China: Beijing Olympics
Did you watch the Olympics this year in Beijing? What did you think?
Certainly it’s good that the world has had more of a glimpse of China now.
Many people see things they didn’t like.
Certainly the level of violence was disturbing. Then there was the story of the child singer who was replaced by a cuter child who lip synced the performance – in the interest of china’s national image – well of course. Then there is an investigation into allegations of 14 year olds participating in the Olympics. There’s the pollution. There’s the human rights issues.
I could go on. Like I said though the world had a chance to see more of China. Many people we’re just plain stupid though. For instance, the people caught carrying something like three hundred bibles on their person when they probably knew that it was illegal. In China, one can only possess enough religious material for personal use.
These people were reportedly staying in the airport in China waiting for their bibles to be returned – which Chinese officials had confiscated. Well come on people, did you not know this was prohibited? I say “When in Rome…” You know the rest. If you knew it was illegal to bring the materials in, then why did you do it? To make a stand? Well there is a time and place.
However there certainly are legitimate concerns. We need to look in our own backyard though. I think we should all look at the things in China and realize that many of the human rights issues and pollution are being contributed by the Western world continuing to buy in such large quantities from China.
I’m not saying the Western world is the cause. I’m not saying I have the answers. However, the next time you go into the dollar store, or the next time you buy something made in China (these things are literally everywhere), realize that there is a price to pay for having cheaper goods come from China: human rights and pollution.
Because people are paid lower wages and, until recently there wasn’t much in the way of legislation preventing people from working long 12+ hour shifts, we paid a cheaper price but those employees paid a price too. The environment paid a price too. Look at the pollution.
Again I don’t have all the answers but I like to think, at least today, that the answer might begin with us all looking to our consciences.