The Struggle for Freedom

Not since the American Revolution have Americans experienced violent oppression at the hands of a tyrannical government controlled by those that wish to maintain power through whatever means necessary. The recent events in Myanmar that have focused the world's attention on the Asian nation are a foreign concept for many Americans to truly grasp. Reports coming out of Myanmar now indicate that the nation has shutdown the Internet to end the stream of violent images of oppression coming from the country. The free world is powerless as it stands by and watches democracy get crushed under the tracks of communist tanks much like Tiananmen Square in 1989. I find myself wishing that there were more that I could do to support the revolution there (if I could sabotage a tank with thought I would).

So sitting here I start asking myself what I could personally do and encourage others to do to support the democratic revolution taking place in Myanmar. The first point that jumps out at me is that China relies on Myanmar for natural resources so it has an interest in who is in control there. The Myanmar military has very close ties to the Chinese military much like the American military has close ties to the South Koreans. We sell the South Koreans weapons and vehicles and our militaries train together. Needless to say the Chinese government has great influence over the Myanmar government. So my first action would be to call for a boycott of all Chinese made goods. If there was a store that did not sell items made in China, I would shop there and call for a boycott of any store that sold Chinese made goods. I don't think that this store exists, but if it did I would be shopping there instead of ChinaMart.

The second point that I find equally as irritating as the first is that Beijing will be hosting the 2008 Summer Olympics. The slogan for the games is "One World, One Dream". I seriously got nauseous when I read that one. I find it hard to believe that a nation as oppressive as China would be rewarded by being allowed to host the Olympics. So due to the Chinese governments involvement in destroying the revolution in Myanmar and their own internal controls on liberty, free speech, and countless other human rights violations, I feel that the free nations of the world should threaten a boycott of the summer games unless something is done in Myanmar. Knowing that this will not happen, my only other recourse will be to boycott the broadcast of the 2008 Summer Olympics in China. I encourage all to do the same so that together we can make these games the least watched Olympics ever. Now before someone accuses me of not supporting our American athletes, please don't go there. I hope that the free nations of the world win every gold medal. Not watching the Olympics is my way of showing support and solidarity to those brave monks that marched the streets of Burma in the fall of 2007, and the injustice they have shown us matters more to me than who wins the 100m hurdles in 2008.

I am sure there are many other great ideas that you may have and I would love to hear them. One really great idea I heard a few years ago was that we should put the Bill of Rights on the back of the dollar bill. These nations that control what their citizens eat and breath will have a tough time refuting what is printed on our own currency. People would be able to read what we are about and know that when America comes to town we bring freedom with us. I hope that you don't feel that I am unpatriotic for not watching the Olympics, it is the exact opposite really.