Spring Break
Passing of the torch
As the Olympic Games end, China marches toward a more open future
By: Kenny Ryan
Issue date: 8/26/08 Section: Opinion
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China is an ancient nation with a history that is rich in moments of pride and in moments of shame. The Great Wall, the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square all quickly come to mind when thinking of a country that was long shrouded behind the mystery of the "Far East" or "The Orient."
Once an enigma, China rested on the edge of the map, a country that few from the west would ever see. But all of that has slowly changed. China is now everywhere you turn.
Your childhood toys - made in China.
Your Victoria's Secret lingerie - made in China.
Your national debt - owned by China.
The list goes on…
It only makes sense that the International Olympic Committee would eventually come around and realize that China was a changing land ready to host the games. However, many naysayers doubted that the communist regime was ready to play host to the world stage. After all, China is the world's largest remaining communist power and Americans hate Commies.
The truth is, China has come a long way from the smoldering ruin it was after WWII, and it pulled itself back on its feet by alone. Following the Second World War, Asia and Europe were left in tatters as China was overtaken by a popular communist revolution.
The European states were saved by their Anglo brothers across the sea, as the U.S. sent millions of dollars in economic aid under the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe, all of Europe, former enemies and allies alike.
China was not so lucky. By 1949, the communists led by Mao Zedong, had evicted their opponents from the mainland. In an era of McCarthyism in the United States, the former ally against the Japanese was left in the dust.
An ally in war five years before, China now lay on the far east side of the Iron Curtain and received no pity from America as it attempted to rebuild its war ravaged infrastructure.
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