I think it is right to make a statement to China about all this. They make 1.5 million homeless to build Olympics, still have alot of repression along with reforms.
U.S. House Fans the Olympic Flame
They may have succeeded at reducing the smog, but China hasn't managed to clear the air on its record of human rights abuses. Mere days before the Opening Ceremonies in Beijing, the U.S. House hopes to take one last stand against the violent practices of this year's Olympic host. Today, representatives passed a resolution (419 to 1) introduced by Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) that condemns the regime for its record on coerced abortion and sterilization, repression in Tibet, and support of likeminded tyrants in Myanmar and Sudan. Although Democrats play down the horrors in China, pastors continue to suffer for their faith under the brutal practices of the government. Unfortunately, persecuted Christians are not mentioned in the resolution, but it wasn't for lack of trying.
FRC has never heard back from the State Department on the plight of the Chinese pastors now sentenced to remote labor camps. Although our pleas have been ignored, it appears that those of a small group of Chinese-American Christians have not. Yesterday, President Bush met with five leaders of China Aid before his trip to the Games. If the President insists on attending the Olympics, we continue to encourage him to speak openly about the need for religious freedom and accountability on human rights.
China has one of the worst dictators in the world. I thought it was a horrible idea to have the Olympics there - kind of like looking the other way, ignoring the abuses to the people there - for a sporting event. We still won't do business with Cuba, and yet we think it's just fine to do tons of business with China - even though they export poisoned products to us.
The members go on record condemning or that or condemning that, all the while we send support, financial, military and so on, to countries that continue to repress the people of the countries.
The noise about China and its record on human rights is well known, but when we as the leader of the free world continue to support and prop up some of the worlds dictators, the condemnations seem a bit shallow.
Just a thought...
Hosting the Olympics there actually can and will have lasting, long-term effects on China, hopefully positive ones. It's casting a spotlight on China, and they have had to respond. Journalists from all over the world will have spent months there preparing. More people will have their eyes tuned into China than ever before. Just as important, as China opens up to the rest of the world, its citizens, for better and worse, are affected and influenced more and more by the outside world. And the pressure they apply on their own government is the key to lasting change.
I have a handful of friends touring there right now, and they are telling me that there is a palpable excitement by the folks they have met, about showing off their culture to people from all over the world.