China the bully

So I'm sure everyone has heard about the recent riots in Tibet. With the Olympics a few months away, China has a significant issue they must deal with before athletes from around the world touch down in Beijing. Unfortunately, China's preferred method of dealing with intranational problems is an ironfist, especially concerning its minorities.

The state-controlled media, as usual, is not being 100% candid with what is happening in Tibet. They have put most of the focus on property destruction and terrorization of the Han Chinese living there. Missing is a mention of the 50 years of Chinese intimidation, unfair treatment, and the systematic extermination of Tibetan culture. In fact, based on Tibet ALONE, China would be among the worst offenders of human rights since WWII.

China has always insisted that they have "liberated" the Tibetans. Seriously? This liberation must have been news to the Tibetans in the 50s. And judging by the periodic uprisings against China, I don't think the Tibetans took too kindly to the liberation. The Tibetan people have made this point abundantly clear : "We don't want you here and you really have no business being here". Tibet has a different culture, ethnic identity, and history from China. Add that to Beijing's hardline stance against Tibetan cultural expression and you can see why lingering, and multi-generational, resentment exists against the Chinese.

China does similar things in the Xinjiang province to tribal Muslims. During Ramadan, Chinese authorities stuff food down their throats as they try to fast in accordance with the tenets of their religion. That's plain disgusting. I know the PRC doesn't sanction religion, but is it really necessary to do something like that? It reeks of ethnic discrimination, in my opinion.

What's worse is that the West just sits there and takes China's blatant disregard for human rights. No-one has the balls to call out China because they have their hands in the economic pot, and are afraid China will slap their wrists if they speak out. The US, in particular, has been largely silent because China for the last 5 years has basically propped up the American economy. Bush's deficit spending has indirectly led to Chinese control of many American financial instruments. In other words, they have our government by the balls. In part, that's why I really admire Nancy Pelosi for visiting the Dalai Lama and speaking out against China. For once, consideration for human rights trumps politics.

When you consider the net effect of China's transgressions (in the modern era, no less), it's really a shame that China was awarded the Olympics. In many ways, the actions of the Chinese government are anathema to the spirit of the Olympics. China may be moving towards vaulting past America and Europe in economic terms, but they are still mired with Burma and Zimbabwe amongst the world's most egregious offenders of human rights.