tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038880039237668233.post8515987457327342290..comments2023-08-20T02:14:16.957-07:00Comments on sharon hart: All That Glitters is Not GoldUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038880039237668233.post-63125880957205828602008-08-21T00:27:00.000-07:002008-08-21T00:27:00.000-07:00just wanted to let you know i sent you a reply mes...just wanted to let you know i sent you a reply message back on etsy--it occurred to me you might not get the message in your inbox to check back there--it will be in your "conversations" section<BR/><BR/>thanks for getting in touch!PurrPrintshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17892844768633203890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038880039237668233.post-45561556123952095802008-08-16T17:37:00.000-07:002008-08-16T17:37:00.000-07:00Wow--what an unbelievably thought-provoking comme...Wow--what an unbelievably thought-provoking commentary on art, politics, and the olympics--I'm truly impressed--you just might inspire me to create a second blog to write my more thoughtful stuff within :)<BR/><BR/>thanks for swinging by and--even more so!--for entering my contest. I completely hear you about paypal--they drive me nuts, which is part of why I was so delighted to find a safe and free alternative. finally!<BR/><BR/>if you are interested in sending other people my way for the rme contest by posting about it online somewhere make sure to leave the link t where in the comments on that post so you can get a second entry! :)PurrPrintshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17892844768633203890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038880039237668233.post-91681667577492926942008-08-12T16:05:00.000-07:002008-08-12T16:05:00.000-07:00There's a great article entitled "Olympic Balladee...There's a great article entitled "Olympic Balladeer's Voice Was Dubbed" on the New York Times: <A></A> <BR><BR/>The article addresses how the Chinese dubbed the voice of one young girl and the young girl who everyone thought was singing early in the show was actually lip syncing as the Chinese wanted to project a specific image. The writer goes onto say, "But to achieve the spectacular, Mr. Zhang faked not only the song; organizers also have admitted that one early sequence of the stunning fireworks shown to television viewers was actually created using digitally enhanced computer graphics for “theatrical effect.”<BR><BR/>Ah, the beauty of illusion and the illusion of beauty! My apologies to the poet Keats.S. A. Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04972218424013507129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038880039237668233.post-23760324734573913202008-08-12T06:56:00.000-07:002008-08-12T06:56:00.000-07:00I have always thought that sports and politics (or...I have always thought that sports and politics (or nationalistic agenda for that matter) should never mix. <BR/><BR/>Regardless of how much effort China is putting in to show the world that she is not so unlike them, the differences in culture (as displayed) cannot be more stark. <BR/><BR/>Having said that, the Londoners are feeling a little heat right now after watching the Opening Ceremony of Beijing 2008... :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02288958257776985342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038880039237668233.post-5661608254043551532008-08-11T20:45:00.000-07:002008-08-11T20:45:00.000-07:00This is the first year in my life that I have not ...This is the first year in my life that I have not been interested in the Olympics. I listened to them on the radio, saw them in the movie news, and later on the television.<BR/><BR/>My observation: each country (including our own) has a hidden political agenda that is historically sanitized to show it to the world. Is it dishonest? Yes!.<BR/><BR/>If I remember rightly, the Olympic Games (old and new) were an attempt to bring about peace, that is a truce was declared among the nations and city-states not to engage in warfare or skirmishes.<BR/><BR/>Would that be true of the twentieth century CE and now the twenty-first century CE.<BR/><BR/>I personally have decided not to participate in a worldwide lie. I am sure no one noticed but I feel better by knowing that I did what I did to be authentic as a human. Who cares? I do. I do beleive perhaps rather naively that there is such a thing as morals and ethics, and dozens of games have not reflected that. In fact I do think that the Olympic Games should be closed, permanently. At present I am in the minority. But perhaps someday.....<BR/><BR/>I do not fault people for watching, nor participating in the games, but for the sake of monetary contracts, propaganda, and postering..no.<BR/>As a society, including a worldwide society we have let ourselves be duped.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038880039237668233.post-81622107862749246882008-08-11T19:02:00.000-07:002008-08-11T19:02:00.000-07:00Thank you so much for commenting on my blog. My re...Thank you so much for commenting on my blog. My responses to the comments I received must have crossed whilst you were leaving yours!<BR/>Although I didn't watch the opening ceremony and have no intention of watching any of it, you gave a very descriptive review of it. Beautifully done!<BR/><BR/>My take on it on my blog wasn't from a political angle but I am loathe to throw stones at the Chinese government whilst so many peoples of the world live under similar or worse regimes/systems.<BR/>The states that are being created in, for example, the US and the UK are creeping steadily towards something that we cannot be proud of. As my friend Ralph Dumain rightly said on this very subject on my blog: 'the bars of our cage are thinner and stronger'.<BR/>Thank you,<BR/>Zee.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038880039237668233.post-72489750382886902032008-08-11T09:36:00.000-07:002008-08-11T09:36:00.000-07:00Matthew, I also watched the Bush/Costas interview ...Matthew, I also watched the Bush/Costas interview with profound interest. Bush's view of the Chinese reminded me of the late Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's comments regarding his first impression of Hitler, "In spite of the hardness and ruthlessness I thought I saw in his face, I got the impression that here was a man who could be relied upon when he had given his word."<BR> Hitler's comments were more telling regarding his impression of the Western Allies: "Our enemies are little worms. I saw them at Munich." <BR><BR/><BR/>Like you, I hope that peace and harmony are the true agenda, but as a student of history, I'm left with a more pragmatic understanding of political machinations and goals.<BR/><BR><BR/>The other irony in Bush's interview was his hypocritical statement that he allegedly issued to Putin,"I said this violence is unacceptable"<BR/><BR><BR/>There is a transcript of the interview at http://www.prnewschannel.com/absolutenm/templates/?a=749&z=4<BR/><BR/>Again, I hold to the words of George Santayana, “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”S. A. Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04972218424013507129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038880039237668233.post-66377752107003290872008-08-11T08:28:00.000-07:002008-08-11T08:28:00.000-07:00Hey Sharon,Thanks for commenting over on my blog. ...Hey Sharon,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for commenting over on my blog. I appreciate the kind words. I really enjoyed this post and your insight. The Guernica and artistic angle was fascinating. I can understand why China chose not to go that route, but one thing I could not escape in watching the opening ceremonies was the might that the drummers represented....2008 drummers, not to mention the many thousands that participated...it was all rather intimidating from the sense that China could pull off such a huge and forceful production. It clearly sends the message: "If we can meet this challenge, we can meet any other and that we are NOT to be trifled with."<BR/><BR/>I think President Bush's remarks last night on Bob Costas were telling. Even though the US has differences with China, we must continue to engage them.<BR/><BR/>Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.... I'm hopeful that China really believes their theme of "One world, one dream", but I think all of us have different dreams of what we want manifested in the world. That's inspiring and terrifying all at the same time.<BR/><BR/>Cheers!Matthew S. Urdanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15423237354496730048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038880039237668233.post-13897024251039853312008-08-11T08:13:00.000-07:002008-08-11T08:13:00.000-07:00Hi Sharon, a stunning blog, well rounded and thoug...Hi Sharon, a stunning blog, well rounded and thought out. As democracy in this country hit the skids, playing the devil's advocate means talking about trade-offs, or more bluntly, progress at what cost? Our history (USA) is full of sordid details, we've had our sweatshops and exploitations, and in this day and age, we longer have the upper hand — China is a dominant player. Refer to Thomas L. Friedman's Imbalances of Power.<BR/><BR/><BR/>Now, how to argue another premise: art (or sport) as the highest aesthetic?? It appears politics and money calls the shots, whatever remains is left for the rest of us.KidRatedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12542778425054227050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038880039237668233.post-19623027872890311652008-08-10T14:55:00.000-07:002008-08-10T14:55:00.000-07:00I thoroughly enjoyed the opening ceremony ....stun...I thoroughly enjoyed the opening ceremony ....<BR/>stunning !!!<BR/>your review is excellent Sharon!!<BR/>on a personal note - I was terribly disappointed with the design of the Australian uniforms...<BR/>that is a minor concern when we look at the developments between Russia and Georgia...<BR/>so tragic!!!Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08308898926898440376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038880039237668233.post-14185452188728202732008-08-09T17:08:00.000-07:002008-08-09T17:08:00.000-07:00I read with interest your blog relating to the Oly...I read with interest your blog relating to the Olympics events in Beijing. I couldn’t help but smile when I read how you and Hope discussed my preference for a science fiction movie over that of the Communist Chinese government’s effort to show the world what a wonderful workers paradise that they have created.<BR/><BR/>I know that I am probably in the extreme minority regarding my feelings surrounding the events that have transpired – both recently and in the past few years – within the Chinese Communist mainland.<BR/><BR/>You might note that – so far – I have used the word “Communist” twice in this message. I can’t help but feel that this will be the only forum (electronic media, print publications, etc.) that the word “Communist” will be used in conjunction with the events in Beijing. <BR/><BR/>I am not a huge fan of Wikipedia – but the following link contains one reason, not the only one mind you, that I am not thrilled with the hypocrisy that a huge percentage of the world seems to be guilty of. <BR/><BR/>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiananmen_Square_protests_of_1989<BR/><BR/>Let say that I have great respect for the people of mainland China. It is with their government (and also my own, by the way) that I have an argument with.<BR/><BR/>Mainland China is ruled by a Communist regime. Period. Some sources indicate that more than 65% of the vast industrial manufacturing complex – the same complex that feeds the retail industry of the West – is owned/controlled by that same government. Much of the material goods that we see in Walmart, Target, J.C. Penny’s, Sears, was manufactured in factories where the workers labor without proper safety equipment, electrical lighting, or other environmental safeguards. Until recently, child labor was used rampantly within these factories. The goods shipped to the West are not limited to clothing, small electronics, or toys that our children play with. Do you drive a Ford, GM, Toyota, Chrysler, or Honda automobile? Chances are that many of the components’ were manufactured by a Chinese worker who is probably paid about $3.00 - $10.00 a day for their labor. <BR/><BR/>Let me also add that the United States has much work to do to address the use of illegal immigrants within the United States. I sincerely hope that people of good will in this country and Mexico can find political and social answers to the very real tragedy of immigration and in other countries. The difference between a solution that we in the U.S. might find, and a solution to a political issue in China, is that I seriously doubt that Tanks and automatic weapons would be used to solve it.<BR/><BR/>In my own little way, when I prepare to purchase a product, I try to do my best to discover where the item was manufactured. It the tag says “China.” I give it a pass and look for something different.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038880039237668233.post-25396516684916984002008-08-09T16:49:00.000-07:002008-08-09T16:49:00.000-07:00The 2008 Olympiad opening ceremony was truly a pri...The 2008 Olympiad opening ceremony was truly a prime example of what academics call "Soft power"-- the flexing of muscle via cultural means. <BR><BR/>In the opening ceremony at Beijing China clearly sent a symbolic and unnerving message to those who have eyes to see and ears to hear that the Chinese Dragon no longer intends to sleep but resume its ancient role of geo-political dominance.<BR><BR/><BR/>However, when considering their excellent use of art as propaganda, it's important to recognize that while Human Rights abuses persist in China, that single country doesn't have a monopoly on state oppression.<BR/><BR><BR/>Many of the other 204 countries competing in this year's summer Olympics are also mercilessly guilty of grave injustice to our fellow creatures, including ecological abuses, state oppression and international coercion. <BR><BR/>I personally believe it's wiser to be aware of what's happening in the world rather than to avoid knowledge of sensitive issues such as the reality of what is happening at the Olympics.S. A. Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04972218424013507129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038880039237668233.post-83855487325189981602008-08-09T15:51:00.000-07:002008-08-09T15:51:00.000-07:00Hi Sharon,Thanks for commenting over at my blog. ...Hi Sharon,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for commenting over at my blog. I really like your descriptive take on the opening ceremonies. However, I agree with your friend's husband - anything was better to watch than the olympics in China. My family and I watched other channels and other family oriented shows.<BR/><BR/>I think you've balanced this out very well - I've heard other saying the same thing in that the Olympic opening ceremonies were very excellent. However, recalling the Berlin Olympics - don't let it fool you in to a false sense of security. China is still an enemy of human rights and is still very much a communist country. <BR/><BR/>I for one will not be following them this year.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com