A new twist on an old theory, indeed! A most interesting column in the Washington Post draws parallels between the sentiments borne out of China's apparent ineptitude on the soccer field and those regarding China's place at the world table. A passage for your tasting:
"Our ongoing soccer misery highlights a basic paradox about today's China. On the surface, we seem to be feeling pretty ebullient, with our fast-growing economy, our newfound wealth and our showcase Olympics, with its peppy theme of "One World, One Dream." We're confident that the future belongs to us. But on a deeper level, many Chinese — especially us men — are unhappy, deeply frustrated and prone to strong, deep-rooted pangs of helplessness and abandonment. And it's all soccer's fault."
Whether or not it is, indeed, "soccer's fault" I don't know, but there is no denying this sense of mixed emotions among many Chinese. Indirectly, this column highlights much of what I have been saying all along: while China goes to great lengths to put on 'face' for the international community, locally inequality, poverty and continued frustrations persist.