What does China have to do with us?

The US has a history of supporting the oppression of people of color yet today I listened to speakers in the House decrying China’s human rights abuses. Why now? Because China has the audacity to spend some of the prosperity it earned - with our blessings - on the backs of its suppressed citizenry to purchase weapons from France. Oh, so NOW human rights are important?

I’m surprised there is no public person jumping up and down, pointing at the hypocrisy and cowardice of this nation. Here is a perfect opportunity to directly link free trade, a low regard for people of color and our safety and prosperity at home. Is it beyond the US to do the moral thing or are we all doomed by greedy bigots?

Some recent examples:

Ronald Reagan’s support for mujaheddin fighters helped oust the Soviet Union from Afghanistan in 1989, a defeat that ultimately contributed to the communist superpower’s own collapse.

But should Reagan, who died last Saturday at 93, carry some of the blame for the rise of extremists headed by Osama bin Laden and the current instability in Afghanistan?

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_10-6-2004_pg4_23


The United States used methods both legal and illegal to help build Saddam's army into the most powerful army in the Mideast outside of Israel. The US supplied chemical and biological agents and technology to Iraq when it knew Iraq was using chemical weapons against the Iranians. The US supplied the materials and technology for these weapons of mass destruction to Iraq at a time when it was know that Saddam was using this technology to kill his Kurdish citizens. The United States supplied intelligence and battle planning information to Iraq when those battle plans included the use of cyanide, mustard gas and nerve agents. The United States blocked UN censure of Iraq's use of chemical weapons.

http://www.iranchamber.com/history/articles/arming_iraq.php

In Bill Clinton's and Al Gore's 1992 book, "Putting People First," they wrote, "We should not reward China with improved trade status when it has continued to trade goods made by prison labor and has failed to make significant progress in human rights since the Tiananamen massacre."

* In 1992, Bill Clinton said, "We will link China's trading priviledges to it's human rights record and it's conduct of trade of weapons sales."

* In 1994, Bill Clinton said, "I am moving, therefore to de-link human rights from the annual extension of the Most Favored Nation trading status for China."

* In 1997, MFN allowed $62 billion of Chinese products into the U.S. with low tariffs.

* In March of 98, the Senate voted 95-5 to take all necessary measures to pass a resolution at the U.N. Commission on Human Rights that condemns China for it's human rights abuses. The House passed a similar resolution unanimously.

* The Clinton administration decided that it would not pursue such a resolution.

http://www.justfacts.com/china_human.html

… at the end of the month, the Heritage Foundation will cosponsor a gathering of black conservatives in Washington designed to counter dominance of the "America-hating black liberal leadership" and to focus African American voters on moral issues.

Those events all enjoy support from the Republican Party and its allies in the philanthropic and religious worlds…


http://www.latimes.com/la-na-pastors1feb01,0,1673639.story?coll=la-home-headlines

backs of African Americans? And any black conservative who allows the Heritage Foundation to divide black against blank in order to pimp the stupidity of the black conservatives deserves the derision as the whores they really are.

and I'm an optimist. These greedy guys have these audiences of decent people who hang on their every word and they're selling out to the highest bidders for the same thing our pols want - money and power.

(how've you been, Semper?)

sinus pain, laryngitis, sneezing, fever... I've been better :(

I need to know so I don't make the same mistake! :wow:

Feel better!