Misplaced Priorities

April 15, 2008
by Cliff Carson

I noticed in today's paper that the Olympic Torch relay through Argentina went very smoothly. The protesters were fenced off back out of the route of the torch. I have wondered what all the demonstrations were about and why were there demonstrations against China holding the Olympic games.

I am aware of the Tibet angle, but I'm also aware that Tibet is a Province of China and as such China would have a right to suppress demonstrations in that country, kind of like the United States suppressing demonstrations in our own country. I believe that our Constitution allows for demonstrating, but some might recall that this current administration doesn't believe in the Constitution - when security is involved.

I believe that China is using the same argument that Bush has been known to use.

The Tibet demonstrations began on the anniversary of a 1959 Tibetan failed uprising against Chinese rule. The Dalai Lama fled to India and set up a Government in exile after that event. The current demonstrations were peaceful for a few days then turned violent when demonstrators attacked Chinese civilians, burned shops, and generally created mayhem. After 22 people were killed (according to China, or 140 according to India) the Chinese Government moved to quell the protests. That's when the human rights issues were raised by demonstrators in this country and elsewhere.

Wouldn't you think that the American people would demonstrate against the horrific killing and destruction we have caused in Iraq? But they seem content to put their feet to the pavement for some internal issue in Asia. Twenty-two people killed in four days seems peaceful when compared to the carnage in Iraq where twenty two dead would seem like a cease fire.

But there are no demonstrations against the Iraqi war, because well maybe the people of America believe that the lives and liberty of Iraqis are not of much consequence. Seems like misplaced priority to me.

And in this past weekends Populist Party Commentary, Phillip A. Farruggio's "False Pretense...False Politicians" really tells it like it is - Its not a war, Its an occupation. And further in the article that the blame for the war/occupation is now being blamed on the Iraqis by Senator Levine! This absurdity of thought by Levin is not his alone, I've heard it stated by several politicians and Generals who need to provide a sellable reason to continue the plunder of Iraq. And alligator tears are accompanying all this killing and mayhem as a concern for the "good" of the Iraqi people.

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I am not a proponent of China. What I am is a proponent of honesty in Government. Corruption so permeates our current Government that the public no longer has any expectations of honest or moral leadership. So as a diversion we the people demonstrate against the Olympics being held in China and use as the rationale that China is a human rights abuser. I believe that what we have done in Iraq is not only abuse of Human rights but is a war crime.

We need to Impeach Bush, Cheney, and Friends and then bring charges and try them for their Iraqi Crimes.

As an aside, in the same paper today, China sentenced Chen Liangyu, a former member of China's Politburo, for taking bribes and abusing power. Do you think we have some members of our current government who fit this bill? Think they will ever be charged and be sentenced to jail? Chen was accused of enriching himself, friends, and relatives thru shady financial and real estate deals, Chinese Government officials said about $4.8 Billion.

Sounds so much like our current mess that maybe those demonstrators really meant to be demonstrating about something else. You think?

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