Olympic games

A lot of people have already been writing about this, but the fact that I am currently in China and being Dutch - Chinese I feel that I need to say something as well.

Protests are everywhere, either for the torch to be able to pass through or stop it from passing through. Young Chinese people standing in front of the Carrefour and French schools trying to boycot French products. And people protesting abroad yelling human rights, Free Tibet, Ban CNN, etc etc. It's been quite messy to say at least.

There a few things that I want to say here:
1) Olympic games should be about mutual understanding and focus on the what we have in common and bring about positive change. Boycotting the Olympics? Think we first and foremost need to take a look at the IOC...
2) I've noticed that many Chinese people can't distinguish the critique or negative comments from an outsider to China that it is directed to the government (or Party), not as people or as country. Many take the comments very personally. Which is in a sense understandable, considering the Chinese political system.
3) Many news items in the West are one sided and focus mainly (only) on the 'bad' news. Don't get me wrong, a critical piece is necessary and China still has a long way to go in many areas. But as the War in Iraq has been reported sometimes the bad sometimes the good (or at least the Bush administration would make sure they would make enough spin for that) I feel that most of the reporting present an one sided view. And the other side so far has only been (with some exception here and there) the Chinese state news. Well...that doesn't really help the overall picture now does it?
4) I've said this many times before to other people - you need to put everything what has been happening in context. What is possible today for many people in China, would be something that they would have never dreamed being possible 20, 15 years ago.

There. It's out of my system. Let's enjoy the Olympic Games! :-)