As for playing by the rules, friendly competition, and mutual respect, the message from China is clear: forget it. These Olympics have been a reality TV political lesson for the world. As we all know, reality TV isn’t really real. But the truths it tells about our culture by way of its content constitute as harsh a lesson in cultural decay as any. China’s spectacle isn’t a portrait of decay, but rather one of an ascendant culture of power, illiberalism, and lies.

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