Olympic Athletes & Guests Beware, China Is Not San Francisco
Ken Hughes
April 12, 2008
When visiting China your individual rights may not be what you expect, being an American in a foreign land doesnīt mean you take your United States Constitutional rights with you. Anyone visiting China during the Olympic festivities should be aware it doesnīt mean the rules observed by the Chinese government wonīt be strictly enforced. China isnīt investing time effort and money in the Olympics to allow foreigners to come and disrupt the games with their political statements. The Olympics are sporting events not political platforms or so the Chinese see them.
Foreigners will be watched 24 / 7 even in the showers. Their every move will be cataloged and evaluated by Chinese standards. One misstep and the hammer comes down, Chinese interrogation isnīt present. Been there seen that, I was fined $ 3.00 for smoking in bed, [how the hell did they know?]
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for China to showcase the progress itīs made in the past quarter century. They arenīt likely to allow anyone to demonstrate, foreigner or citizen alike it makes no difference.
The Chinese see Tibet in much the same way America saw the Confederate States prior to the Civil War of 1865. We all know how that turned out. If the worlds population is allowed to divide into "Family States" as it was in centuries past how can anyone survive in peace and prosperity? Men band together into nations for the benefit of the many, to curb family and regional bickering to secure the peace and foster trade.
The Chinese donīt understand the individual putting their own interests above those of the state. Compared to the early days of the PRC China is as close to a western democracy today as itīs likely to get. No one is asking the Tibetan public what they want. It seems to be the Tibetan Monks who are opposed to being an autonomies state within China. This is an internal debate better left to those involved to put it bluntly, do-gooders butt out.
Whatīs the difference if outsiders enter a country with guns blazing, as Bush is accused of doing in Iraq? Howīs that different than a group of well-meaning self-proclaimed human-rights activists disrupting an event the Chinese Government has spent hundreds of hours and millions dollars on? Something that was to be the Chinese Nations proudest moment, it matters little if the invasion is with guns or bullhorns it still disrupts the internal workings of a sovereign nations affairs. What gives these loudmouths the right to determine how others conduct their nations business?
Putting on a dress and shaving ones head doesnīt make a person a sage. Religion by its very definition is meant to make people feel good about themselves. How can millions of Chinese feel good about themselves when their finest hour meant to showcase their nations accomplishments to the world is disrupted by a few and facilitated by many outsiders?
Most Americans are not very proud of or fond of the San Franciscans they are in fact a national embarrassment. We see them as a radical fringe to be tolerated. Whatever America stands for the West Coast fringe is against. They canīt seem to get it in their heads what America is all about, the majority decides until the minority becomes the majority then they decide its called democracy.
China isnīt a democracy, in China the minority decides for the majority itīs their system and anyone who canīt accept it I suggest you stay away from the Olympics. China isnīt going to suspend the rules for a few guests for a few days or weeks. China has looked around the world at both the positive and the negative aspects of how nations treat their people. Chinaīs designed a society that perhaps in the eyes of westerners isnīt perfect but for the average Chinese it far surpasses anything theyīve know for thousands of years itīs the Chinese peopleīs choice to make. Neither the San Franciscans nor the Tibetan Monks are free to demand change.
Iīve been to China twice, once shortly after the PRC took over in 1949 and again in the late 1980īs when China opened its doors to western trade. The post Red Revolution generation has performed miracles in every aspect of Chinese society. Rather than being condemned they should be applauded for their advancements especially in human rights.
Last week a group of University Students from East Lancing Michigan created a riot destroying property and injuring students. It was hardly worth a headline beyond the Lancing area. The same numbers of Tibetan Monks create a riot and it becomes an international incident. Isnīt this just one more way of the media making mischief?
Perfection is not an absolute science itīs more a perception. We need to remember the old metaphors, "Walk a mile in his sandals, throwing the first stone, etc" before we condemn others who donīt follow Americas imperfect ways.
Foreigners will be watched 24 / 7 even in the showers. Their every move will be cataloged and evaluated by Chinese standards. One misstep and the hammer comes down, Chinese interrogation isnīt present. Been there seen that, I was fined $ 3.00 for smoking in bed, [how the hell did they know?]
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for China to showcase the progress itīs made in the past quarter century. They arenīt likely to allow anyone to demonstrate, foreigner or citizen alike it makes no difference.
The Chinese see Tibet in much the same way America saw the Confederate States prior to the Civil War of 1865. We all know how that turned out. If the worlds population is allowed to divide into "Family States" as it was in centuries past how can anyone survive in peace and prosperity? Men band together into nations for the benefit of the many, to curb family and regional bickering to secure the peace and foster trade.
The Chinese donīt understand the individual putting their own interests above those of the state. Compared to the early days of the PRC China is as close to a western democracy today as itīs likely to get. No one is asking the Tibetan public what they want. It seems to be the Tibetan Monks who are opposed to being an autonomies state within China. This is an internal debate better left to those involved to put it bluntly, do-gooders butt out.
Whatīs the difference if outsiders enter a country with guns blazing, as Bush is accused of doing in Iraq? Howīs that different than a group of well-meaning self-proclaimed human-rights activists disrupting an event the Chinese Government has spent hundreds of hours and millions dollars on? Something that was to be the Chinese Nations proudest moment, it matters little if the invasion is with guns or bullhorns it still disrupts the internal workings of a sovereign nations affairs. What gives these loudmouths the right to determine how others conduct their nations business?
Putting on a dress and shaving ones head doesnīt make a person a sage. Religion by its very definition is meant to make people feel good about themselves. How can millions of Chinese feel good about themselves when their finest hour meant to showcase their nations accomplishments to the world is disrupted by a few and facilitated by many outsiders?
Most Americans are not very proud of or fond of the San Franciscans they are in fact a national embarrassment. We see them as a radical fringe to be tolerated. Whatever America stands for the West Coast fringe is against. They canīt seem to get it in their heads what America is all about, the majority decides until the minority becomes the majority then they decide its called democracy.
China isnīt a democracy, in China the minority decides for the majority itīs their system and anyone who canīt accept it I suggest you stay away from the Olympics. China isnīt going to suspend the rules for a few guests for a few days or weeks. China has looked around the world at both the positive and the negative aspects of how nations treat their people. Chinaīs designed a society that perhaps in the eyes of westerners isnīt perfect but for the average Chinese it far surpasses anything theyīve know for thousands of years itīs the Chinese peopleīs choice to make. Neither the San Franciscans nor the Tibetan Monks are free to demand change.
Iīve been to China twice, once shortly after the PRC took over in 1949 and again in the late 1980īs when China opened its doors to western trade. The post Red Revolution generation has performed miracles in every aspect of Chinese society. Rather than being condemned they should be applauded for their advancements especially in human rights.
Last week a group of University Students from East Lancing Michigan created a riot destroying property and injuring students. It was hardly worth a headline beyond the Lancing area. The same numbers of Tibetan Monks create a riot and it becomes an international incident. Isnīt this just one more way of the media making mischief?
Perfection is not an absolute science itīs more a perception. We need to remember the old metaphors, "Walk a mile in his sandals, throwing the first stone, etc" before we condemn others who donīt follow Americas imperfect ways.
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