Chinese troops and police in riot gear are roving the Tibetan countryside in an attempt to squelch protest against their authority. Tourists are forced out so there will be no witness to the brutal response that China bears on anyone who dares protest against her. Accounts of deaths differ widely between Chinese officials and civilians living in the area. China disables internet access to the rest of the world.
This is the reality of China. This is the private face their leaders try not to show the world. The ugly face that emerges whenever the inconvenience of human rights flares up.
This is the China the world helps support via hundreds of billions of dollars in trade for her products, some tainted with toxins, some produced by child labor, many manufactured under horrendous working conditions.
This is the China that the United States trade deficit displaced production that could have supported 2,166,000 U.S. jobs.
This is the China that the International Olympic Committee chose to expose the world’s most beloved amateur athletes to.
Why did they do that? Why do we support China?
They are a part of the family of man. They are part of the fabric that makes this world complete. Altruistic reasons. But so too are terrorists, racists, bigots, authoritarians, murderers, rapists, and the list goes on, all members of our family. We shun these characters. We lock them up and execute them for their deeds. But an entire government, that is a different matter. Iran is boycotted for refusal to submit to U.S. requests to stop developing nuclear power. North Korea is ostracized for wanting to keep to themselves and developing nuclear power and a missile delivery system. We declared war on a sovereign nation under false suspicion of weapons of mass destruction. But when it comes to a country who already has nuclear power AND floods our shores with cheaply made products, we ignore their suppression of human rights and send our athletes and money to them.
It is better to have them as a friend than a foe. They outnumber us 4 to 1.
So, how do we tolerate a family relative who beats and kills his family members and sends us gifts? We pretend to not see through their veiled attempts at human rights while they imprison and kill monks demanding freedom for themselves and we increase our trade deficit with them.
When is the price of human rights high enough to stop trading with China? Are we willing to continue to support policies that kill protestors?
For the answer go to your neighborhood Wal-Mart and try to find a product not made in China. They are in every neighborhood now, right? Oh look, a cute little toy for junior and it’s only 99 cents! What a bargain!
No comments:
Post a Comment