Humanity

I was watching the Paralympic Opening (delayed telecast) on Ch 5. It really struck me on the magnitude of the Opening Ceremony, just as big and impressive as Beijing Olympic. The no. of people involved, their costumes, performance and this time performers. Because it's Paralympics, they got some handicapped citizens to perform with the theme. Fair enough, giving them some limelight that they are not totally impaired. There is still value in them.

Then came the lighting of the flame. Wow, yes, they used Paralympians, highlighting their achievements. Well done. Then when it got to the last athelete, a wheelchair bound paralympian because of an amputated leg, he hoisted himself all the way up to the bottom with the torch stuck on the wheelchair. I had mixed reactions when I saw him pulling the rope.

1. China's really out to impress on their creativity.
2. Truly showing how physically disabled people can do what normal people can do as well or even better.

Along the way, he stopped a few times to rest and the crowd was cheering and encouraging him not to stop. He can't surrender. Definitely not at the expense of such a big event. China would not have picked him to do the job anyway. I started to think if the human rights group would be rallying or lobbying the next day on such issues. Was it right to ask so much of the handicapped athelete? So what if he was an outstanding paralympian? Yeah, we're trying to prove a point here but is it too much to ask of him? I'm sure he had pulled himself at least 50m up.

Is this an act to demonstrate their excedding willpower to overcome challenges or a creative showcase?