Suicide (n) - The most preventable type of death.

This is the ongoing story of a species whose leaders have a death wish, and whose members at large mostly don't. Also, sometimes they got to wondering what should be done about a large geopolitical concentration of fellow beings operating under the brand name "China".

"China's rise and ongoing transformation are the global story." - Bob Costas, who went on to point out that the country is home to one-fifth of humanity, commenting on the close of the Beijing Olympics, August 24, 2008.

"So who will be Tibet's Charlie Wilson? Who will bring the Chinese empire to its knees? Who will stop it from devouring the Earth's resources, sponsoring genocidal regimes, displacing its own people by the millions and keeping them in the dark about events within their own country?" - Glenn Hurowitz, April 14, 2008.

"China has become the world's leading polluter, and also continues to be one of the worst, if not the worst, human and worker's rights offender on the planet. However, considering that we imported 200 billion dollars in goods from China in 2004 (the most recent year for which I could find a figure), or about 10% of the entire Chinese economy in 2004, we are hardly in a position to criticize. Whenever you consume 10% of another nation's economy, you are giving more than tacit approval to the means by which that produces its economy." - Chris Bowers, August 9, 2008.

After reading that Glenn Hurowitz article back in April, it occurred to me that the leaders of China, whatever their faults, probably have one main goal in mind all the time: don't be another Russia. Don't let the country dissolve into an overtly kleptocratic enterprise whose young citizens' main choices are often between joining the mob, selling anything to leave, and drinking themselves to death.

China's leaders want half of their 2050 population to be able to have a car and travel abroad. They want to lift 80 million of their people out of poverty. [1] While they're trying to get to there from here, why should they listen to us?

Without meaning to diminish what's going on in Tibet and Darfur, I don't think it's right to wish Russia's fate on an entire country in collective punishment for their leaders' actions. I don't think it will help.

On the other hand, China's probably headed down that path all on their own. But it's nothing to smirk about. We're going to end up wherever they do.

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China has been getting away with human rights abuses in Tibet and other parts of the world for too long. With the recent protests in the streets of Lhasa and the crackdown and murdering of innocent civilians and monks, it has become evident that the governments and people of the free world must stand up with Tibet and its people and demand their freedom.

I am not Buddhist or Tibetan, but I believe that all people have the right to self-determination.

China invaded its peaceful neighbour. It has set up a system of apartheid that subjects Tibetans to control by the minority Han Chinese.

China has oppressed Tibetan religion, culture, and language. It has branded the Dalai Lama -- a peaceful man who believes that Tibet should remain in China, but as a democratic autonomous region, much like Hong Kong -- as a divisive force who wants to destroy the Chinese people.

It has been nearly 58 years since China invaded Tibet and began its genocide. It is time that we all stand with one voice against this horrendous injustice.

With the Beijing Olympics approaching, it is the perfect time to let the Chinese government know that the world will no longer turn a blind eye.

I encourage all those who believe that China should no longer get away with its human rights abuses in Tibet and elsewhere to join the campaign for a free Tibet. Fly the Tibet flag or hang off your balcony or whatever, write your Member of Congress, or Senator and tell them that Tibet should be free.  I also encourage everyone to turn the tv off when it comes to the Beijing Olympics.  How can we expect to have freedom if we do not defend those who want it but do not have it?  Free Tibet!

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"We want to say to China, 'We thought that the Olympic Games would help you improve your human rights record," Tutu said. "We still hope... But what we are saying to the heads of state, to President George Bush, is, 'For goodness sake, don't go to the Beijing games... for the sake of our children, for the beautiful people of Tibet. Don't go!'"

link: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cg i?f=/c/a/2008/04/08/BAAS101V1O.DTL&t sp=1

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On a day that we learn that the Olympic torch was extinguished 3 times in Paris due to the efforts of pro-Tibet demonstrators, Hillary Clinton has released a statement calling on President Bush to boycott the Olympics opening ceremonies (via e-mail):

The violent clashes in Tibet and the failure of the Chinese government to use its full leverage with Sudan to stop the genocide in Darfur are opportunities for Presidential leadership.  These events underscore why I believe the Bush administration has been wrong to downplay human rights in its policy towards China.  At this time, and in light of recent events, I believe President Bush should not plan on attending the opening ceremonies in Beijing, absent major changes by the Chinese government.

I encourage the Chinese to take advantage of this moment as an opportunity to live up to universal human aspirations of respect for human rights and unity, ideals that the Olympic games have come to represent.

Americans will stand strong in support of freedom of religious and political expression and human rights.  Americans will also stand strong and root for the success of American athletes who have worked hard and earned the right to compete in the Olympic Games of 2008.

You'll notice that she stops well short of calling for a boycott of the games altogether, a position Nancy Pelosi shares:

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi does not want the United States to boycott the Beijing Olympics, but she says that President Bush should consider skipping the opening ceremony.

"I think boycotting the opening ceremony, which really gives respect to the Chinese government, is something that should be kept on the table," the California Democrat told "Good Morning America" co-anchor Robin Roberts in an interview today. "I think the president might want to rethink this later, depending on what other heads of state do."

So far only German Chancellor Angela Merkel has announced she will skip the opening ceremonies, but her spokesman insists it's unrelated to the unrest in Tibet.

This issue is bound to get much more coverage here in the US as the torch arrives here this week and considering the next stop in the torch's relay -- San Francisco -- it's bound to be snuffed out quite a few more times before it leaves.

I'll update once Senator Obama weighs in on the issue, as I expect he will.

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Today we remember how loved Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was, and is. But we forget how hated he was during his lifetime. We forget the awful slip of the tongue that some employed to belittle him and call him "coon" instead of "King". We forget the constant death threats, the government surveillance.

We forget that some people's first reaction upon hearing Dr. King was shot was one of relief, not grief.

But to get an insight into that hate all one has to do is peruse today's headlines and see the level of vitriol hurled against the Dalai Lama by the Chinese government.

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