what does human rights have to do with the olympics?
I recently read this text written by a very good friend of mine, Karine Macri:
Made in China: Genocide ad Nauseum
As China continues its policy of violence against peaceful Tibetan demonstrators, I recoil at the fact that the World Olympics are only a few months away from their official launch, taking place this year, in Beijing, China. With recent major newspaper headlines, calling the Spiritual Leader of Tibet, the Dalai Lama, “helpless” in stopping the Chinese from attacking the protesters, as a US citizen, I wonder about the perversely selective foreign policy of the United States concerning the subject of genocide. As usual, conflicting reports about the numbers of casualties have appeared, citing a difference of 86 deaths, depending on who’s reporting. On March 20th 2008, the Chinese finally admitted to shooting protesters and their numbers show that 13 people have been killed. The Tibetan figures show that 99 people have been killed (including those in Lhasa), most of whom are monks, demanding the return of their land from the Chinese. These figures exclude the scores of arrests.
At first blush, the current situation in Tibet does not qualify as genocide, because technically a few protesters have been killed in voicing their opinions. There is no apparent systematic approach to annihilating the Tibetans as a whole. But that’s why human beings have the gift of reason. Reason allows us to look at things in context and when we do, we see a long-standing history of genocide being committed by the Chinese against the Tibetans. Why China was even selected as a contender for hosting the Olympics is beyond any honest reason. Imagine Turkey winning a human rights award (not for violations but for progress in the name of...). This is tantamount to China representing the best our world has to offer. I am saddened to think that in this day and age, when everything and everyone seems to be for sale, China might actually be the best our world has to offer.
China continues its white (and red) genocide against Tibet. The Tibetan government in exile is forced to conduct its business from Dharamsala, India. I wonder if they too, like the Armenians look over the guarded border and exclaim, “my what beautiful mountains we have!” The BBC reported that Condoleeza Rice has urged China to show restraint and enter into a dialogue with the Dalai Lama. I don’t know if she was laughing while saying it or if she was busy patting Chinese President, Hu Jintao, on the back. I should like to see the foreign policy of the United States reverberate the message of our own Declaration of Independence, “that all men are created equal,” and by that all men should be afforded the same right of protection when being savaged by a ruthless neighbour intent on their annihilation, not just select Bosnian Muslims because they are the cause du jour.
Our job at the Armenian Genocide Museum & Institute (AGMI) in Yerevan, Armenia is not to cast blame nor demand retribution; there are other organisations that cover those areas. Our job is to show the course of events. To document what happened in such a clear way, that the mere sight of this atrocity shocks the observer into intelligent action, ensuring this barbarism is never repeated. We are, at best the “groundskeepers” for our ancestors and act as a time capsule for those to come. There is no heroism in being the first genocide of the twentieth century. Much like there is no pomp behind being the first nation-state to accept Christianity as a national religion. Many say it, few practice the teachings diligently. That is why we acknowledge not only our own genocide but also the others that came before and those that have sadly, come after. We are the repository of facts.
These events in Tibet are as relevant today as our own genocide was while it was happening. Darfur, Sudan, still ongoing. What precept of goodwill and peace will the Chinese be functioning under during the Olympics? Perhaps they will change their ways. I hope they do. In the meantime, two more Tibetans were killed.
Made in China: Genocide ad Nauseum
As China continues its policy of violence against peaceful Tibetan demonstrators, I recoil at the fact that the World Olympics are only a few months away from their official launch, taking place this year, in Beijing, China. With recent major newspaper headlines, calling the Spiritual Leader of Tibet, the Dalai Lama, “helpless” in stopping the Chinese from attacking the protesters, as a US citizen, I wonder about the perversely selective foreign policy of the United States concerning the subject of genocide. As usual, conflicting reports about the numbers of casualties have appeared, citing a difference of 86 deaths, depending on who’s reporting. On March 20th 2008, the Chinese finally admitted to shooting protesters and their numbers show that 13 people have been killed. The Tibetan figures show that 99 people have been killed (including those in Lhasa), most of whom are monks, demanding the return of their land from the Chinese. These figures exclude the scores of arrests.
At first blush, the current situation in Tibet does not qualify as genocide, because technically a few protesters have been killed in voicing their opinions. There is no apparent systematic approach to annihilating the Tibetans as a whole. But that’s why human beings have the gift of reason. Reason allows us to look at things in context and when we do, we see a long-standing history of genocide being committed by the Chinese against the Tibetans. Why China was even selected as a contender for hosting the Olympics is beyond any honest reason. Imagine Turkey winning a human rights award (not for violations but for progress in the name of...). This is tantamount to China representing the best our world has to offer. I am saddened to think that in this day and age, when everything and everyone seems to be for sale, China might actually be the best our world has to offer.
China continues its white (and red) genocide against Tibet. The Tibetan government in exile is forced to conduct its business from Dharamsala, India. I wonder if they too, like the Armenians look over the guarded border and exclaim, “my what beautiful mountains we have!” The BBC reported that Condoleeza Rice has urged China to show restraint and enter into a dialogue with the Dalai Lama. I don’t know if she was laughing while saying it or if she was busy patting Chinese President, Hu Jintao, on the back. I should like to see the foreign policy of the United States reverberate the message of our own Declaration of Independence, “that all men are created equal,” and by that all men should be afforded the same right of protection when being savaged by a ruthless neighbour intent on their annihilation, not just select Bosnian Muslims because they are the cause du jour.
Our job at the Armenian Genocide Museum & Institute (AGMI) in Yerevan, Armenia is not to cast blame nor demand retribution; there are other organisations that cover those areas. Our job is to show the course of events. To document what happened in such a clear way, that the mere sight of this atrocity shocks the observer into intelligent action, ensuring this barbarism is never repeated. We are, at best the “groundskeepers” for our ancestors and act as a time capsule for those to come. There is no heroism in being the first genocide of the twentieth century. Much like there is no pomp behind being the first nation-state to accept Christianity as a national religion. Many say it, few practice the teachings diligently. That is why we acknowledge not only our own genocide but also the others that came before and those that have sadly, come after. We are the repository of facts.
These events in Tibet are as relevant today as our own genocide was while it was happening. Darfur, Sudan, still ongoing. What precept of goodwill and peace will the Chinese be functioning under during the Olympics? Perhaps they will change their ways. I hope they do. In the meantime, two more Tibetans were killed.
posted by Raffi N at 7:20 PM
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