The Olympic Games is not a political event, nor is politics the purview of the International Olympic Committee. That makes the IOC a bad choice to target with protests regarding China on human rights issues.
But how, when China has made this international Olympic torch run about how glorious and wonderful they are, can one just let it pass by without saying anything?
I was fairly disappointed when China was awarded the games for 2008. I assumed that a country like China would never be asked to host the Olympics. I do think that there was some hope at the time that the Olympics would be a turning point for the Chinese people; instead these past months leading up to the beginning of the torch run has seen them suffer some unbelievable brutality.
While the government of China expresses it's "disgust" with the protests occurring along their torch route, protesters promise to meet the relay everywhere it goes on it's way to Beijing. They do this for the people of China, the people of Tibet, even the people of Darfur.
However, I am not sure China actually cares. Sure, who wouldn't want to manage this public relations scenario a little better? No one likes it when someone rains on their parade. But for China, politically, economically, this protest changes nothing - and as long as Canada remains in the top three of China's export markets, a fat lot of good us being upset about anything will do.
Matter of fact, as long as Canadians continue merrily to buy products that say "Made in China" we might as well cede the futility of our protest.
Monday, April 07, 2008
Made in China
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4 comments:
Hate to break the news to you...but these protesters actually work for the commies in China! They have succeed where the CCP has failed for so long, by unifying the Chinese people, many of whom were critical of the commies' rule b4.
Hope they can collect a fat pay check
Cindy.
Do you have any idea how hard it is to buy items NOT made in the Evil Empire? I know, because I have had a personal boycott of China for about 3 or 4 years now. It makes shopping trips longer, that's for sure, but I feel better for not supporting that oppressive tyranny.
I think it more likely that the anonymous poster above is in the employ of the Chi-Coms than that the protesters are. jmo
"Do you have any idea how hard it is to buy items NOT made in the Evil Empire?"
Hence my cynicism.
I do remember a Chinese Leader's visit to Calgary where he stopped to address protesters - he said "before you yell at me check the label on your shirt." He was right of course, and they know it.
hi I saw your artical by chance when I was searching on the Internet for my essay.
I understand that you are all good people who pay pity on the protesters and willing to share other people's sorrow.
However, please please don't just hear the one-side news. The media doesn't tell the whole truth.
I feel very sad when I saw some of your friends saying the "Evil Empire",I'm from China,and please don't call my country evil empire. I love my China just as you and your friends love Canada. No country is perfect, if some people from other nationalities call Canada evil based on some unproved issue, what would you think?
About Tibet, i can tell u it is not like what you saw on TV. I lived in Tibet for a few years when I was a child, because my parents, who were from the mainland China, decided to volunteerly work there, under the tough environment. They, and a lot of Chinese youngers went, and helped people there. they helped them building up modern house and brought proper medicines, they also tried to protect the natural eco system in Tibet.
Well, it's been 6 months. Hope this can change your point of view a little bit.
Also, we Chinese make good and cheap products ^_^
Mengwei Tu
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