Perhaps it's the absence of organised religion, but the Chinese are quick to link natural disasters, accidents and violence to a combination of divine intervention and heavenly anger.
Now China's online soothsayers are linking Beijing's Olympic mascots to a string of misfortunes in the run-up to the Games.
Four out of the five "fuwas" - literally friendly toys - are being tied in to the natural and human disasters visited on China during the turbulent build-up.
Jingjing - the Panda - an animal closely associated with Sichuan Province, epicentre of last month's terrible quake.
Huanhuan - the Olympic torch - the round the world torch relay was a PR disaster of awesome proportions.
Yingying - the Antelope - native to Tibet, the location of the March riots and the military crackdown.
Nini - the Kite - the kite city of Weifang is located in Shandong, scene of April's deadly train crash that killed 72 people.
Beibei - the Fish - a Chinese sturgeon found only in the Yangtze River. Is this the location for China's next major disaster, ask cyberspace doom merchants.
:-O
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The crackdown on religious dissidents in China in advance of the Olympics will be the topic of my show, News Talk Online on Paltalk.com Friday July 18 at 5 PM New York time.
Go to www.garybaumgarten.com and click on the link to join in the conversation. There is no charge.
Thanks
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