right to have their voices heard? A Chinese American confronted a CNN journalist just a few months in the past in LA when she and lots of different pro-China protestors had been denied probabilities to be interviewed, the journalist responded harshly - "don't inform me learn how to do my enterprise!"We educate every citizen in the West to respect laws and regulations, yet the mainstream Western media participated in cheering the unlawful protests and vandalism in Beijing.
Personally I had a painful expertise demonstrating on London streets in 1989. It was chilly in that morning and I stepped out of the picketing line for a few minutes to get some desperately-needed sunshine. I used to be subsequently handcuffed by power and arrested by the London police. When my petite wife disputed their action, she was additionally handcuffed and arrested. We were locked into separate cells for hours with no meals and water, not to point out access to a phone and authorized advice. We were only released after the demonstration organizer intervened and after being forced to signal the British equivalent of confession statements.If being out of the picket line for some solar is a crime that deserves to be handcuffed and thrown into jail in London, why ought to the Chinese language be criticized for expelling unlawful protestors in Beijing who purposely climb lamp-posts, buildings and advertising billboards to show unauthorized banners?
Why ought to an American "pastor", who proudly vandalized the two Beijing lodge rooms and then cowardly sneaked away, be cheered as a "righteous protestor" by the mainstream Western media?If a Chinese protestor goes to the 2012 London Olympics to protest towards the British suppression of Northern Eire and dangle banners on the Massive Ben - can she or he count on the mainstream Western media for for the same "heroic" protection? Ought to we also query the right of London for internet hosting Olympics and its dedication for press freedom if its police arrests the protestor?
Food for thought - "Do unto others what you wish to do unto yourself" (Confucius) and "let he who is without sin solid the primary stone!" (Jesus)Is Western-styled press freedom what China wants?
A extremely-revered US scholar once advised me that the Western media is based on the spirit of difficult authorities and it's the media's job to be cynical, vigilant, important, defiant and damaging.I am a robust believer of the basic rules on which the US political system is founded. Moreover many deserves of the system, media stands out as an indispensable element designed to supervise, on behalf of the public, the three branches of the federal authorities. That is nearly a perfect setup except three potential flaws - firstly, there is no mechanism in place for the supervision of the media itself; secondly, there are severe conflicts of pursuits between the 2 contradictory roles of media both as a consultant of public pursuits and, on the identical time, as self-serving profit-making enterprises; and thirdly founding media on the premise of cynicism and negativity has its personal social prices.
For media to meet its position to supervise the government, it needs to serve public interests, somewhat than its personal interests. It needs to be unbiased, goal and impartial.Nonetheless, it is properly-known that the mainstream Western media has lengthy blended its function for public welfare with relentless pursuit of ego, power and profits. As the world enters the knowledge age, the mainstream Western media has turn into a new rising superpower with ever-increasing affect on domestic and worldwide politics, financial system, social construction, value systems and other people's on a regular basis life.
Does People actually have as much freedom because the mainstream media would really like us to imagine? As the mainstream Western media pursue freedoms in different nations, People are shedding so many freedoms that once made them so proud.Prior to now few many years, America has skilled a string of serious challenges and setbacks including the breakdown of household/social structure and value systems, falling religious affect and freedom, standard abuse and dependence of narcotics and prescription drugs, rising violence throughout the nation, escalating racial pressure and police brutality, widening hole between the rich and the poor, dropping customary of literacy and basic training, failing healthcare system that denies coverage of 23 million Individuals, and a tendency of resolving international disputes with "regime change" by army pressure slightly than diplomacy, violations of on constitutional civil and human rights under the cover of anti-terrorism, to call just some.
Our children can not stroll to the college bus by themselves for fear of drug pushers and child snatchers on the way in which. By the point they arrive in their faculties, metallic detectors await for them in some inner metropolis faculties. They've to go away their baggage in lockers and no coloured drinks are allowed for fear of bombs. Their teachers are not allowed to say any religion or teach morals in schools. Even "Christmas trees" must not be referred to as "Christmas trees" but "family bushes". They need to undergo evacuation drills usually to remain vigilant as a result of school shootings are spreading. Now persons are much more scared as a result of a college district in Texas took the lead to allow teachers carrying weapons to the classroom. But can we belief the lecturers? Do we now have to outsource our academics from India or China one day?As an American citizen, nothing is extra valuable than my voting proper. However even that has depreciated. Why? As a result of the mainstream media just isn't doing its job of dissemination of objective info. Instead it confuses me with a continuing stream of selectively edited, distorted and manipulated info with a purpose to advance its own preferences, agendas and business pursuits.
Let's check out the contaminated media footage of presidential candidates. John Edwards is a wife cheater, but that has been saved from the public until now; Hilliary is a liar who believes she is entitled to be the President and her husband Bill is hostile to the mainstream press; John McCain is a patriot however a warfare monger who knows nothing about economic system; and eventually Obama, alas, is actually a celebrity, radical of racial politics, Muslim (not that there's anything incorrect with it) and "Anti-Christ"! For God's sake, cease harassing me with all this sensational speak designed to spice up ratings and I wish to vote for Paris Hilton, but sadly she isn't on the ballot. So my pathetic one vote seems quite useless, effectively, not less than for now.Transferring back to subject of Beijing Olympics. A Western journalist was fast to level out his disagreement with the slogan, "One World One Dream", which is meant by the host nation to stress the commonalities all peoples share. Nonetheless, this reporter selected to emphasise the totally different values he has from the Chinese language host.
Superb, let's discuss in regards to the differences. If the mainstream Western media can acknowledge that peoples on this earth are completely different and that there are vast differences between them in the geographic landscapes, population structures, social-economic hierarchy, cultural values, beliefs, religions and ideologies, it should not be tough to understand that their political, authorized and media systems also need to differ from each other to accommodate for the precise needs of each nation. It's dangerous to assume the methods of the West are someway superior which may be transplanted to other nations.Does China want a Western-style media system? I doubt it. Whereas elementary Western media principles of cynicism, defiance, negativity and confrontation might or may not work properly in the Western cultures, they most-undoubtedly is not going to be successful in the Chinese language cultural environment which values hierarchy, harmony, benevolence and tolerance among people.
However, it is the Chinese people who should determine ultimately what political, financial and media methods are the ones they need. I have religion that with five thousand years of civilization, China has the knowledge to draw from the strengths of the West, keep away from its elementary flaws and in the end develop a positive-spirited media system with Chinese language characteristics that's built on the basis of upholding public welfare and pursuits. Our Facebook Page.