Posted by
Rich from NW Indiana on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 5:58:12 PM
I believe most liberal's don't think about China's government much. They believe the lie that China is at least semi-free. But yet for many Tibet is a pet cause. Not that it does the people of Tibet much good, like most liberal causes its all talk and no real meaningful action. But that the state of most liberal causes.
China is far from being free. It is a communist state, pure and simple. Yes, they have opened their economy to some free market ideas, its the only reason there is any money there. In fact a lot of money. The Chinese leadership saw the U.S. take down the Soviet Union by bankrupting it. So they don't want that to happen to them (they understand Ronald Reagan far better then most Americans do).
So they allowed economic reform. Since the communist system is an economic failure they gave up on it. If they thought that they could get rid of the economic reforms and keep the money coming in, you know they would stop it in a flash. They figure that if people have at least some money they will forget that they live in a communist dictatorship. It works for many inside and outside China. Of course it doesn't work for the rest.
Like anyone who is religious. Communism hates religion, especially Christianity. They see religious people as backwards, stupid and misguided. So they are quietly dealt with, out of camera range and away from reporters and the media (not that the media cares about this outrage all that much). This happens not only in Tibet but all of China too. So in some ways worrying only about Tibet lack of freedom is only part of the problem, Chinese people are not free either.
Which gets us to the Olympics. Since the Olympic committee doesn't care about "politics" the games end up getting held in places like Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union, and now Communist China. Places that the Olympics should never be, but where they end up anyway. Something the Olympics should deal with but they don't. So Tibetian activists, which include many American pop musicians, created an album supporting Tibet. Since music is often sold online in places like Apple Computers itunes, it was released there three days before the Olympics in China started.
It was offered free to Olympic athletes, and many have downloaded the album for their ipods. But surprise, surprise, China blocked itunes! Of course that is no surprise to Chinese citizens whom the internet is censored all the time. Good luck reading the bald eagle or townhall for that matter in China. Its blocked.
But there is big surprise in the liberal community! Why would they do that!
Thats what Communists do!