Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Yang Peiyi
The theme of this Olympics' opening ceremonies was "Children are the nation's flowers" but apparently that was true only for children who met the cuteness requirements of the ceremony's music designer, Chen Qigang.

Every blogger and news outlet in the world should display this 7-year-old girl's picture front and center. Yang Peiyi sang the opening ceremony song but her face wasn't shown. Another little girl stood in her place and lip-synched because Yang Peiyi wasn't allowed to be on camera because some Chen Qigang deemed her insufficiently telegenic for the opening ceremonies. He is said to be pleased because he believes he had both "a perfect voice [and] a perfect image."

All of which demonstrates (again) the rigid and misguided control being exerted over the appearance of this Olympics. The purpose is said to be to ensure that China is "seen at its best." But it's both offensive and ridiculous to think that a real 7-year-old with a beautiful voice is anything other than China's best. And how does China "look" anything other than its worst when it makes a move like this? It's particularly ridiculous when you consider that the whole raison d'être of the Olympics is to honor and praise not superficial appearance but extraordinary performance.

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Permalink | | posted by jau at 8:58 AM


6 more:
Blogger Barb the Evil Genius — at 10:38 AM, August 12, 2008:
The allegations (that appear to be true) that China's female gymnasts are substantially underage doesn't help their image either. It's all pretty sad. Poor little girl who got skipped because she wasn't attractive enough.
 

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Blogger jau — at 11:51 AM, August 12, 2008:
But she IS attractive!! She's 7 and adorable. And sings like a dream. What insane people.
 

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Anonymous Anonymous — at 12:13 PM, August 12, 2008:
I guess they don't care about their children any more than they do ours. They always take the easy most cost effective way out. Look at all the recalls, They think if if "looks ok" then it must be
 

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Anonymous Anonymous — at 12:49 PM, August 12, 2008:
China is one screwed-up country. Yang Peiyi is very adorable and should have rightfully been on-screen singing her song. I think in the end, this and other events coming to light (i.e. the enhanced fireworks show and their gymnastics team) will make China look pretty rediculous and an internation embarrasement.
 

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Blogger Barb the Evil Genius — at 1:11 PM, August 12, 2008:
Oh, I think she's adorable! In an era when little Chinese girls are coming to this country in droves, any American couple would want to scoop her up and take her home. I just meant it's too bad she didn't make their "cut." And if she knows this, how much will it mess the poor kid up!
 

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Blogger Unknown — at 2:49 PM, August 12, 2008:
what a disgrace to make a 7 year old stand down because of the looks and still comender her voice to the world who's the hipocrate hereit's china the unperfect host making the mocary of the worlds reality in the undeerstanding of honesty, even in this note I'm opting to NOT use a spell checker just to show my point.
Why doesn't china have alook at the faces of our world so called leaders and see if they to have the un-perfect face that was discarded from their opening cerimonies. Fireworks faking is one thing but honer and respect is somethign totally different especially wheh that honer and respect is showen to a highly telented SEVEVN year old by it's countries leaders.
shame on you china you really knw how to lose face
mdbobbo@gmail.com
 

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