Today’s post on the blog Of Two Minds, titled Olympic Ponderings, was about China and it was interesting and insightful.

“Anyone who watched the pageantry of the Olympic Game’s opening ceremony in Beijing knows it is unlikely to be topped in our lifetimes.

My wife offered this analogy: the previous Olympics were like county fairs, while Beijing was a full Hollywood production.

“As someone who began formally studying Chinese culture, history and philosophy in 1973 (i.e. beginning in university, including several graduate-level courses), I was struck by the depth of the opening ceremony’s many levels of representation and allusions.

“I was especially impressed with the lavish references to the Tang Dynasty and the voyages of Admiral Zheng He. As the NBC commentator pointed out, these two periods of Chinese history were marked by a remarkable openness to the world and a stupendous exchange of goods and ideas.”

 Charles Hugh Smith is very upbeat about America’s openness and ability to grow because of its openness and ability to welcome people. At the end of his post, he even uses the Big Island as a reference. Take a look.