The Good and the Bad of It
I just left the olympic torch relay today, the torch never showed up. They redirected the route completely at the last minute, trying to avoid the mayhem of the relays in France and Britain. I'm sure the reality of people scaling the GG bridge had something to do with it. It was a very interesting event, with no torch to witness people just marched in circles chanting in accord or protest however there was no widespread violence or arrests. My roomate picked up a sign that said Free Tibet on one side and on the other had a silhouette of a police man beating a man on the ground dripping blood onto the Olympic rings. I told him to be careful, due to the imagery, and sure enough we ended up surrounded by older Chinese people screaming at us!
I think that there is a grave misunderstanding about the Chinese in support of the Olympics. They are not in support of oppression and genocide, they are supporting a change in China. A China recognized around the world, becoming freer daily. A China that will one day hopefully give voice to the people.
While China's continued reliance upon oppression and failure to comment on Darfur are abhorrent we need not shun them. These peaceful protests should be used to promote debate with Beijing, to show Beijing that such discourse is positive, constructive, and a right of humanity. The world has an opportunity to help the change occuring in China, encourage debate and dialogue between differing opinions and ultimately continue China's development. The question remains will we ignore this opportunity to further promote human rights or call each other names and argue out of ignorance?
I think that there is a grave misunderstanding about the Chinese in support of the Olympics. They are not in support of oppression and genocide, they are supporting a change in China. A China recognized around the world, becoming freer daily. A China that will one day hopefully give voice to the people.
While China's continued reliance upon oppression and failure to comment on Darfur are abhorrent we need not shun them. These peaceful protests should be used to promote debate with Beijing, to show Beijing that such discourse is positive, constructive, and a right of humanity. The world has an opportunity to help the change occuring in China, encourage debate and dialogue between differing opinions and ultimately continue China's development. The question remains will we ignore this opportunity to further promote human rights or call each other names and argue out of ignorance?