The 2008 Olympic Games are almost here.  Big event.  Big Money.  A lot is riding on these games especially a country's' reputation.  In 1936 during the Berlin Games people noticed that it was a massive public relations boost for the Nazi Regime.  Germany was seen as a favorable host and so were its' atrocious actions against the Jews which were inexcusable and unpardonable. Apparently, the same international favoritism will be extended to China, a country notorious for its' human rights' abuses, simple because they're hosting this years' games.  They were removed from the list of human rights' abusers.  Once again unpardonable.  China abuses their own children!  Falon Gung.  And especially Tibet.

In a fit of arrogance some of our country's leaders decided to come to the aid of Tibet and criticize China for its' abuses.  It has been en vogue to support Tibets' freedom for several decades and no one wants more to be "in" vogue than a politicians.  Say one thing, do another I think is an oath most say before entering office.  Now should Chinas' actions be condemned?   Absolutely!  However, it's a little hypocritical given our invasion of Iraq.  Despite what the brain-dead militant right think, it's not just the hippie peace loving liberals that think the Iraq War is an unjust war most of the world thinks this and China is no different.

The Chinese government in an annual response to Washington's criticism of China's human rights record, labeled the United States as arrogant, and highlighted the hypocrisy of the red, white and blue.

"America's arrogant critique on the human rights of other countries are always accompanied by a deliberate ignoring of serious human rights problems on its own territory."  Here are some excerpts.

"This was not only inconsistent with universally recognised norms of international relations, but also exposed the double standards and downright hypocrisy of the United States on the human rights issue, and inevitably impaired its international image."

The US-led war in Iraq that began in 2003 was one of the many issues of concern highlighted by China in the report, entitled "The Human Rights Record of the United States in 2007."

"The United States has a notorious record of trampling on the sovereignty of and violating human rights in other countries," it said.

"The invasion of Iraq by American troops has produced the biggest human rights tragedy and the greatest humanitarian disaster in modern world."

China also criticized civilian deaths in Afghanistan, secret prisons and torture of detainees.

"'Secret prison' and 'torturing prisoners' have become synonymous with America."

Sad.  This is part of the "blowback" for our international human right's abuses.  We've lost the morality as a nation to respond to the crimes of others.  Perhaps I should say that it's the American government that has lost its' right to respond, but the people who invariably are polar opposites still can speak up.  America would be such a better country if her people were as concerned about her actions as they are concerned about American Idol.