The protests surrounding the Olympic torch relay are shining a negative light on China, and the furor is only bound to increase. For those interested in protecting the rights of innocent people from an out-of-control government, this is even better news than the time Patrick Kennedy was reported to have lost his car keys.
The large protests during the torch relay only mark the beginning of the mess for China. Last week, the torch was snuffed out in Paris, either by pro-Tibet protesters or somebody who believes that a flame that is working all the time is in violation of France's mandatory 35-hour work week.
There was even more protest when the Olympic flame arrived in San Francisco, which is hardly surprising in a city you can't run through with a lit cigarette without being Tasered by the smoking cops. Most of the protest, especially a large one at the Golden Gate Bridge, was concerning China's human rights abuses, but I'm willing to bet that at least a half dozen of those in attendance would be completely placated if the torch flame were simply replaced with a compact fluorescent light bulb.
What's next for China in the long lead-up to the games is anybody's guess. Some are calling for the U.S. to skip the opening ceremonies, though protesting China's rights abuses by skipping the opening ceremonies and still competing in the games is like denouncing racism by refusing to use the front door to go into a KKK meeting.
Among those calling on the U.S. to boycott the opening ceremonies is Hillary Clinton – just as husband Bill Rodham is saying that G.I. Hillary's "Bosnia sniper" stories have the mainstream media treating her as if she'd "robbed a bank" (come on, MSM, lay off – the Clintons haven't robbed anybody since Castle Grande).
Hillary coming out against China is good for a laugh. The Clintons, who once turned almost every night in the Lincoln Bedroom into a Chinese "all-you-can-fete" buffet and who have been in bed with more Chi-coms than a 20-year Hunan Province hooker are now pro-Tibet? Hillary is obviously going for the coveted Richard Gere endorsement.
As for the general protest against China, is it wrong that I'm relishing in the fact that there's finally a large global power taking serious heat for its human rights abuses, religious oppression and jack-booted thuggery that actually deserves the level of criticism it's receiving? And in San Francisco even!
The average City by the Bay gathering consists of leftist American entertainers who traveled in private jets, stayed in five-star hotel suites, rode in limousines, created movies free from persecution and prosecution and subsequently boarded a soapbox to say whatever they pleased whenever they pleased – all in an effort to demonstrate the sheer oppressive nature of … the Bush administration. So it's nice to see a little of the blame flung at a more deserving target for a change.
For a while there, I was starting to wonder if it's possible for a people to have it so good for so long that they lose their ability to recognize evil. Aside from politically gerrymandered portions of Hollywood and the faculty break rooms at Columbia and select other universities, the reaction to China has answered that concern in the negative.
Speaking of Hollywood, you can't help but wonder what the difference is between the Chinese government and the "Mao, v2.0" dictators and thugs embraced by Sean Penn, Harry Belafonte and Danny Glover. How come leftist celebs refuse to stay consistent by embracing the Chinese government and instead most often side with the idea of a free Tibet? If Beijing had engaged in a Hollywood outreach program, some of the problems they saw in San Francisco could have been avoided.
All in all, fans of freedom should love the Olympics so far. Too bad it requires the 110m high hurdles, Pommel horse and synchronized swimming going to Beijing to bring it to everybody's attention. You would have thought Tiananmen Square would have been more than enough.
After the games are over, will the rage die down? Of course. Will China change their policies? Highly unlikely.
If anybody at the International Olympic Committee was interested in human rights, the proper moment to twist China's arm would have been before they were ever awarded the games. The time to make the rabbit do a trick is before you give it the carrot, not after. But the IOC isn't about tricks – only treats.