Big Brother Mao

As the Beijing Olympics rapidly approach, I personally can't help but have an uneasy feeling about this whole thing. Unlike any other Olympics I can remember, something about Beijing just doesn't seem right to me. I can't put my finger on just one thing that is causing me to feel this way, because there have been so many incidents and issues. I can't list them all here, but the serious controversy surrounding the international running of the torch, protests and police crackdowns. Mostly because of outrage over Darfur, Tibet, Taiwan, and the oppressive and restrictive human rights abuses and religious persecution inside China itself. Then there is the Chinese government's censorship of the internet and surveillance of the streets. Numerous groups in America have called on President Bush to boycott the opening ceremonies (which he decided to attend), which Steven Spielberg decided not to be a part of. It just seems like a laundry list of one controversy after another surrounding China and these games.

Then I read this article in the New York Times today, which I suppose is intended to make people feel more secure about the safety of the games? Or is it intended to have the opposite effect and make people feel the games are unsafe and it's inevitable that a terrorist attack will occur? Either way, after reading most of the article outlining all the terrorist groups that are pissed off and potentially will attempt an attack, and the Chinese military response (are you sure these games are about athletic competition and not flexing military and political muscle?), I found a couple interesting sentences buried at the bottom of the second page.

The Chinese government has also been installing tens of thousands of surveillance cameras on lamp poles and in Internet cafes and bars.

Critics of the measure say the cameras can be used not only to track potential terrorists, but also anyone who opposes the nation’s one-party rule. Western companies like I.B.M., General Electric, Honeywell and United Technologies have been shipping their latest computer tools to automatically analyze video images from thousands of cameras and alert computer operators to patterns that might indicate a threat.

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...From 2001, when Beijing was awarded the Olympics, China spent as much as $6.5 billion on security in the Beijing area alone. The bulk of the spending is for extensive video monitoring systems that will stay in place after the Games.

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Largely separate from the Olympics, China is moving to install video monitoring systems in its 600 largest cities, and some are already far along.

Dr. Mulvenon said the sales from foreign companies raised the risk that Western equipment would be used to spy on Chinese dissidents after the Olympics.

“The longer-term implications are less positive,” he said. “Whereas the legacy of previous Olympics was sports stadiums, the legacy of the Beijing Olympics will be a high-tech police state.”

Doesn't this raise concern? Shouldn't there be more opposition and more outcry on behalf of the Chinese people, the athletes, and all the spectators? And why is the International Olympic Committee not coming under more serious scrutiny?? What's even worse is the fact that our Western companies are supporting and sponsoring this. As we all know Visa and Coca-Cola have been huge sponsors of running the torch and the games themselves. And then to hear that our technology companies are providing the means for a government to spy on its people? It seems wrong. No one around the world apparently has the balls or backbone to stand up to the Chinese. There have been a couple boycotts and protests here and there, but the big names don't raise a finger.

In my opinion, they are one of the primary culprits here. They need to be held responsible for selecting a city and country, which in my opinion, is not ready or suited to host the Olympic games. And then the IOC caved in and wouldn't take a stand against the government control and censorship.

I really hope the games go well, but I can't help but be worried and also disappointed that more wasn't done to restrict or oppose the things the Chinese government has done and stands for. But even if something does happen, I am sure the Thought Police will make sure no negative press about The Party ever reaches the international community and that all egregious acts by Big Brother Mao will be swept under the rug by the Ministry of Truth. So are we Winston or O'Brien?