By Staff
Ihate a fake, and since the Olympics started, I've been exposed to more fakes than I care to think about.
As a matter of fact, I think I'm mad.
You have no doubt heard about the fake fireworks we saw on television at the conclusion of the opening ceremonies.
I made it a point to sit in my chair that Friday night to watch the opening ceremonies. I will admit that I did turn away from the NBC channel occasionally. But for the most part I watched in awe of the things I saw on the screen.
A reporter said 15,000 individuals comprised the throng of performers for the evening's events. I believe it and I believe they worked hard to make the show spectacular.
The information I learned in the days following that opening ceremony is what has me upset.
I learned, as you probably have, that the cute little Chinese girl who sang an ode to her country didn't sing it at all.
For some reason, officials in China felt the little girl who actually did the singing wasn't cute enough to be seen on world-wide television. Therefore, they put another little girl in front of the camera to sing the song. (Reminds me of that Milli Vanilli fiasco a few years back.)
I have further learned that the little girl we saw singing really thought she was singing her heart out for our entertainment. Not only did the Chinese people lie to us, they lied to the cute little girl. Fake singers and the ones who made us believe something fake upset me.
Many people know how much I enjoy fireworks. As I watched the final moments of the ceremonies I can honestly say that my jaw fell at the spectacular event.
My jaw also fell on Monday when I learned what I saw was fake - computer-generated fireworks.
I'm steaming by this point and have openly said how disgusted I am that Olympic officials in China felt it was perfectly all right to fake us out.
After hearing all of this news about the fake things going on with the Olympics, I now am convinced those cute little Chinese gymnists are not the required 16 years old.
Seriously, can we be futher led down a trail of lies and fakery so much that we can believe those passports issued by the Chinese government can prove these girls are old enough to compete?
With the skepticism I'm feeling right now, I think not.
As I have voiced my opinion around the office this week, I've gone on a rant about other fake things that make me mad.
What about fake nails? I don't know of too many women that have perfectly manicured nails with just the right amount of white on the tips.
Don't get me wrong, I think they are beautiful and have even sported a set of fake nails myself that I paid good money for, but still, it's fake.
I hope that the Chinese government and Olympic officials have learned their lesson. If we voice our dismay loud enough, maybe they will think twice before trying to pull the wool over our eyes in the future.
By the way, I think the little girl whose voice we heard during those magnificient ceremonies was cute enough to be seen on world-wide television. No faking.
Lisa Tindell is news editor for The Brewton Standard. She can be reached by email at lisa.tindell@brewtsonstandard.com
or at 867-4876.