Not so fast, I say. China may have played the shallow card, but it played it differently from how we would have. Americans are obsessed with artifice and perfection as it applies to our physical selves, but we’re equally obsessed with “authenticity.” Sure, we love our teeth-whitening technology and our freakishly flawless celebrities, but we also love to talk about “keeping it real.” Even when things are scripted, we like to pretend they’re not. Even when an actor or an athlete or a CEO has been honing his craft and building his resume for years, we pretend that he was just discovered, that he emerged fully formed out of a cabbage patch. When it comes to a pop heroine for the masses, as long as she’s suitably hot looking, it’s almost better if she’s not stratospherically talented but more “real.” All the easier that way to pretend that we have a chance at that kind of stardom ourselves.

The realm of popular music, of course, has long favored sex appeal over genuine talent. Granted, “American Idol” has introduced a hint of democracy into the corporate labyrinth of the music business (it’s only after the show that the winners are reshaped into wax figures), but, with a few exceptions, being really good-looking and just a little bit talented will get you further than being average-looking and extraordinarily talented. How else can you explain Pierce Brosnan butchering his songs in “Mama Mia!” or Janet Jackson’s entire career?

Don’t misunderstand me. Like most people who don’t work for the Chinese government, I think it was lame and creepy, not to mention antithetical to the spirit of the Games, to make Miaoke lip-sync to Peiyi’s voice. But for all its wrongheadedness, it revealed an appreciation of genuine talent. At least the best voice got heard.

Yes, China was deceptive. Yes, it belied its shallowness and insecurity by hiding Peiyi from view. But it also honored her in a way that the American reward system is largely incapable of. It recognized Peiyi’s talent for its own sake. It showed respect for her voice as an instrument wholly separate from her beauty.

Was looks-discrimination in play? You bet. But so was a discriminating ear.

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