To be read as a direct continuation of Part 1; https://watchitdie.blogspot.com/2022/08/the-2022-winter-olympics-closing.html
Welcoming The Dignitaries.
It is International Olympic Committee (IOC) protocol that each Olympic ceremony includes a section. A section in which the dignitaries in attendance are welcomed.
At the Opening Ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics, held in PyeongChang, Republic of Korea (RoK/South). This provided for an absolutely massive moment.
As I hope we all knew going into those games. The Republic of Korea is, technically at war with its neighbour, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK/North) and has been since 1950.
Replacing the previous Biden regime's disastrous "Pivot Towards The Pacific" policy. US President Donald Trump engaged North Korea in some pretty sophisticated diplomacy. With a view to ending that 68 year war and nuclear stand-off.
As a result the 2018 Opening Ceremony was attended by Kim Yo-jong, North Korea's Director of Propaganda and Agitation. Kim Yo-jong is the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un making her part of North Korea's fabled Mount Paektu Bloodline. Essentially North Korea's Royal Family.
So Kim Yo-jong's visit to South Korea was the first ever visit by a member of the North Korean Royal Family to South Korea. When she shook hands with South Korean President Moon Jae-in it was the first ever handshake between a South Korean Head of State and a member of the North Korean Royal Family.
Something which is normally unthinkable amongst nations which are at war with each other.
Then the Pandemic struck. Delaying the 2020 Summer Games by a full year. When the 2020 Summer Games were finally able to get underway in Tokyo, Japan. Pandemic restrictions limited the dignitaries in attendance at the Opening Ceremony to just those needed to fulfil IOC protocol.
So just IOC President Thomas Bach and Vice-President Anita DeFranz representing the IOC. Along with Emperor Naruhito and Prime Minister Yoshihide Shuga representing Japan as the host nation.
This meant that the Welcoming The Dignitaries section in the 2022 Olympic Opening Ceremony did become somewhat noteworthy. Due to the sheer fact that there were other people there.
So many people in fact that it was almost impossible to notice. That representatives of the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, Lithuania, Estonia, Denmark and Belgium were not there.
Those nations were attempting a diplomatic boycott of the games. Officially in protest over China's treatment of Uighurs in the Xinjiang region. However, really, over concerns that US-led NATO would once again be exposed as a global laughing stock. As it was at both the 2018 Winter and delayed 2020 Summer Games.
Therefore this section in the Closing Ceremony was noteworthy because it featured only the dignitaries needed to fulfil IOC protocol. So IOC President Thomas Bach representing the IOC and Chinese Head of State, President Xi Jinping representing the hosts.
This was obviously a nod to the Pandemic, its restrictions and the Supply-Chain Crisis they caused.
As these are the Winter Olympics both Thomas Bach and Xi Jinping were wrapped up in big winter coats. The hosts had also helpfully provided each with a big insulated mug. Presumably containing a nice, hot drink to keep them warm
This was a reference to the chilling effect of President Trump being usurped by the current Biden regime. There are certainly no longer any bilateral handshakes and visits between North and South Korea.
I think we all know that the current Biden regime intends to simply pick up where the previous Biden regime left off. Before it was cast out onto the global naughty step in 2016.
As the US' own Nathan Chen mocked during the Figure-Skating events, winning himself Gold in the process. The current Biden regime has been intent on relaunching its disastrous "Pivot Towards The Pacific" policy. A sort of "Pivot Towards The Pacific II: Electric Boogaloo."
Only this time replacing the aggression of North Korea with the aggression of Taiwan. In the hope of forcing nations in the region out of China's sphere of influence and into the US' sphere of influence. On the security track of the policy.
Through which the Biden regime presents a clear, present and unacceptable danger to global security, stability and prosperity. Even before you factor in US-led NATO's wholly illegal war against Ukraine and the Donbas Republics.
The hosts had also provided both Thomas Bach and Xi Jinping with binoculars. As with the insulated mugs these sat, temptingly, on the counter in front of them. Just daring both men to pick them up and use them.
However the hosts had not chosen just any binoculars. They had chosen big military style field binoculars. Of the type used by military dictators, such as North Korea's Kim Jong-un, as they conduct their; "on-the-spot guidance" inspections.
Isolated Xi Jinping was more than happy to use his binoculars. In mockery of the US-led diplomatic boycott with its attempts to portray him as some sort of military dictator.
The real prize though would come if Thomas Bach would pick up the binoculars. Making himself look like some sort of out-of-control despot.
Under the leadership of Thomas Bach the IOC managed to fail in its most basic of functions. Organising the 2020 Summer Olympics. Which quickly hit such a level of farce they had to be abandoned.
So you had things like that shame of the gay community Tom Daley being donated Gold Medals. When China had clearly already won all of the 2020 Diving Golds. With its Long March 5B rocket's 11 day, 425,000 metre dive. Culminating just before that now infamous Mother's Day episode of Saturday Night Live (SNL).
Then there was the absurdity of the Equestrian Events. With me cast as the inferior horse. Being controlled by the far superior British humans.
My family has a very long history of horsemanship. Between them one of my mothers and sister currently own a seemingly ever growing number of horses. I think they're up to about three at the moment. At the time of the 2020 Summer Games they'd been lent someone else's horse to; "back" or train from scratch.
This is why I was able to use the months leading up to the 2020 Summer Games teaching the vast number of people for whom it really wasn't a secret about the Cavalletti method of horse training. The one pioneered by Reiner Klimke, winner of Mens Gold in Dressage at the 1964 Summer Olympics. Held in Tokyo, Japan.
All while waiting for Miley Cyrus to learn how to step over that first little log, basic conversational skills.
On the rare occasion these days when I permitted to use Social Media I do so under the name; "Sovereignaka" or; "Saka" for short.
Although it's not an intentional reference. The Saka (those who wander) are a nomadic tribe who inhabited the area of western China through to what is now Iran. The Saka and their descendents also have a deep and proud history of horsemanship.
It was actually the Saka who first used horses in battle. The mounted cavalry. The skills of which were supposed to be showcased at the particularly disastrous Womens Modern Pentathlon event.
Looking at Britain as it is now, fast approaching supervision from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It should be clear that Thomas Bach and the IOC did them absolutely no favours. Robbing them of what was intended to be the main theme of the 2020 Summer Games;
An Intervention For Britain. Providing them with a safe-space to help them explore the reasons why they chose to just, completely withdraw from reality and, hopefully, help them reconnect with reality.
Thomas Bach also seemed intent on crashing these 2022 Winter Olympics into the same level of absurdity. Causing them to be abandoned.
This was particularly true of Thomas Bach's deranged efforts to rip up the IOC's own rulebook. Just to get the Russian Olympic Figure-Skater Kamila Valieva expelled from the games.
In the process robbing everyone of the chance to discuss what had to be the single most important global issue of the day. Something which I covered extensively during the Opening Ceremony, in the "Athletes Parade" section.
At around 17:20 on 29/9/22 (UK date) I'll have to pick this up at some point in the future.
Edited at around 17:10 on 1/10/22 (UK date) to tidy the above and copy & paste;
This was also a very specific Chinese swipe at Kim Jong-un. Over North Korea's response to the Pandemic.
I think we can all agree that the ultimate Pandemic movie was 2013's "World War Z." Viruses work by taking control of other cells and forcing them to do their bidding. Becoming more virus cells.
So in a way Every Virus is a Zombie Virus! A little joke that has been explored in a great many horror movies.
However World War Z is really a thundering piece of Zionist propaganda. Portraying Israel as the most successful nation on Earth. Until it meets its downfall by making peace with the Palestinians. It is then up to an Israeli Jewish hero to help save the World.
I watched World War Z for the first time in the autumn of 2019. Just before COVID-19 came into existence.
At the time I was still holding out hope that my ban from Twitter would be reversed, allowing me to return to the ongoing war against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Along with associated groups such as the Uighur Turkestan Islamist Party (TiP).
So I was a bit concerned that it would upset the predominatly Arab Muslim coalition against ISIL and associated groups. Mentioning that I'd even seen the movie, rather than boycotting it. Let alone that I found myself rather attracted to the female Israeli Defence Forces Sagen character, played by Daniella Kertesz.
I then stopped myself. Remembering that it probably wasn't going to cause as much upset as reminding everyone of that time I actually dated a bisexual Israeli Jewish woman. Albeit one who was doing everything in her power to avoid serving in the Israeli Defence Forces.
The 2019 Eurovision Song Contest had been held in Tel Aviv, Israel. Officially I was banned from Twitter for urging the @SkyNews account, as an inanimate object, to commit suicide. In a discussion about Assisted Suicide.
However Twitter tried to, unofficially, justify its actions. By claiming that I was banned for being Anti-Semitic in my coverage of Israel's 2018 Eurovision Song Contest victory.
Although it might be hard to tell from all the noise they make. Amid all that pushing, shoving and yelling. There are only about 8 million Jewish people in Israel. The fact that I once dated one of them is hardly a secret. Particularly as it was portrayed in the 2007 "Two Coins" episode of the US TV show; "The Unit."
So amongst the people who did know that I'd once; "fallen off my camel" for an Israeli Jewish woman. Twitter's claim that I was Anti-Semitic was a bit hard to believe. Harder to believe even than Twitter's rather metaphysical claim that I'd urged an inanimate object to commit suicide.
Meaning that I knew I was going to have to bring up the story of my first Thrupple when I resumed my coverage of the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest. Which had been delayed in protest at Twitter's actions.
I did resume my coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest during Hunukkah 2019. December 2019, when the World first noticed that COVID-19 had fallen from the Tree of Life, coming into existence.
World War Z centres around the Gerry Lane character played by Brad Pitt. He is tasked by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to travel the World to find the source and the cure for this Zombie Virus Pandemic.
The first place Gerry Lane's mission takes him to is US Army Garrison Humphries. A real US military base located near Pyeongtaek in South Korea. There Gerry Lane meets a disgraced CIA officer, played by David Morse, who has been imprisoned on the base for selling weapons to North Korea.
The CIA officer explains that North Korea is surviving the Pandemic because, as a Totalitarian state with no concept of Bodily Autonomy, it had forcibly removed the teeth from its entire population of 23 million people. No teeth, no Zombie bite, no Exponential Growth.
In responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic North Korea didn't quite go that far. Although you suspect they did a feasibility study.
However the CIA officer goes on to explain to Gerry Lane. That Israel is winning because it has walled itself off entirely from all of its Arab neighbours. Something Zionist settlers dream of.
Kim Jong-un did seem to take that part of World War Z as an instructional film of how to respond to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
As I hope even John Oliver has managed to learn. Through this near decade long stay in Asia.
The borders between the Korean Peninsula, Japan and China have always been, somewhat, flexible. Particularly the border between China and the Korean Peninsula.
When the first of China's Imperial Dynasties, the Qin Dynasty, united China at the end of the Warring States Period (Zhango Shindai). Emperor Qin Shi Huang was only able to extend his new empire as far east as the modern Chinese Province/municipality of Beijing.
The entire Korean Peninsula, along with the modern Chinese Provinces of Liaoning, Inner Mongolia, Jilin and Heilong. They were all part of Korea. The disunited Three Kingdoms of Korea.
Under the fifth of China's Imperial Dynasties, the Tang Dynasty, China helped unite the Three Kingdoms of Korea. United Korea then rebelled against the Tang Dynasty and divided North and South.
Even then the northern "Balhae" part of Korea extended into what is considered the north-eastern provinces of modern China. It was only the southern; "Silla" part of Korea that lay on the Korean Peninsula.
It was China's seventh Imperial Dynasty, the Liao Dynasty, which conquered Balhae Korea in 927 A.D. Establishing the modern Chinese Provinces of Liaoning, Inner Mongolia, Jilin and Heilong as part of China.
Limited only to the Korean Peninsula Korea then entered into its own dynastical period. Most notably the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897) which is still considered Korea's Golden Age.
Despite being Korea's Golden Age the Joseon Era still saw the Korean Peninsula invaded and occupied on numerous occasions. By both China and Japan.
Having been significantly weakened through conflict with China, Japan and European Colonialists. By the 19th Century Joseon Korea existed as a Chinese Tributary State. Not quite a Chinese Colony but very close to it.
It was The 1910 Japanese invasion of the Korean Peninsula, expelling Chinese rule. Which really highlighted the decline of China under its final Imperial Dynasty, the Qing Dynasty. Driving The 1911 Xinhai (Toilsome Pig) Revolution which led to the establishment of the Republic of China (RoC).
The Korean Peninsula remained under Japanese occupation until the end of The Second World War (1939-1945). When the southern part was liberated by the US and the northern part was liberated by the Soviet Union.
The entire Second World War was really only something which happened in the middle of The Chinese Civil War (1927-1949). The Chinese Communist Party's eventual victory saw the establishment of the People's Republic of China (PRC). Really marking the start of The Cold War (1947-1991) in Asia.
This saw the Capitalist First World establish the new nation of the Republic of Korea (RoK/South). On the part of the Korean Peninsula they had liberated from Japan.
While the Communist Second World established the new nation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK/North). On the part of the Korean Peninsula they had liberated from Japan.
In 1950, following border clashes, the Soviet Union and China really pushed North Korea to invade South Korea. Triggering The Korean War. The war that is still going on between the two nations, despite an armistice in 1953.
At around 17:30 on 1/10/22 (UK date) I doubt I'll be tackling Descartes relationship to Aristotle tomorrow.
Edited at around 18:00 on 4/10/22 (UK date) to tidy all of the above and copy & paste;
As China made us aware, during the "Fun With Flags I" section of the Opening Ceremony. With the Balhae Chinese woman wearing a traditionally Korean "Hanbok" dress included amongst the 56 Ethnic Groups Officially Recognised by the People's Republic of China. To the annoyance of South Korean nationalists.
When the Korean Peninsula was a Chinese Tributary State Koreans described the relationship as; "Sadaejuyi." Literally; "Following the great."
The Korean Peninsula's shift from Chinese control to Japanese control didn't begin with the 1910 Japanese invasion. That was actually the end of a more gradual, decades long process.
In 1876 Japan and Korea established diplomatic relations with the Japan-Korea Treaty of Amity (1876). In 1905 they signed the Japan-Korea Treaty (1905) which established Korea as a Japanese Protectorate. Then in 1907 Korea became a Japanese Tributary State under the Japan-Korea Treaty (1907).
Japan's imperial expansion came during the Meiji Restoration (1868-1889). When its long period of self-isolation under the Sakoku (Locked State) being ended by Commodore Perry's Black Ships and the Treaty of Amity and Commerce Between Japan and the United States (1858).
Able to discover them for the first time. The Japanese elite became very interested in, what were seen as advanced, European ideas.
One of the main drivers behind Japan's desire to take control of Korea was to do so before Korea became a European Colony. Just as much of China became European Colonies or "Cantons" during the last days of the Qing Empire.
In their Olympic Opening Ceremony Japan looked at Aristotle and Plato's notion of "Heartstrings." As an example of an idea starting in one culture, then travelling between and being adopted by many different cultures.
Aristotle also did a lot of the early work in the study of Physics. He indentified that there are inanimate objects, those which are unable to move themselves. Along with animate objects, those which are able to move themselves. He also observed that animate objects are able to move inanimate objects.
Aristotle described the inanimate objects as; "Objects" and the animate objects as; "Subjects." Subjects being able to affect Objects while Objects can only be effected by Subjects.
British Physicist Isaac Newton expanded on this concept with his Laws of Motion. Further observing how Objects are affected by Subjects.
Newton famously described his own work are mere; "Standing on the shoulders of Giants (such as Aristotle)." No matter how traumatised by this concept of "Cultural Appropriation" the intellectual pygmies of Black Lives Matter continue to be.
Particularly by France's Rene Descartes and the German Idealists of the 18th Century, such as Immanuel Kant. This notion of Subject and Object was embraced by European Philosophy. Where a Subject has self-consciousness and the ability of self-determination or "Sovereignty" if you like. While an Object only exists as it is perceived by a Subject.
Standing on those shoulders Japanese intellectuals adopted the concept of "Shutai." The Subject which is capable of acting on the Object. In 1887 they translated this into the Korean word; "Juche." As an attractive counterpoint to; "Sadaejuyi." The following of China's greatness.
So you could talk about "Juche" being a Japanese counter-offensive against the Chinese concept of; "Sadejuyi." In A Soft-Power battle for control of the Korean Peninsula.
Unless you're a NATO propagandist. In which case you'll have to keep trying to pretend that Russia invented; "Hybrid Warfare." When they attacked Ukraine during the 2014 Winter Games
Around 266,000 North Korean troops fought during the Korean War. A figure that was dwarfed by the 1.45 million Chinese troops that fought in the Korean War. All singing "My Motherland And I" as they heroically sacrificed their individualism for the good of the collective. Dying in battles such as that for Shangganling Mountain.
No doubt feeling as though it was, in fact, being invaded by China. North Korea's first leader Kim Il-sung, who apparently was created by the gods on Mount Paektu, adopted; "Juche Sasang" (The Juche Idea) as the nation's core principle.
The work of the German Idealists had also heavily influenced Karl Marx. Particularly his concepts of "Historical Materialism." Vladimir Lenin's application of Karl Marx's theories "Marxist-Leninism" or; "Communism" was all the rage at the start of the Cold War.
The core goal of Kim Il-sung's Juche Sasang is to create an entirely self-reliant nation which has full sovereignty over its political, economic and military affairs. Rather than a mere Object that can be pushed about by outside (Chinese) forces.
All of which further underlines the absolute stupidity of the former Biden regime's "Pivot Towards the Pacific" policy. Attempting to convince everyone in the region to becomes friends with the US rather than China. As China is best friends forever with that crazy and dangerous North Korea.
When, certainly at the governmental level, everyone in the region knows that North Korea's core, founding principle is, essentially; "F*ck You China!"
The fact the Biden regime are the only ones who don't seem to know that. Is, itself, quite alarming.
At around 19:30 on 4/10/22 (UK date) I will have to pick this up tomorrow.
Edited around 15:50 on 6/10/22 (UK date) to tidy all of the above and copy & paste;
The goal of North Korea's Juche Sasang is independence rather than isolation. However in practice it is similar to Japan's Sakoku policy.
With the country choosing to cut itself off from an outside world which is sees as more trouble than it's worth. Including by preventing its own citizens from having any contact with people outside of North Korean, let alone leaving the country.
Then there is the vast array of sanctions that the outside world has placed on North Korea.
The US first placed sanctions on North Korea in 1950, actually before the Korean War broke out. Those sanctions have remained in place ever since.
The US sanctions were loosened slightly at the end of the Cold War in 1991. However in 1994 North Korea withdrew from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Which saw the US tighten sanctions again.
Following the terror attacks of September 11th 2001 (11/9/01) the US declared North Korea to be part of the; "Axis of Evil" alongside Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran. Further tightening sanctions on North Korea.
With the US then invading Afghanistan and Iraq while expressing a clear intention to invade Iran. North Korea thought it prudent to develop a nuclear deterrent. To discourage the US from invading it.
In 2006 North Korea conducted its first, unsuccessful, test of an Atom Bomb (A-Bomb). The least powerful, simplest type of Nuclear Bomb This saw the US further tighten sanctions. It also saw the United Nations (UN) impose sanctions on North Korea, under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter.
In 2009 North Korea successfully tested an A-Bomb. Which led to both the US and UN sanctions being tightened further.
It was the defining feature of the previous Biden regime's disastrous Pivot Towards the Pacific policy. Assisting and encouraging North Korea to advance its nuclear weapons program.
In order to force China to veto demands for more sanctions at the UN Security Council. Making it look like nations in the region should become friends with the US rather than China. As China and North Korea are best friends forever.
In 2017 North Korea successfully tested a Hydrogen Bomb (H-Bomb). The more powerful and complex type of Nuclear Bomb.
That did lead to a further UN sanctions. Resolutions UNSC2371 (2017), UNSC2375 (2017) and UNSC2397 (2017).
It also saw the US and its allies introduce sanctions beyond the UN sanctions. Even Russia and China added their own sanctions beyond the UN sanctions.
These sanctions have left North Korea unable to import or export anything, really, beyond the most basic of foodstuffs. All fuel, fertilizers and machinery like tractors and trucks are banned. Even clothes and textiles are banned.
Despite being rather proud of its status as the most sanctioned nation in the history of the World. The necessity of geography does see North Korea continue to do some, very, limited trade with its neighbour to the north, China. Limited only to, really, the import of food.
Then there is North Korea's diplomatic population. Under international law an Embassy is considered part of the territory of the nation that it is the Embassy of.
So if, say, Sweden's Embassy in North Korea wants to import something from Sweden. Then it is not, technically, importing it into North Korea. It is merely using North Korea as a transit country between two parts of Sweden.
Meaning that Embassies operating in North Korea have usually been able to get whatever they want. Regardless of the shortages going on in the country that surrounds them.
Seeming to use World War Z as an instructional film. North Korea responded to the Pandemic by cutting these last two remaining links to the outside world.
With North Korea having cut all links with the outside world. It is really hard for anyone to say what happened next. However it is said to have led to mass shortages of everything, even food.
Things got so bad that nations had to close their Embassies and evacuate their staff. There were such shortages of fuel and vehicles that Russian diplomats and their families had to, famously, leave using a hand-powered railway trolley.
This created very real Chinese concerns of a repeat of The North Korean Famine (1994-1998).
Officially there was no famine in North Korea between 1994 and 1998. Merely and; "Arduous March." So there certainly aren't any official figures of how many people died. However estimates range between 240,000 and 3.5 million deaths.
Many of those who died were parents leaving many orphan children homeless. It's said that those homeless orphans used to warn each other; "Don't sleep outside!" As those children who slept outside were kidnapped and eaten by starving adults.
No doubt it will lead the oh, so macho NATO to accuse China of being a bunch of softies. However I don't think anyone actually wants to see that happen anywhere in the World. Let alone on their doorstep.
So this section of the Olympic Closing Ceremony was China very loudly and very publicly calling out North Korea over its Pandemic response. It was good sign then that in May 2022 North Korea confirmed that it had experienced a COVID-19 outbreak. Admitting its World War Z strategy had not worked.
North Korea's other neighbour, Russia. Was clearly well aware of the details of this deep tension between China and North Korea over the Pandemic.
As you probably would have been able to work out. From that whole World of War machines marked Z that Russia was putting on display throughout the games.
Unfortunately NATO were clearly not aware of the issue. Let alone the discussions around it.
You may remember them actually being rather proud of themselves. When Russia's theatre troupe proved to be rather ineffective. When it, suddenly, had to become an actual military force.
In response to NATO's wholly illegal attack against Ukraine and the Donbas Republics. Which began two days before this Closing Ceremony. In clear violation of the Olympic Truce.
I'm still not sure if NATO have managed to notice yet. That when the actual Russian military finally arrived in Ukraine. They had a lot fewer problems with supply-chains, fuel, transport and logistics.
To be continued in Part 3.
16:55 on 6/10/22 (UK date).
