Torch Songs And Many Wongs Can Make A Right

[JW Frogen]

There has been much discussion about how the Tibet torch protests have acheived nothing.

I think the torch protests did make an important point (one the Chinese people will never be allowed to hear, but that the Chinese leadership will hear, if not understand), and that is that despite the democratic world’s addiction to cheap manufactured Chinese goods, we do not see them as a power ready to step up as an equal in the area of human rights.

Because, no matter how flawed we are, they are not our equals, or anywhere close, in this regard.

And so the Olympics may teach them a valuable lesson, that global leadership is not just about economic power, but also about promoting religious tolerance, political dignity and personal freedom.

So the question posed to the Chinese is, is their growing power going to be based on hope or fear?

Cheap microwaves or human dignity?

[freediver]

I don't recall anyone saying it had achieved nothing. What kind of person expects the world to change overnight because a few hippies protest?

[JW Frogen]

You need to get out more Free-Dilly.

There has been criticism of the effectiveness or even wisdom of torch protest when the Olympics are as important to China, indeed their coming out party as a global power.

And they have had a shock effect in the Chinese leadership, who must be stunned at how critical much of the world is of the authoritarian nature of their rule, for the last decade they have been very effective at playing economic benefactor (increasing aid budgets) and engine of prosperity to the region, and allowing the strident anti US protests on everything from global warming to Iraq to act as a form of political cloaking shield for their far more draconian foreign policy and internal oppression.

Still, one effect the protesters never entertained was how the protests have stoked Chinese nationalism (always a more important force than Communism ever was, hence the break with the Soviet Union and the wars fought with fellow Communist state Vietnam). Younger, educated Chinese are some of the most strident and vocal supporters of their governments policies, both in Tibet and in relation to the Olympics.

Nationalism is the real glue holding China together, the gravitational force that keeps a rather corrupt and brutal one party state in power.