What Are You Hiding Behind Billboards?

I had a chance to video chat with my friend Alec tonight, who is in Beijing right now at the Olympics. He and another friend flew over about a week and a half ago and are there to cheer on their friend and fellow distance runner, Nick Willis of New Zealand.

It was interesting talking through the many experiences Alec has had in the short time he has been in China (including eating a silk worm and visiting the Great Wall of China among other things). Something that he said, though, stuck out to me more than any other. He said that while at the Great Wall you could peer down and see the China slums around you. You had to look carefully, though, because China had been very strategic in placing billboards and other obstacles at key points to try and cover up the blight.

Alec said that everywhere you go - areas that are popular tourist spots - were clean, and new in many ways. In his words walking around Beijing in these areas felt like it was a “blossoming city” while all the while you knew there were people in deep poverty in areas lesser seen. He said these parts looked much like slums you would see in places like Haiti. But, thanks to the China state, they were conveniently hidden behind billboards to spare us the sight and improve their own image.

How many times do we do the same? How many times do we “window dress” things that are broken and hurting in an effort to make ourselves look better to the world around us? What things are you hiding behind billboards?

Posted 08.18.2008

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