Beijing Olympics come to an end

The production, while large in scope ... reminded me of Cirque du Soleil on steroids (a North American performance art staple) and then after the London host city montage, it morphed into some kind of American sing-a-long video production like we grew up with on Sesame Street or Electric Company ... the cultural connection in the show to our paradigm and experience was almost disturbing.

Flattery, they say, is the highest form of honor. As an American who believes in the ideals of self-reliance, rights, and freedom from government oppression, I'm not willing to kiss off the 21st Century to China.