Pressure on China Re: Human "rights" - Politics and Economics

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Pressure on China Re: Human "rights"

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03-27-2008 , 10:21 AM

canis582

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,447

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/mar/27/tibet.china

The western media, particularly in Europe is using the Olympics to take on China's human rights policy.

China is a large diverse nation that is still growing in terms of sphere of influence. How else is developed China supposed to maintain its power over its peasants without violence?

In light of China's stance towards Tibet and Taiwan, Imagine what the western media would say about the North's role in the US civil war.

03-27-2008 , 10:39 AM

bobman0330

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 24,234

I think what you're really asking here is how is the Chinese Communist Party elite supposed to maintain their control over the country without resorting to violence? And the answer is that they're not supposed to.

This is like asking how is Hannibal Lechter supposed to get enough people to eat without violence...

03-27-2008 , 10:47 AM

John Kilduff

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Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 3,025

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobman0330

03-27-2008 , 10:59 AM

HorridSludgyBits

adept

Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 829

When I first heard about the consideration of an Olympic boycott, my first reaction was "Not again." This will have even less impact than the 1980 boycott, except to hurt relations with a country that should pretty much own all our currency in 20 years.

I also think that the rest of the world will have difficulty recognizing the US as a moral authority on human rights in view of our present entanglements (not so much the Civil War).

03-27-2008 , 12:18 PM

John Kilduff

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Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 3,025

HorridSludgyBits: "When I first heard about the consideration of an Olympic boycott, my first reaction was "Not again." This will have even less impact than the 1980 boycott, except to hurt relations with a country that should pretty much own all our currency in 20 years.

I also think that the rest of the world will have difficulty recognizing the US as a moral authority on human rights in view of our present entanglements (not so much the Civil War)."

IMO, the notion of a country being a "moral authority" is rather empty, and the expectation that other countries would ever meaningfully alter their views and actions on the basis of another country's high "moral authority" is fairly useless.

"Moral authority" appears to me to be one of the least meaningful and most misleading phrases that has somehow managed to creep into our language and political discussions.

03-27-2008 , 05:15 PM

General Tsao

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Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 30,586

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Kilduff

"Moral authority" appears to me to be one of the least meaningful and most misleading phrases that has somehow managed to creep into our language and political discussions.

John, I'd appreciate a page or so long post with more of your opinion on this, followed by, "Thanks for Reading".

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