Sally Jenkins: "A Torch Job To Liberty"
Filed Under Human Rights, China | Posted on April 21, 2008
This comes via the Tibet will be Free blog:
Sally Jenkins writes a great article in the Washington Post criticizing the International Olympic Committee, China, and well, just about everyone vis a vis the Beijing Olympics. Here a few quotes not cited on Tibet Will be Free:
To the Chinese government, the word “harmony” is apparently synonymous with suppression. The Olympic torch is in danger of being extinguished for good, but not by demonstrators. Every day it’s put out by Chinese officials and their exported paramilitary force, who seem to think the Olympic spirit is not about accommodating the world, but about forcing the world to accommodate them.
Why shouldn’t they think that, given the feeble responses of the International Olympic Committee and virtually every government (except Australia’s) to their bullying? The awarding of the Summer Games to Beijing was supposed to change the behavior of Chinese officials on human rights. Instead, Chinese officials are changing the behavior of others — even the U.S. president.
By far the creepiest evidence of how Beijing officials have influenced speech is the robotic uniformity of phrasing employed by the IOC and its top corporate sponsors. Clearly, someone has circulated China-favorable talking points and reminded them the government controls 1.3 billion consumers. A few weeks ago, the IOC was asked if it was concerned human rights abuses were actually increasing with the approach of the Games. IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies said, “We believe the Olympics are a force for good.”
The way to deal with blackmail is to call it out publicly. If Chinese officials don’t want mouthy outsiders to go off script and address the uncomfortable questions raised by a Beijing Games, they shouldn’t have invited us. It’s the deal they made. And on which they are now trying to renege. They shouldn’t be allowed to.
Read the full article here.
One Response to “Sally Jenkins: "A Torch Job To Liberty"”
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Hi, essential spirit. I’m Korean uni student lives in seoul. My english is not so good, especially reading, so I couldn’t read all of your writings. But I do know you are interseted in the right of the Tibet.
There were torch’s to Beijing olympic in Seoul today(27. april). There were over ten thounds of Chinese came to watch that ceremony.
And those chinese were very aggresive to the people who has negetive opinion abt China. I felt that it’s impossible to talk to them.
I link one video. Which shows many chinese attacks one tibetan. At that time he was doing ONE-PERSON-DEMONSTRATION. And chinese rushed into him and attack him and Korean police. Some of them are in hospital now
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wT4scEwMIc
I just want to talk to the chinese: It is not the only solution act aggressive. Please listen what other people say to your government. About abused human rights from your government.
And after finish all these things. Please think again what you really did.
Thanx for all the information what I got from your website.
Bye.