I think it's time to give chna a break.

From the lip-syncing imbroglio, to reports on tween gymnasts and Han Chinese kids posing as ethnic minorities, to coverage that’s focused on human rights, pollution and China’s challenge to West, one could argue that Beijing is getting kicked in the teeth on a daily basis by the Western press.

Are we being too tough?

Some people, like Tim Wu, a law professor at Columbia, think it’s a legitimate question to ask. Others in the fraternity of journalists say “we’re just doing our job.” A few more think we’re pathetic and should be tougher on the Red Chinese.
Bronze medalist Zhou Chunxiu of China, left, accompanied by ...
Bronze medalist Zhou Chunxiu of China, left, accompanied by her teammate Zhu Xiaolin, runs with a Chinese flag after the women’s marathon during the athletics competitions in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2008.(AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

My view of it, as usual, is a muddle. On the factual stuff, what’s happening in and around the Games, I say let ‘em have it. I’ve spent years reporting in China, wrote lots of tough stories, got tossed out after the June 4th crackdown in 1989, had my share of run-ins with the local authorities, and saw the thuggishness of the one-party state up close and personal. I have no problem with tough pieces.

But as to the big-think on the meaning of the Beijing Olympics, my basic take is this: the Games are to the punditocracy what a hanging curveball is to an aging home-run hitter. Slamming China is the simplest way out and if you whiff, well, at least that’s better than trying to beat out a grounder. Context, nuance, background, depth of reporting, all that kind of stuff really messes up the prevailing narrative which is this - China is a systemic challenge to our way of life and these Olympics prove it.