It's all about image

I was watching a very interesting show about China the other evening on Discovery HD Atlas. This three-hour program covered all aspects of life in this vast country of over 3 billion people. China is a country that spans a large portion of this world of ours and is as diversified as there are grains of sands on a beach.

One of the things that amazed me about these people is that they are all hard-working, driven, slim people. Their society does not tolerate being different or the use of drugs (death to drug dealers). The people exercise en masse and pictures of their performing their karate, tai chi, and other exercises reminded me of ants. Because of their ambition to be the best in the world, we have accommodated them by exporting all our factories and goods to them (while we put our people out of work). In fact, we have borrowed money from the Chinese to perpetuate the war in Iraq.

The thing that impressed me most, however, was the lack of good dental hygiene by the general population.

It seems our image of being perfect in every way has not impacted these people yet. They stress eating well, exercising a great deal, and living a long, healthy life. This does not, however, extend to taking care of their teeth. Everyone shown in the program had teeth like this.

Here in America, however, we value this look and spend countless millions of dollars, time, pain, and energy to achieve it. (I personally feel humiliated because as I was growing up my family was too poor to afford the $500.00 it would have cost to put braces on my teeth.) Have you tried all the whitening agents available today to have your pearly whites looking like this? Again, countless millions of dollars, time, pain, and energy have been expended so our mouths could be model perfect.

The other thing I noticed was how the Chinese perceive themselves. Most Chinese have been lured by the temptation of riches and everything that is associated with wealth. They are importing smart Americans to design everything from high-end shopping malls to fancy buildings so their rich and elite can live the cosmopolitan life. (The average Chinese cannot afford to purchase a beer at most of these eating establishments.) The way the Chinese attempt to homogenize themselves is by getting plastic surgery, especially to westernize their eyes.

This before and after shot emphasizes what the Chinese (and the Japanese for that matter) are willing to do to their bodies to achieve a more western persona.

This is the image they are trying to attain.


And this.
I have come to the conclusion that the American version of happiness is based on image and how we perceive ourselves. Our ideals are dictated by advertising agencies, the media, the film and modeling industry, clothing manufacturers (who in this world can fit into a size 0?), and the diet gurus (look at me, I ate Fadish Systems' Empty Calories and lost 400 pounds, and everybody thinks I'm sexy).

For your information, Americans are the fattest people on earth and other westernized (fast food eating) countries are trying hard to catch up.

Do we value ourselves more if we look like this model or Barbie? Do most of us go through life worrying about those extra pounds, a few wrinkles, or some grey hair?

Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn if I'm carrying a few extra pounds, I have wrinkles, and have lots of grey hair. No, I will not color my hair and, no, I will not get plastic surgery to make myself look like Cher. My aim in life is to be happy and to make those around me happy. Can you say the same?

So what if my teeth are a little crooked and are not as white as a model's. I guess that's what the average Chinese also says. Unless . . . they probably would go for orthodontia if they could afford it. Then they could look like the rest of those westerners who pride themselves on having a Barbie persona -- empty-headed but looking good.