Tuesday, April 8, 2008

...and i thought people liked tazer guns and cattle prods

“China condemned the disruption of the Olympic torch relay in London and Paris, saying the "despicable activities" of pro-Tibet activists had tarnished the Olympic spirit.”

Apparently, the draconian methods of repression which the Chinese State employs against dissenters bestows a sleek, shiny, finishing gloss to the Olympic spirit. How fitting that the Olympic Flame relay - a concept originally introduced in 1936 at the behest of Hitler and his Nazi party as a celebratory propagandha tool - is once again being utilized by an oppressive, totalitarian Olympic hosting country.

I couldn’t help but evince a smirk upon hearing the news that the Olympic flame was periodically extinguished along its route in Paris. I’m elated that China’s attempt to promote itself on the world stage as a respectable, emerging diplomatic and economic power is being eclipsed by its oppression of the brave internal Tibetan dissenters and their external supporters around the world.

If China wants its Olympic spotlight, let’s let China have it. Really, let’s let her have it! Let’s start talking about China -

Let’s talk about Yang Chunlin, a land rights defender and Olympic critic, who was sentenced to five years imprisonment this past March for “inciting subversion of state power.” Executive Director Sharon Hom of the International NGO, Human Rights in China explains that (Chinese) “Prosecutors reportedly argued that Yang Chunlin’s petition stained China's international image, but it’s the ongoing crackdowns on critical voices by the Chinese authorities that are damaging China’s credibility and legitimacy at home and abroad.”

Let’s talk about Human Rights Lawyer Zheng Enchong and all his colleagues, who are subject to periodic incarceration, torture and harassment by the Chinese police force.

Let us talk about Zheng Enchong, former teacher and author of the 2000 book, Corruption in the Communist Party of China, who was recently arrested under the catch-all lasso of “inciting subversion of state power,” when he called for democratic state reforms.

If it’s attention China wants. There are plenty of things to talk about. Let’s not allow China to drag the ceremony back to the dredges from which it originated.



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