Biblical 7 Years - Op-Ed Tom Friedman
"" China did not build the magnificent $43 billion infrastructure for these games, or put on the unparalleled opening and closing ceremonies, simply by the dumb luck of discovering oil. No, it was the culmination of seven years of national investment, planning, concentrated state power, national mobilization and hard work.
Seven years ... Seven years ... Oh, that?s right. China was awarded these Olympic Games on July 13, 2001 ? just two months before 9/11.
As I sat in my seat at the Bird?s Nest, watching thousands of Chinese dancers, drummers, singers and acrobats on stilts perform their magic at the closing ceremony, I couldn?t help but reflect on how China and America have spent the last seven years: China has been preparing for the Olympics; we?ve been preparing for Al Qaeda. They?ve been building better stadiums, subways, airports, roads and parks. And we?ve been building better metal detectors, armored Humvees and pilotless drones.
The difference is starting to show. Just compare arriving at La Guardia’s dumpy terminal in New York City and driving through the crumbling infrastructure into Manhattan with arriving at Shanghai’s sleek airport and taking the 220-mile-per-hour magnetic levitation train, which uses electromagnetic propulsion instead of steel wheels and tracks, to get to town in a blink.
Then ask yourself: Who is living in the third world country?""
Seven years ... Seven years ... Oh, that?s right. China was awarded these Olympic Games on July 13, 2001 ? just two months before 9/11.
As I sat in my seat at the Bird?s Nest, watching thousands of Chinese dancers, drummers, singers and acrobats on stilts perform their magic at the closing ceremony, I couldn?t help but reflect on how China and America have spent the last seven years: China has been preparing for the Olympics; we?ve been preparing for Al Qaeda. They?ve been building better stadiums, subways, airports, roads and parks. And we?ve been building better metal detectors, armored Humvees and pilotless drones.
The difference is starting to show. Just compare arriving at La Guardia’s dumpy terminal in New York City and driving through the crumbling infrastructure into Manhattan with arriving at Shanghai’s sleek airport and taking the 220-mile-per-hour magnetic levitation train, which uses electromagnetic propulsion instead of steel wheels and tracks, to get to town in a blink.
Then ask yourself: Who is living in the third world country?""
Labels: China
posted by Sid.V at
1:43 AM
0 Comments
