None of us are free until ALL of us are free

I came across this blog post today which brings attention to the international campaign to free Tibet, and requested blog posts to spread knowledge of the cause.

In the reporting from the games this afternoon, one of the journalists suggested that it was only following the break up of the USSR that China tightened its hold on its satellites. I don't know much about the history, it's definitely something I should read about some more.

Even though I disagree that something like the Oympics should be subverted to promote a political cause, I still wonder how the world can be made to notice things like this. I wonder the same about Zimbabwe: should something be done about Mugabe? I conclude, on the latter, that nothing at all can be done, because one might argue that it was European meddling that put Africa in its diabolical situation in the first place. And I wonder the same about Tibet. If it were to become independent from China, would China cut it off and impose huge sanctions, and what impact would that have? Would it be an impact, I wonder, similar to the one on Cuba when it was cut off from America?

I certainly support the Free Tibet movement, but I'm unsre about how much can be achieved through foreign pressure. I am more inclined to think that the international community, much like the friend of a woman trapped in an abusive relationship, just needs to hang around and be supportive, rather than getting in there and being threatening. I think no good can come of that.

I don't think my opinion would be especially popular, though.

After lengthy political musings this week (mostly brought on by a discussion of the American presidential race with Father Hand on my bithday) I have decided that my deal breaker is green issues. I can't think about international policies, they're just too big. That's why I vote: let somebody with more experience and an army of researchers and advisers do that job. As long as they've got it right on the green issues, they've got my vote.

Something more vacuous and shallow with pretty pictures coming right up folks....