Beijing Paralympics

Now that the Olympics are over you notice how there is no mention anywhere that the Paralympics are going on in Beijing.  The disabled get no love.........in many ways this event is very much in the spirit of the Olympics.....to encourage people to strive against all odds and do their best.   there are some 23 events....including wheel chair basketball, rugby, judo, powerlifting, wheelchair ping pong, equestrian,cycling,rowing, sailing. wheelchair fencing, swimming,etc........never realized their were so many events......but so important to develop the 

full potential of each individual........that is the goal of any sport............not just counting medals!

Lighting the torch in Dalian as the last leg of the torch relay is completed.

Lighting the Urn in Tian Tan Park.

Some of the festivities during the Torch Lighting Ceremony.

The Torch Relay also went by boat when it reached Shangdong.

This of course is very important event in China, as often the disabled are simply ignored and not encouraged to do anything in public.  Chinese Culture considers a disability or defect to be a bad omen from heaven..........so very little has been done for them so far, hopefully this Paralympics will bring this issue to the fore and the chinese will begin making things more accessible to the disable.  Even in City College of San Francisco where I have been teaching for almost 9 years........only this last year did we finally get ramps all over campus and parking spots for the handicapped on Campus........I use to wonder how the handicapped would get from the first floor to the second floor of the arts buildings...as they had no elevators or steps that allowed you to go from floor to floor!  So even in America things have moved slow for the handicapped and disable..........how you treat your diabled tells alot about the compassion of your country.....and it's conciousness.  But this event will draw very little if any coverage from the American Mass Media.......sorta like Wushu.............too bad it would be cool to see some of the competition!

     One good thing about this years Olympics was that very few athletes were found to have used drugs to enhance themselves..............though s probe into Jamaica insinuates that some of their athletes might have used drugs..............even stranger(?)..........six horses were found to have used drugs and were disqualified........what's with that!! 

      Hope you all had a good Labor Day Vacation.........I enjoyed it.........though I had a class on saturday.............walked in to a class of about 50 students..........real surprise usually no one shows up during the holidays......I am quite pleased..........worked on Taiji Basics.......and some Taoist Yoga.......................which is qigong combined with yoga postures and stretches......helps to build the core and develop flexibility and focus.  Watched John Woo's Red Cliffs......it's a two part epic of the Three Kingdoms......it recounts the famous battle of Red Cliffs between the forces of the Evil Cao Cao and the forces of Liu Bei......and tells how the Three Kingdoms come about.  Lots of setting up to explain the plot..........plenty of fighting and killing.......but this is only the first half.......now have to wait for the second part to come out......this was the top picture in China.....................eventually this will be released in the US....but a highly edited version combining the two movies.

     Finally, off to see the news.......good thing Gustav was not as bad as Katrina...and the people of New Orleans survived...but they do need help....please contribute to a reputable agency.....beware of fakes on the internet............and certainly an interesting move by the Republicans and McCain.........since Obama did not use the female VP card.....McCain decided he would throw it into the ring........seems a little desperate to me......but a very wily move in any case!  Ah well, that's the world today....hope you are all having a good one!!  Cya!