Besides shooting protestors in Lhasa, Tibet, Beijing tried to “protect” Dodgers pitcher Chan Ho Park from autograph seekers during Major League Baseball’s first foray into China.
Well, the Olympics ought to be fun. The British Olympic Committee has backed off an attempt to censor its own athletes’ criticizing China in the run-up to this summer — protests that have more fuel on the fire after this weekend; many athletes from around the world, especially distance runners, are so skeptical of Beijing cleaning up its air pollution that they’re talking about wearing surgical masks; and now, China tries to block an athlete from his own fans.
Of course, Beijing is internally censoring outside news reports on Tibet. Chan Ho Park, or international athletes’ protests during the Beijing games, won’t fare any better.
No pictures will be shown of athletes wearing black armbands in support of Tibet, or wearing surgical masks in support of healthy lungs. President Bush will not be shown allegedly “criticizing” Chinese President Hu Jintao on civil liberties.
Dust storms will not be shown swirling from the west into Beijing. Chinese citizens having to hunt for water because there is none after the Olympic Village uses its massive demands will also not be shown.
No comments:
Post a Comment