1 post tagged “olympic torch”

The Olympic torch was lit in Beijing, China on Monday and will be taken on 130-day journey throughout the world. What is your reaction to the Tibet activist groups who plan to demonstrate in large cities as the torch passes through because of China's plans to take the torch through Tibet?

I am boycotting the Olympics, not just because of Tibet. I am boycotting because of the one-child policy and the resulting forced abortions and abandonment of baby girls.

If that's not enough, I am boycotting the Beijing Olympics because China will not acknowledge Taiwan's independence, and are a quiet threat to Taiwan every day. (Our own government does not recognize democratic Taiwan as a separate country; a cowardly reaction to China.)

Maybe that is not enough? Maybe human rights violations aren't close enough to home--they do seem unreal, don't they? Well, maybe you are a pet owner. Have you heard about China's sickening, government-sponsored slaughter of dogs and cats? This didn't happen decades ago, this is in the last year (cats) and two years (dogs).

Don't try to tell me China is improving. It is only whitewash. Their oppression of Christianity and other religion continues, despite the watered-down churches the Chinese government allows to meet. (Yes, as long as they don't preach the second coming of Jesus and other "revolutionary" ideas, and as long as no children are "forced" to attend by their parents...). They continue to persecute house churches thanks to the broadly-interpreted constitution, which states that `No one may make use of religion to engage in activities that disrupt public order, impair the health of citizens or interfere with the educational system of the State.'' Who gets to interpret what is "disruptive"? Who gets to design the educational system of the State? Yes, the Chinese Government.

I have been to Beijing, central China and Shanghai. I have been inside a Chinese orphanage. I have seen just glimpses of the poverty that China is trying to hide from the world as they whitewash Beijing for the foreigners. If you still think China is worth supporting by watching the Olympics, I challenge you to watch all 38 minutes of this video. I couldn't. If you don't have time to watch the whole thing, just skip to the last 5 minutes... about the length of a commercial break.

In 1938, China purposely flooded the Yangtze river to keep Japanese troops from advancing any further. The Chinese government decided it would be best not to warn their citizens. It is estimated that at least 500,000 died in this flood. Fundamentally, their mentality has not changed. To this day, the Chinese government believes that they alone can judge what is best for China as a whole. They do not take individuals into account, they have no respect for human rights, religion, freedom...even basic human compassion escapes them.

I visited Tienamen Square and never before or since have I sensed evil, but I did that day. It was thick and heavy. I refuse to watch the Beijing Olympics, and I hope you will also consider taking a stand.