olympics of oppression
13 Apr 2008 09:39 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mayoraaseiUnless you've been living in a bubble impenetrable to news and current affairs, you must have heard of the current impasse of Tibetans versus Chinese government that has sent the Olympic torch scuttling through the back streets of San Francisco like some criminal cargo needing to be furtively shipped overseas at the first opportunity.
It's a situation that's really quite hilarious XD
What was obviously regarded as an opportunity for a glorious display of China has diminished to a less-than-glamorous hide-and-seek game through cordoned off and deserted streets. Chinese government's whines for human rights activists not to turn it "political" has fallen on deaf ears - because since the moment China promised to right its human rights record in exchange for the right to host the Olympic Games, the Beijing Olympics has become inevitably political of their own doing.
Instead of taking measure to stop human rights abuses, with the Games imminent on the horizon, the oppression has only gotten worse. The Chinese government seems to have misunderstood the meaning of "setting straight its human rights record", and believes that suppressing information on oppressed groups by increasing the persecution on outspoken members of such groups amounts to the same thing. Forget about doing good, it's all about looking good is their motto.
Before we placate ourselves thinking that Tibet is the only issue the Chinese government will have to face up to, let us not forget about:
- Chinese Christians
- Uighur Muslims
- Falun Gong
- Human rights activists
Not to forget are its use of authoritarian tactics that involve manipulation of its own media and its obstruction of free information from the internet; its banning of what it regards as "subversive" individuals to enter China or participate in the Games; its implicit support of aggressive regimes beyond the border; and the continual problems of death penalty, torture, and negligent attitudes towards public health and wellbeing, all built on the attitude of "maintaining face" - where bad news is suppressed and manipulated to look good.
One fine example is Kevin Rudd's speech in Peking University urging the Chinese government do better on the Tibetan issue was completely omitted from all state-controlled media, and any mention of his comments on the Games was simply the few diplomatic words where he expressed his belief that China should still be allowed to host.
In a world where economic considerations often outweigh human dignity, the little we can do is to raise public awareness of the extent and severity of atrocities that occur. With the Olympics looming less than four months away and no sign of China relenting under mounting pressure, the least we can say is that the Olympics has put the choice at China's disposal, and whatever decision it makes on human rights, history will be the final judge.
It's a situation that's really quite hilarious XD
What was obviously regarded as an opportunity for a glorious display of China has diminished to a less-than-glamorous hide-and-seek game through cordoned off and deserted streets. Chinese government's whines for human rights activists not to turn it "political" has fallen on deaf ears - because since the moment China promised to right its human rights record in exchange for the right to host the Olympic Games, the Beijing Olympics has become inevitably political of their own doing.
Instead of taking measure to stop human rights abuses, with the Games imminent on the horizon, the oppression has only gotten worse. The Chinese government seems to have misunderstood the meaning of "setting straight its human rights record", and believes that suppressing information on oppressed groups by increasing the persecution on outspoken members of such groups amounts to the same thing. Forget about doing good, it's all about looking good is their motto.
Before we placate ourselves thinking that Tibet is the only issue the Chinese government will have to face up to, let us not forget about:
- Chinese Christians
- Uighur Muslims
- Falun Gong
- Human rights activists
Not to forget are its use of authoritarian tactics that involve manipulation of its own media and its obstruction of free information from the internet; its banning of what it regards as "subversive" individuals to enter China or participate in the Games; its implicit support of aggressive regimes beyond the border; and the continual problems of death penalty, torture, and negligent attitudes towards public health and wellbeing, all built on the attitude of "maintaining face" - where bad news is suppressed and manipulated to look good.
One fine example is Kevin Rudd's speech in Peking University urging the Chinese government do better on the Tibetan issue was completely omitted from all state-controlled media, and any mention of his comments on the Games was simply the few diplomatic words where he expressed his belief that China should still be allowed to host.
In a world where economic considerations often outweigh human dignity, the little we can do is to raise public awareness of the extent and severity of atrocities that occur. With the Olympics looming less than four months away and no sign of China relenting under mounting pressure, the least we can say is that the Olympics has put the choice at China's disposal, and whatever decision it makes on human rights, history will be the final judge.
