"Human Rights Hypocrisy: Hidden In Plain Sight"

[leftchick]

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/03/01/7394/


By Robert Weissman

There was a time, not so long ago, when U.S. governmental hypocrisy on human rights and corporate interests was at least acknowledged.

But now it seems that the Bush administration has so degraded society’s standards, and Big Business so routinely claims that it is bound by no ethical standard except to make money and follow the law — even as it aims to define that very law, and then frequently flouts the remaining legal restraints — that the hypocrisy is no longer even acknowledged.

At his news conference yesterday, George Bush angrily said they he could not and would not meet with the new President of Cuba, Raul Castro, because of Cuba’s human rights record. Then, eight minutes later, he explained how excited he was to visit China for the Summer Olympics — a visit during which he will meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao. Just a month-and-a-half ago, the same George Bush visited with the Saudi King Abdullah, having a grand time with the King on his extravagant ranch.

Won’t talk to Castro. Conferring with Hu. Relaxing with King Abdullah. Hmm.

Why not talk with adversaries in Cuba, Bush was asked.

His reply: “What’s lost by embracing a tyrant who puts his people in prison because of their political beliefs? What’s lost is it will send the wrong message. It will send a discouraging message to those who wonder whether America will continue to work for the freedom of prisoners. It will give great status to those who have suppressed human rights and human dignity.”

<snip>

Eight minutes later came the question about China and the Olympics.

What messages does it send when you go to China, where human rights are suppressed?

Bush said he was going primarily to enjoy a sporting event. However, Bush added, it was especially useful for him to go to China, because he could meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao! “And maybe I’m in a little different position. Others don’t have a chance to visit with Hu Jintao, but I do.” (Note how a meeting in Cuba is an “embrace,” but a meeting in China is a “visit.”) “And every time I meet with him I talk about religious freedom and the importance of China’s society
recognizing that if you’re allowed to worship freely, it will benefit the society as a whole; that the Chinese government should not fear the idea of people praying to a god as they see fit. A whole society, a healthy society, a confident society is one that recognizes the value of religious freedom. I talk about Darfur and Iran and Burma. And so I am not the least bit shy of bringing up” human rights concerns.

[EFerrari]

1. K&R