Sad News from China

Just when I began to feel a bit guilty for being outspoken about the injustices of the Chinese government, and just when I truly wanted to commit myself to the idea that good can come from the Olympics in Beijing, Jason emailed me this story. It seems that the little girl (age 9) who sang in the opening ceremonies during the presentation of the Chinese flag was (at the direction of the Chinese government) lip singing, Milli Vanilli style. The voice heard by billions, was another Chinese girl (age 7) who won a competition. At the last minute the government decided she wasn't "cute" enough, citing her buck teeth as a problem. The article explains:

"The main consideration was the national interest," [The Musical Director] said. "The child on the screen should be flawless in image, in her internal feelings, and in her expression. In the matter of her voice, Yang Peiyi was flawless, in the unanimous opinion of all the members of the team."

But she wasn't "flawless in her looks." The article continues:

"So we made the choice. I think it is fair to both Lin Miaoke (the girl on camera) and Yang Peiyi (the actual singer) - after all, we have a perfect voice, a perfect image and a perfect show, in our team's view, all together."

My heart is so sad for both of these girls--and for the millions like them--the girls who are "chosen" as "perfect" and those cast aside as flawed. How desperately this nation is in need of Christ's love, grace and salvation and HIS offer of unconditional love, regardless of performance or appearance. I have often thought critically of our own media for spawning rampant eating disorders by barraging us with air-brushed pictures of the "ideal" image of beauty. I can't imagine living in a culture where the government dictates it.

But what is possibly the most heartbreaking is Yang Peiyi's own thoughts about being rejected to be on camera. Only 7 years old, she reportedly said that "she was happy to have been chosen to sing at all." Even if this is a heartfelt statement of extreme maturity beyond her years, my heart still goes out to her.

Despite such disappointing news, however, the best solace is certainly God's sovereignty and that He remains at work. Another interesting twist is simply that the story was actually reported--and the music director of the opening ceremonies felt the need (and supposedly the freedom) to tell the story in an interview to a Beijing radio station. It might not be much, but it is something!