Are We Really Surprised That the Chinese Government Engaged in Deception at Opening Ceremonies?

People seem surprised that the Chinese government used computer graphics and lip synching at the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics. They really shouldn't be. And we shouldn't be surprised when more such revelations come to light.

China's Communist Party are well-known as masters of propaganda; they regularly pull this type of stunt on their own people.

Anything that interfered/diminished the grand spectacle of the opening ceremonies were considered to be unacceptable by the Chinese government were altered:

• Replacing a Chinese child with buck teeth (and a beautiful singing voice) to a "cuter" little Chinese girl who lip-synched the song were considered necessary by the Chinese government.
• Computer-generated fireworks that were inserted into live coverage of the fireworks taking place in Beijing.
• Recruiting people off the streets to come in and fill the seats of Olympic venues so that it looks like the Olympics are being well-attended, to present an image of a unified and supportive Chinese nation.
• Training spectators on how to coordinate their cheers, what they are supposed to sound like, when they are supposed to clap, and all the other things that spectators do at a sporting event.

This is nothing new to the Chinese government; and don't be surprised when the closing ceremonies have a lot of the same alterations and omissions that the rest of the Beijing Olympics have.

In spite of all this, the Olympics seem to be going well so far. Athletes are winning medals, nations are cheering their champions, and some great stories have come out of the Olympics. Let's hope this continues.