Chinese plea for politics-free Games

[Lyric]

BEIJING, China (AP) -- A week before the start of the Beijing Olympics, Chinese President Hu Jintao said Friday that the caliber of athletic competition and enhanced friendship among nations, not political disputes, will determine whether the games are a success.

In a rare interview with foreign media, the typically reserved Hu repeatedly said Beijing's hosting of the Olympics was intended to underscore a rising China's desire for peaceful, friendly interaction with the rest of the world.

Though Hu did not directly mention the controversies over China's human rights lapses and restrictions on media coverage that have buffeted the event, he decried injecting political issues into the games and reminded reporters to report fairly.

"We believe that politicizing the Olympics does not favor resolving these issues, and also violates the Olympic spirit," Hu said.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/08/01/china.politics.ap/index.html

Well I'll tell you what, China. You agree to stop politicizing the Games by demanding that hotels spy on their international patrons, and maybe the rest of the world will take your "plea" seriously.

It's hard to claim that you're against "politicizing" the Games when your government is already trying to use the Games as an excuse to spy on foreigners, and make them feel unwelcome, uncomfortable, and paranoid while in your country.

:eyes:

[Metta]

1. and to keep the light from shining on their abysmal human right efforts.

both at home and in Tibet.