good job, could you gather more events information from powerapple? 4 12 edinburgh, 4 19 london bbc, etc

/An open letter to the mayor of Paris Bertrand Delanoe,
Today, Paris is nailed on the stigma, at the moment that the disability athlete is physically attacked in the street of Paris; at the moment that the black pirate flag hung on the tower; at the moment a politic slogan is shown on the facade of Hotel de ville.
Her insane people profaned the torch of Olympic Game in the view of the whole world. As a continous loser of the competitions for 2008 and 2012, Parisian use their ignorance to vent their depression. They repeated the tragedy that their ancestors did 300 years ago. How many innocent French were hanged or guillotined in the revolution on the name of human right? 100K! However, the offsprings of those heroes can not duplicate but only show a farce today.
What is the spirit of Olympic Game? Peace and fairplay. The whole greek world stop their war for the celebration of the game. But what those people did today in Paris? They fired a war to the athletes, to the guests, to the core value of the Olympic Game, no politics in the game! The people of Paris started an ugly war to the peaceful international game.
As the mayor of an international metropolitan, you polluted the word of human right, that your ancestor fought by thousands of bloody lives, upon the moment you put the politic slogan on the top of the Hotel de ville. And remember, you showed your sincere and passionate support to the torch relay on April 3rd 2008 in front of the same building, and in the view of the same people.
By the way, I appreciate those faithful police who did hard job trying to protect the whole relay of the torch.
--Leo, Newark

Your dream of peace in Tibet is a good one.

To achieve the dream, China will have to give freedom - that's freedom, not independence - to Tibetans.

Until Tibetans have freedom - freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of democratic elections, freedom to govern themselves without Han interference - there will be no peace.

If you want peace in Tibet, you will want to grant it full, real autonomy - not the fake autonomy which exists now.

You will not get peace by blaming the March riots only on Tibetans. They were expressing their anger with the way that they have been treated by Beijing. To bring peace, Beijing must dramatically change the way that it treats Tibetans.

So, Tibetans should apologize for the way that they acted on March 14. At the same time, Beijing should apologize for the ways it has treated Tibetans badly for years.

Without such apologies and admissions, there will not be peace in Tibet.

I think you live in your own comfortable apartment and imagine about Tibet, but never have a sense of what the real life of Tibet is. You just put your imagined freedom to the world but don’t even examine how naïve it is. The “freedom” of some people killed and hurt other people, do you ever consider people’s freedom and right of simply having a peaceful happy life? Without organized agitation, people live peacefully for decades. Please just spend three hours to watch the documentaries in the page www.peaceintibet.com/history.html carefully. You at least can get a sense of the real life in Tibet.
--webmaster

So Mr. webmaster, from your responses to my posts, you do seemed like a sensible person. sorry, I haven't spent 3 hours to read your documentaries, but I did spend 3 weeks in Tibet a few years ago, and I made friends with and lived with the monks there.
I do live in my comfortable apartment in the US, but I don't think I'm imagining Tibet. What I try to imagine is that I can't go to temple, or express my religion, and I can't show my admiration of my spiritual leader. And that is what I saw when i was there.

You think people lived peacefully for decades, do you have any idea of the cost of the so-called peace? - Freedom. And how would that simple freedom hurt anyone?

Have you heard of the poem of french revolution? i only learned in Chinese, but it says: Life is precious, Love is even more valuable, if compared to Freedom, both is worthless.

Without freedom of thinking, people don't live, they are merely alive, in a rotten body.
--crippled rider

And I can't believe chinese and the chinese government are yelling no politics in the Game, while china had boycotted the Russian Game 28 years ago...
--crippled rider

Ok, you seem to be a very passionate and idealistic person. I do agree that religion freedom is limited in Tibet, but Tibet is not only Dalai Lama and temples. There must be mistakes in the policies there as in every part of the world, but the point is how to improve it. To talk partially about religious freedom without regarding other aspects of life, to shout “Free Tibet” without considering its negative consequences can only make things worse. Yes, I know the poem, which actually was written by Hungarian poet, Sandor Petofi. However, the abstract and partial appeal of freedom sounds romantic, but is not practical in the life. We have seen too much violence and suffering caused by idealistic passion, such as in the French Revolution.
To the 2nd question, I am right now writing an essay, “Are Olympic Games political? Yes and No”. I will post it soon and look forward to your comments.

--webmaster

I agree that tibet independence is too idealistic and unrealistic. It's not because of historical or economical reason, just merely because chinese government has bigger guns. Well, this is just personal opinion.

But let me elaborate what I wish for, i don't know how many people can i represent, but from what I have learned so far, these isn't too far from what world leaders have been demanding, and not too far from what Dalai Lama is wishing.

1. I wish for the truth of what happened and what is happening in tibet. And I believe this can be achieved by opening tibet to foreign reporters

2. I wish for the dissolve of hatred between Tibetans and Han. And I believe this can be achieved by respecting of Tibetan culture and religion by the Chinese government.

3. I wish for non-violence, and this can best achieved by constructive conversation between the chinese government and dalai lama. I really don't want to imagine when His Holyness goes, what will the younger tibetans do... And His Holyness is an old man now, time is running out.

While there are protesters asking for tibetan independence, I believe the above are what many people are demanding. And I think these are what people who seek truth, harmony and non-violence, should be asking for.

Webmaster- I do agree with you that the break down of conversation is usually due to both sides. But at lease it seemed to me that now the Dalai Lama is very open to conversation, while the chinese government is demonizing him without sound proof.
--crippled rider

I have the same wishes as you, but the protests are simply the wrong way. They just make these wishes unrealizable. No government of a great nation is willing to concede to foreign pressures. The same is about the dialogues with Dalai Lama. Any dialogues at this time will be seen as the victory of violent blackmailing. Unless Dalai Lama condemns the rioters’ violence and does substantial efforts to call off the protests, I cannot see any possibility for a dialogue in the near future. I believe he should see it more clearly than me. Yet, he insists demanding dialogue under such impossible conditions. It makes me doubt the seriousness and sincerity of his wishes.
--webmaster

Webmaster- essentially you have been defending the chinese government's actions, such as continuing a mistake and not bending to blackmailing, by saying that they are acting politically correct.

You might be right, those might be the political correct actions. It takes any politician, any government to act politically correct. But it takes a great generation to resolve hatred, to admit mistakes of the past, to build bridge with our "enemies", despite those action might be seen as weakness. And today, China is strong enough that no1 would think we are weak. And as a chinese, I wish to be that generation! Let's not pass the problems of the triple T's to our off-springs, let our generation take the blame or the weakness, so our off-springs can live in harmony.

As a chinese, when the world's eyes are on us, it's time to show the world that we are not merely a big nation of population or economy, but a great nation of values.
--crippled rider

Ok, you have a good wish as most of people. But, if the other side does not first regret the riot and apologize for the violent protests, I can’t see the possibility of any government’s action, since the Chinese people demand justice. I am not defending the government, but just telling you the reasons. I think your wish is good for prayer, but not feasible for practice

Justice is impossible without truth. Without knowing what really happened in Tibet, how can we demand justice before knowing the truth?

And if chinese hope for an apology for His Holyness, that is just unfair. Why should he, who all his life walked the path of non-violence, apologizing for tibetans standing up against repression?

At some point, most people think the wish of Martin Luther King, the wish of Gandhi or even the wish of Steve Jobs are merely good for prayer. Great breakthrough are never easy, they might not even be practical, but they are achievable.

My fellow chinese, if we don't resolve hatred and achieve harmony. Many years later, some other generation will. And they will look back and think what were those people doing to live in hatred for so long. Shame on them. So that's what we have to do. Be great instead of being ashamed. It can't be impossible. It must be possible.


--crippled rider

"One world, One dream" - I don't know whether this is politics, but there is a question in everyone's mind, whether China, a nation apparently with so much unjust and conflict, worth of hosting the dream of a harmonious world.

Dalai Lama thinks yes. However, there are world leaders and protesters with a different answer. And they act upon their answer, that's why there is boycott and protest in the torch relay.

Yes, we still have few months to show the world that we are worthy of the dream of a harmonious world.
--crippled rider

"One world, One dream" - I don't know whether this is politics, but there is a question in everyone's mind, whether China, a nation apparently with so much unjust and conflict, worth of hosting the dream of a harmonious world.

Dalai Lama thinks yes. However, there are world leaders and protesters with a different answer. And they act upon their answer, that's why there is boycott and protest in the torch relay.

Yes, we still have few months to show the world that we are worthy of the dream of a harmonious world.
--crippled rider

Sorry, if anybody thinks China is not worthy of holding Olympics, I view it’s a stupid prejudice. Europeans have their bloody colonial history, Americans have their wars in Vietnam and Iraq, Tibetans have their brutal doings against civil people. China is developing Tibet and maintain peace. I personally think China is much worthier than those hypocritical moral protectors.
--webmaster

Let's not be emotional. There is blood in every country's history, we cannot change that. What is important is what is happening in this very minute. That's why no1 is protesting against the Tian An Men Massacre. And with or without Olympics, there are constant protests on the iraq war, even within US.

When we cannot honor our own promise to IOC, of improving human rights and free reporting, I think it's hard to conclude there are prejudice against us.

As a chinese, of course, I wish my motherland to host Olympics, but I think it's understandable that people think otherwise, and we should respect and listen.

And at the end of the day, every chinese will have to ask themselves the question, is the Game a pride or shame? What is the world seeing in China with a magnified glass? And yes, everyone has prejudice, have their own lens, and that's not something we can control. It's what we do that we can control, and which in turn will eventually change people's prejudice.


--crippled rider

Sorry, I think you are just wasting my time.
--webmaster

LOL...what an obviously fabricated set of comments - including this one
--Steve

Tibet or Human right is just an excuse or a tool for western countries, stop or slow down China's rise is the real reason behind all that.
Well done guys, congratulations on your website which is full of useful information.
Is that possible to get more info on those victims including their photos, backgroung and stories? Thanks.
--Laodu
<mailto:shiyong@ihug.co.nz>

I heard that all the victims are announced by Xinhua 1-2 weeks ago. however I did not find the list.
--webmaster

Do you people seriously trust Xinhua more than BBC or Reuters? I'm really curious...
--crippled rider

The Olmpics are no more than an advertising opportunity for corporations and a pne party state that kills its own - June 4 1989 - lest we forget.

It is interesting how Chinese people can say that western media only tell lies obout China and only Chinese media is the truth. When Chinese media is completely restricted and controled be the Chinese government. To say that the chinese government is the most resonable and humanitarian government in the world is IRRATIONAL. Oh so soon we forget the Tienamin Square Massacare. And then their is the four genecidal periods like the cultural revelution, you call them purges, where the Chinese Comunist Party murdered massive parts of the Chinese population. Or did none of this happen. I would understand your denial since I do not live in a country where disagreement with the opinion of the government WILL lead me to arrested and tourtured and possibly killed, like what happens in China. When western people protest these Olympics they do not protest the Chinese people. Only an evil and corrupt government. And a Government that has and will again, kill it's own citizens is undoubtedly EVIL.

Please have a look at the website and earlier discussion. Everybody is clear that Chinese media has limitation. The point is just to say that Western media is biased too. It makes people like you irrationally prejudiced. China is not a country as you imagined. read the article "build a bridge of intellectual communication". Your words can only be jokes for the whole world
--webmaster

If you call not agreeing with a government that since it's inception has been on a rampage of slaughtering it's citizens is predudice I think you fail to wwhat the meaning of prejudice actually is. Are you saying that the Cultural revolution never happened. Are you saying that Tienamin Square never happened or are you saying that it was all a beat up for reasons I can not figure. or are you saying that this sort of government hard line is nesacery to hald a country together.
Look, Chinese media is not a little limited. It can only report on exactly what the chinses government wants it to say. We know this by situations outside of China where the family of a Chinese journalist sued Yahoo for assiting with his arrest and imprissioned for reporting to a U.S. news organisation that over the Olympics the restrictions on the media will be eased a little. The Chinese government claimed the he betrayed state secrets. He did NOT, he reported on news. This is evidence that the Chinese media is totally restricted and not just has limitations. The Chinese people only get delivered to them exactly what the Chinese government want them to see so that they will eventually beleive what they say. Like what is happening now. You mention Nationalism but this is an extreamly negative thing. Nationlisim is an extreme right wing mindset that is very dangerous and violent but thats the china that this communist party has been tring to build since it's inception
Now I will adress your insult to me. You said my words can only be a joke because my words do not echo your words. I did not insult you or the Chinese people. I said nothing fales. Every thing I said is completely true and completely researchable and verifiable with living witneses.

Your only defence is to insult me. This is a defence from someone who has no legitimate defence.

I am tring to build an interlectual bridge. you on the other hand seem only intent on insulting rather than discussing. I hope you do not see these words as insulting to you. I just want you to see how your words have not educated only belittled. This is not building an Intelectual Bridge.

Talk about how to bring the Chinese Government in line with their Human Rights and I will enjoy talking to you.

You also said that I was prejudiced toward the Chinses people. This to I find extremely offensive as I beleive that China is an amazing country with amazing people and an amazing culture. The Chinses are an amazing people who deserve a lot more and a lot beter that how the current Government treats them.

In fact I will state that I love thae Chinses people and only wish them the absolute best and the way we can see this together is if we can talk openly and honestly so that we can correct the wrongs of the Chinses govenment and build an honest open Government that represents ALL of the Chinses people and not just a small few of I think only 5000 people where at that last communist party General meeting and elections to decide the next 5 year plan. Thats only 5000 people to decide on the future of 1.3 bilion people. They don't represent China. They represent themselves only.

I do want to build an Intelectual Bridge with you and all of the Chinese people.

I hope you understand that all of the people who have been protesting the Olympics also love China and hope for the best. that is why they went to the troble of protesting and and getting in a little trouble. Because we believe that you are worth us getting in a little trouble for. Like the first protester shouted as he (in my opinion wrongly) tried to stop the torch he shouted FREE CHINA. I believe this can happen one day

again, you donot understand china. the central government enjoys 90% support rate, not only by the people inside, but by the people overseas. however, the hostility and prejudice in the west forces the government to take some measures to maintain stability for the good life of most of the people. The cases you raised are simply exaggerated by the western media. If we can talk face to face, I can show you the reasoning behind these actions. I donot defend these actions, which may be too harsh. but I can help you to understand them so that you do not have the idea of a dictating demonized government. Chinese government represent the interest of the whole nation. Do not take it for granted that the government and people are opposites like in some countries. Though the 5000 people are not selected as in the West, they represent the Chinese people through China's own politic logic. To some extent, they represent the people better that the partisan politicians in the West. If you are around New York, I can talk to you. I just did some research on the functioning of Chinese politics. Sorry that you are hurt, but you really need to learn too much about politics, about history, about china, etc. One point is important, before you have seriously studied a country, do not make judgments or assertion. Otherwise it can only be jokes. It's not an insult to you, but a truth for every critic.
--webmaster

P.S. you can tell us how much you know about China and how long you lived in China so that everybody can judge your source of knowledge
--webmaster

This is an excellent site. We Chinese should now make a concerted effort to counter attack the distorted reports from western countries, in particular USA.

Some of the people kept rubbing by talking about the Cultural revolution and Tienanmen Square incidence. Please note that the China now is not the same as that 20 or 30 years ago. It is already impressive that China could modernize so quickly. Of course there are and there will be problems, as in any country. China has made a lot of progress in the recent years. The western countries are just trying to impede China's progress. Compare the casualty in Tibet in the recent riot to that in Iraq and one can tell which country observes human rights more. Is the word INVASION ever used by western media regarding the US invasion of Iraq? Why are people from the western world happy with the lack of apology? Why is there no demonstration?

Webmaster, you are doing a great job!

Haven't posted here for awhile, but I do like the rational discussion here.

First of all, there are plenty of demonstrations regarding Iraq War even within US.

Secondly, I am not sure where does th 90% support rate of local and oversea chinese come from... Xinhua? Sorry, an sacarstic joke, but I would really like to know the source.

I received my primary school and part of middle school education in china, let me explain to you why the support rate can be so high. Because they brain washed all students since they are young! It might be a too strong word, but the education in China does suppress independent thinking and freedom of religion. Essentially it suppress the higher needs of human beings, which is why it is such materialistic society in China.

I think that is what is creating the misunderstanding between Han chinese and tibetans. In general, chinese don't understand spiritual and religious needs. I have spent a few weeks in Tibet, and it is true that Chinese government has done good to tibet economically, building schools and rail road. But to tibetans, (and to people with more aspirations) religious and spiritual freedom is, at least, as important as economical development.

I do agree that all media are biased. And I do agree the comments and picture by CNN worth sincere apologies from them.

But CNN has never been famed as a unbiased news agent. I think in general the international community trust BBC for unbiased reports, which I am sure still won't be the total and complete truth, and the truth only. But please tell me that it's wrong to trust BBC more than Xinhua, which is simply a voice channel for the Chinese Government.
--Crippled Rider

I'm proud of you! I'm proud of our country! I'll try my effort too to let outside worlds understand China better
--wakeuppardise
<mailto:wakeupparadise@hotmail.com>

Weterners do not misunderstand China. Chinese misunderstand every one except Chinese. Even the ones in the west because you section your self of in your own little Chinese community and do not mix out side this tiny little closed in wold and this i why you are so closed minded and blinkered. I once respected the Chinese culture until I dated a Chinese girl. I then discovered how closed and blinkered and radically right wing the community is. But when she took me to visit China I was blown out how insanely right wing and racist the Chinese are. I now have next to no respect for the entire chinese race except for her. The Chinese desperately need to learn humanity.

What defines a country? When we chinese claim that Tibet is part of China, have we asked ourselves this question?

Language? Race? Culture? Religion? Ethnicity? Or History?

Based on language, race, culture, religion or ethnicity, Tibet is very different from us...

History... yes, for many centuries in history, Tibet is part of China. But for many centuries, the entire China was also under Mongolian rule. There are also times when the entire southeast Asia, or even big part of Europe was part of China. The reason we call it "History" is because it's in the past.

In Chinese, the word country literally means "country family". We view our country as an extension of our family. Maybe it's easier to define a family. How about love? Isn't that how we define a family? and shouldn't it be how we define a country?

When we say tibet is part of China, do we love our Tibetan countrymen (well, I do)? and do they love us? Or is there more hatred? Have we asked these questions when we claim that Tibet is part of China? Do we claim it by love or by military and economical power?

--Crippled Rider

Yes we love Tibetans as our brothers and sisters
--webmaster

Kane killed Able. Yes you do, so you imprison them and torture them, then kill them. I have also heard Chinese say straight after the "we love the Tibetans and the Mongolians and the Uigurs" that they are dirty and not very smart and ungreatful, just look at all we have given them. You sound like all those racists here talking about the Australian Aboriginals. All the Chinese here despise those lazy drunks. Believe me I know how to spot racism and I see all the time in the words and press of the Chinese. You fail to understand us so you can neither see nor comprehend all the implications of racism we now no to well about and here we are working hard to redress the bad things of our past. We will be re inventing our political system over the next couple of years and the redressing of what has been perpetrated on the Aboriginals is one of the most important issues of an Australian Republic. Did the U.S. media report on this? No it did not. So as you can see when Australians see racism we are looking through experienced eyes that are able to look back on our selves and criticise brutally and bluntly and not hide from the truth. This is seriously not something that China can say until it looks at the cultural revolution and the re-education camps and the miss treatment of the labour force and but you are still building your country and system. But I can see how this could be done properly with our honest introspection. We are not perfect but we are able to take criticism and work on them and not hide from the truths. Oh that’s right you don't like to be told like that. I am sorry I don't like to be insulted or assaulted. Look at you own press before you insult mine. You say there are certain ways to address comment to your culture well there are ways to address my culture of which you are yet to learn. But don't you understand both cultures because you are so insightful. I do not see this. I see missunderstanding from the Chinese and disregard to want to understand and learn my culture. yet you still make demands on me to understand you. Understand me. If we did not pay for your development by pushing your government to open up and trading so much with you, you would not be in the position you are now. I go to the shops an most of what I see is made in china made in India made in Korea made in Japan have you seen how we helped them into a rich and powerful country since world war 2. At least they have thanked us for our friendship. What do you do after what we do for you. Now Europe, the U.S. and Australia have spent to much investment on mostly China because you needed it more, so you can be where you are now and what is returned. Nothing but attacks and insults. Where would you be if the "west" stoped buying Chinese made. If we never supported you. You want a Harmonious world the citizens of the west have been fighting our politicians for this since world war two. Maybe it's time China leant us and how we work. But that would not be the Chinese way would it. I keep getting told by Chinese that “YOU CAN’T CRITICIE THE CHINESE” and it’s usually that loud I ask why, they only respond with silence. But they always know when we westerners are wrong and never give an honest appraisal peppered with insight of a few short comings to be fixed. It generally comes loaded with an insult or as an insult such as this web master. I am so sick of arrogant Chinese. Go re-educate your self.