China Olympics with Kai Pan on BBC World Service Radio

I just had my 15 seconds of fame pseudo-fame on the BBC World Service radio program “World, Have Your Say.” The debate topic was “Are we turning a blind eye to China?”

Today we’re asking if, in the run up to the Olympics, we’re all turning a blind eye to China ? (Pssst, human rights anyone ?) With just a few days to go until the Opening ceremony are we all just about to be dazzled by the spectacle, the sheer size, the numbers and of course the excitement of sporting excellence – day, after day, after day – for two weeks. Will the Games be so engaging, so absorbing that we forget the other story of China ?

Despite the lively commentary and discussions on the usual emotional baggage surrounding human-rights-violatin’ China being the host for the Olympic Games, I only got a chance to say:

1. Most people have already decided how they’re going to view China;
2. It is too late to stop or change the Olympics Games;
3. People should definitely continue to engage the Chinese and express their opinions, support, or criticisms;
4. But they need manage their expectations and not insist upon hoping for things to happen when they want it and how they want it.

Four is an unlucky number.

Now, I should probably review the other comments or arguments presented by the other speakers on the debate…but just as I wasn’t inclined to interrupt them mid-speech, I’m not really inclined at this moment to rehash what continually gets hashed and rehashed.

And rehashed.

Let’s just say I was glad that most of them were far more balanced and reasonable than I expected…at least more so than the categorical idiocy found in many of the comments on the WHYS blog.

Thanks, BBC, for having me on briefly. You guys rock. Someone tell Jeremy Clarkson he has all my love.