How Much is a Chinese Muslim Worth? And the Enya Connection.

That would be roughly $11 million each! Geez, can I have one to sell? Ok, it isn't quite that way, but the U.S. is giving the Pacific nation of Palau $200 million in aid because they've agreed to resettle 17 Chinese Muslims--also called by their ethnic name of Uighurs--now being held at Guantanamo Bay (Gitmo). As the story goes, these Uighurs have been cleared of actually being terrorists, and the U.S. has been wanting to resettle them. However, we're afraid to send them back home to China (see shaded area of map for Uighur regions) because they may be imprisoned there or executed--because the Chinese government considers the Uighurs to be dangerous Islamic separatists (i.e., terrorists).

Confused yet? Stay with me! So yeah, it does sound a little like these 17 guys were sold, but figuring out what the hell to do with them has been a thorn in President Obama's side and was holding up closing Gitmo for good. Apparently, no one but Palau wanted the Uighurs. Albania took 5 Gitmo Uighurs in 2006 but said, "Thanks, we have plenty." Plus, Obama wants to close Gitmo by next January, so he's running out of time.

Not a bad deal, really. Palau (below) gets much-needed cash, and these prisoners get a new life in island paradise--sweet!

Wow--never thought I'd have a post with so many seemingly unrelated things. But wait--that's not all!

Did you know that Palau used to be a U.S. trust, ever since it was seized from Japan in World War II? We gave them their independence in '94, but we still have to defend them if they're attacked. And so Palau lets us have a military base there. Plus, if you're native Palauan, you can travel to the U.S. without a passport or visa!

So what does singer Enya have to do with this? Well, she has that phrase "from Bissau to Palau" in my favorite song, "Orinoco Flow!" Ok, NOW this is officially the most surreal post I've ever done.

How Much is a Chinese Muslim Worth? And the Enya Connection.

That would be roughly $11 million each! Geez, can I have one to sell? Ok, it isn't quite that way, but the U.S. is giving the Pacific nation of Palau $200 million in aid because they've agreed to resettle 17 Chinese Muslims--also called by their ethnic name of Uighurs--now being held at Guantanamo Bay (Gitmo). As the story goes, these Uighurs have been cleared of actually being terrorists, and the U.S. has been wanting to resettle them. However, we're afraid to send them back home to China (see shaded area of map for Uighur regions) because they may be imprisoned there or executed--because the Chinese government considers the Uighurs to be dangerous Islamic separatists (i.e., terrorists).

Confused yet? Stay with me! So yeah, it does sound a little like these 17 guys were sold, but figuring out what the hell to do with them has been a thorn in President Obama's side and was holding up closing Gitmo for good. Apparently, no one but Palau wanted the Uighurs. Albania took 5 Gitmo Uighurs in 2006 but said, "Thanks, we have plenty." Plus, Obama wants to close Gitmo by next January, so he's running out of time.

Not a bad deal, really. Palau (below) gets much-needed cash, and these prisoners get a new life in island paradise--sweet!

Wow--never thought I'd have a post with so many seemingly unrelated things. But wait--that's not all!

Did you know that Palau used to be a U.S. trust, ever since it was seized from Japan in World War II? We gave them their independence in '94, but we still have to defend them if they're attacked. And so Palau lets us have a military base there. Plus, if you're native Palauan, you can travel to the U.S. without a passport or visa!

So what does singer Enya have to do with this? Well, she has that phrase "from Bissau to Palau" in my favorite song, "Orinoco Flow!" Ok, NOW this is officially the most surreal post I've ever done.

Olympics/China Boycott, Day 143: What I've Learned and Bringing the Boycott to a Close

With the closing ceremony yesterday in Beijing, I'm bringing my personal boycott of the Olympics and China to an end. It's been an interesting experience, one of surprises, successes and some frustrations along the way.

Here's what I've learned:

1. China makes everything! It's difficult NOT to buy something, anything made in China. Our is a highly interconnected, interdependent world, and if you're going to make these kind of choice, it will take work. In order to avoid something made in China or any other country--hell, even trying to buy something made in your own hometown--may require several trips in search of one item. Goodbye convenience. And is this the best way to spend our time and gas? Think about the carbon footprint! Just some thoughts...
2. China is not America. Sure, that's obvious, but they have distinctly different values, not just because they're a Communist country but also because of ancient differences between Eastern and Western societies. For example, China values community/nation over individuals. We think that's wrong--but is it? Honestly, who decides? By our perspective, it certainly is, but the Chinese see this differently. From their perspective, we're the crazy ones. What I've learned is that I am steeped in Western values, in American free thinking and individualism, and that's how I want to live my life. And there are some who choose another path. More food for thought...
3. Disconnecting is a good thing. Big events like the Olympics suck up all kinds of attention, not just in the media but in our homes, our conversations. That's not necessarily a bad thing, however, we often think we can't live without watching these things on TV or talking about them at the office. But you know what? Life goes on and so do we.
   

And so life does go on. Thanks to everyone who read of my personal boycott and sent messages of encouragement and camaraderie. And congrats to all of you who launched boycotts of your own. What did you learn and how has it changed you?

Olympics/China Boycott, Day 143: What I've Learned and Bringing the Boycott to a Close

With the closing ceremony yesterday in Beijing, I'm bringing my personal boycott of the Olympics and China to an end. It's been an interesting experience, one of surprises, successes and some frustrations along the way.

Here's what I've learned:

1. China makes everything! It's difficult NOT to buy something, anything made in China. Our is a highly interconnected, interdependent world, and if you're going to make these kind of choice, it will take work. In order to avoid something made in China or any other country--hell, even trying to buy something made in your own hometown--may require several trips in search of one item. Goodbye convenience. And is this the best way to spend our time and gas? Think about the carbon footprint! Just some thoughts...
2. China is not America. Sure, that's obvious, but they have distinctly different values, not just because they're a Communist country but also because of ancient differences between Eastern and Western societies. For example, China values community/nation over individuals. We think that's wrong--but is it? Honestly, who decides? By our perspective, it certainly is, but the Chinese see this differently. From their perspective, we're the crazy ones. What I've learned is that I am steeped in Western values, in American free thinking and individualism, and that's how I want to live my life. And there are some who choose another path. More food for thought...
3. Disconnecting is a good thing. Big events like the Olympics suck up all kinds of attention, not just in the media but in our homes, our conversations. That's not necessarily a bad thing, however, we often think we can't live without watching these things on TV or talking about them at the office. But you know what? Life goes on and so do we.
   

And so life does go on. Thanks to everyone who read of my personal boycott and sent messages of encouragement and camaraderie. And congrats to all of you who launched boycotts of your own. What did you learn and how has it changed you?

Protests? What Protests? Chinese Manage to Break Their Own Promises to Allow Freedom of Speech During Olympics

As the Beijing Olympics winds down, I thought this was a fitting story to post today. Remember way back before the Games began how the Chinese government assured us that it would allow protests to take place? Sure, it might be miles away from any other human being, but it was better than nothing.

Well, they've conveniently found a way to get around all that. Lots of people petitioned to protest, following the official procedures put in place--and all have been denied. And now it's too late because the government required 48 hours to approve requests. Since the Games end on Sunday, that would mean protests had to be approved by either yesterday or Wednesday.

And these protests weren't all about Tibet. Many petitioned to protest labor concerns within China, medical needs, evictions and other issues surrounding domestic welfare. Most were from actual Chinese citizens, not foreigners. This article contains some heart-breaking stories.

China, of course, has excuses for all of this. My favorite quote, which I think sums up everything about China's shortcomings and the controversies surrounding the Games, comes from Beijing organizing committee VP Wang Wei:

“This is not realistic,” Wang said. “We think that you do not really understand China’s reality. China has its own version and way of exercising our democracy.”

Sorry Wang, your is a reality I hope to never understand.

Protests? What Protests? Chinese Manage to Break Their Own Promises to Allow Freedom of Speech During Olympics

As the Beijing Olympics winds down, I thought this was a fitting story to post today. Remember way back before the Games began how the Chinese government assured us that it would allow protests to take place? Sure, it might be miles away from any other human being, but it was better than nothing.

Well, they've conveniently found a way to get around all that. Lots of people petitioned to protest, following the official procedures put in place--and all have been denied. And now it's too late because the government required 48 hours to approve requests. Since the Games end on Sunday, that would mean protests had to be approved by either yesterday or Wednesday.

And these protests weren't all about Tibet. Many petitioned to protest labor concerns within China, medical needs, evictions and other issues surrounding domestic welfare. Most were from actual Chinese citizens, not foreigners. This article contains some heart-breaking stories.

China, of course, has excuses for all of this. My favorite quote, which I think sums up everything about China's shortcomings and the controversies surrounding the Games, comes from Beijing organizing committee VP Wang Wei:

“This is not realistic,” Wang said. “We think that you do not really understand China’s reality. China has its own version and way of exercising our democracy.”

Sorry Wang, your is a reality I hope to never understand.

Olympics/China Boycott, Day 132: Journalist Arrested for Being, Well, a Journalist

British journalist John Ray was arrested by Chinese police for apparently just doing his job. He showed up to cover a protest about the situation in Tibet, which is, of course, the Human Rights Violation That Shall Not Be Named. You know the police were trying to cover up and pretend that nothing was going on, so concerned as the Chinese are over appearances. They should've brought that little girl from the opening ceremonies in to distract everyone.

Ray was eventually released once the police chilled long enough to realize he was, in fact, a journalist. Hmmm, you'd think the fact that he had a press pass and a cameraman--who filmed the entire episode!--would've given the police some sort of clue.

Oh, the irony. Once again, the Chinese try to suppress the reality of Tibet only to have it blow up in their faces --faces with a perpetually fake smile.

Olympics/China Boycott, Day 132: Journalist Arrested for Being, Well, a Journalist

British journalist John Ray was arrested by Chinese police for apparently just doing his job. He showed up to cover a protest about the situation in Tibet, which is, of course, the Human Rights Violation That Shall Not Be Named. You know the police were trying to cover up and pretend that nothing was going on, so concerned as the Chinese are over appearances. They should've brought that little girl from the opening ceremonies in to distract everyone.

Ray was eventually released once the police chilled long enough to realize he was, in fact, a journalist. Hmmm, you'd think the fact that he had a press pass and a cameraman--who filmed the entire episode!--would've given the police some sort of clue.

Oh, the irony. Once again, the Chinese try to suppress the reality of Tibet only to have it blow up in their faces --faces with a perpetually fake smile.

Olympics/China Boycott Day 131: "Smoke & Mirrors" Used to Give Games Preferred Appearance

The Chinese are all about appearances. Look no further than several reports coming out now about how parts of the "stunning" opening ceremony were actually manipulated for our viewing pleasure.

The Chinese Version of Milli Vanilli
First, there was the adorable little girl who lip-synced her way through a song actually performed by a different girl who simply wasn't cute enough for public consumption. Damn, that's harsh. For all of our faults here in the U.S., at least we would've allowed the real girl to sing, don't you think?

Cue Balmy Breezes
If you read my last post, you know I saw part of the broadcast, mostly where the athletes enter the stadium, so I didn't see the girl "perform" myself. But I did notice how wonderfully breezy it was there in Beijing, as the Chinese and Olympic flags fluttered majestically---or did they? Turns out, the freakin' wind was fake, too! God forbid you have a production with flaccid flags! As a remedy, they used some wind machine in the flag poles.

A Fireworks Facade
Oh, but I did see those outstanding fireworks. We all ooohed and ahhhed and enjoyed the spectacle. But turns out, what we saw on the television wasn't real fireworks, either! Something about the smog being so bad that no one would actually see them, so the Chinese spent a year producing a CGI version to broadcast over TV to wow us. They say the fireworks actually happened but we just saw the enhancements. There's more details in this article.

This is all just too fake for me. Add to that comments some have made about the forced smiles and facial expressions of some of the performers, and I just feel like I'm being sold some lemon of a car dolled up to look like a Porsche. Hmm, how can you trust a people, a nation who show you what you want to see rather than what's real? Not something I can identify with.

Look Before You Purchase
And yet, China is inescapable. Last week, I bought a new polo shirt and some socks only to get home and realize both tags said: "Made in China!" I didn't even look before my purchase. And they were so pretty. The polo shirt is this great purple color and socks are purple argyle.

Then I go to an office supply store to buy a holder for business cards, and this time I'm checking tags. Would you believe everything they had, every brand, was "Made in China?" Every single one. What are you going to do? So I bought one rather than drive aimlessly all over town on some hunt.

The U.S./China Co-dependency
Yep, we Americans have pretty much become China's bitch. And in no small part due to the need of our homegrown corporations to reach Chinese consumers and make more money. On the way home from my friend's house this weekend, my partner and I made a few pee breaks. He's very particular about where he pees, so we ended up stopping twice at a McDonald's (an Olympic sponsor). Rather than fight over where we pee, I gave in. Most of the little towns where we stopped don't have much else besides a McD's. And we had to eat, too, so we also ordered food. Again, what are you gonna do?

Olympics/China Boycott Day 131: "Smoke & Mirrors" Used to Give Games Preferred Appearance

The Chinese are all about appearances. Look no further than several reports coming out now about how parts of the "stunning" opening ceremony were actually manipulated for our viewing pleasure.

The Chinese Version of Milli Vanilli
First, there was the adorable little girl who lip-synced her way through a song actually performed by a different girl who simply wasn't cute enough for public consumption. Damn, that's harsh. For all of our faults here in the U.S., at least we would've allowed the real girl to sing, don't you think?

Cue Balmy Breezes
If you read my last post, you know I saw part of the broadcast, mostly where the athletes enter the stadium, so I didn't see the girl "perform" myself. But I did notice how wonderfully breezy it was there in Beijing, as the Chinese and Olympic flags fluttered majestically---or did they? Turns out, the freakin' wind was fake, too! God forbid you have a production with flaccid flags! As a remedy, they used some wind machine in the flag poles.

A Fireworks Facade
Oh, but I did see those outstanding fireworks. We all ooohed and ahhhed and enjoyed the spectacle. But turns out, what we saw on the television wasn't real fireworks, either! Something about the smog being so bad that no one would actually see them, so the Chinese spent a year producing a CGI version to broadcast over TV to wow us. They say the fireworks actually happened but we just saw the enhancements. There's more details in this article.

This is all just too fake for me. Add to that comments some have made about the forced smiles and facial expressions of some of the performers, and I just feel like I'm being sold some lemon of a car dolled up to look like a Porsche. Hmm, how can you trust a people, a nation who show you what you want to see rather than what's real? Not something I can identify with.

Look Before You Purchase
And yet, China is inescapable. Last week, I bought a new polo shirt and some socks only to get home and realize both tags said: "Made in China!" I didn't even look before my purchase. And they were so pretty. The polo shirt is this great purple color and socks are purple argyle.

Then I go to an office supply store to buy a holder for business cards, and this time I'm checking tags. Would you believe everything they had, every brand, was "Made in China?" Every single one. What are you going to do? So I bought one rather than drive aimlessly all over town on some hunt.

The U.S./China Co-dependency
Yep, we Americans have pretty much become China's bitch. And in no small part due to the need of our homegrown corporations to reach Chinese consumers and make more money. On the way home from my friend's house this weekend, my partner and I made a few pee breaks. He's very particular about where he pees, so we ended up stopping twice at a McDonald's (an Olympic sponsor). Rather than fight over where we pee, I gave in. Most of the little towns where we stopped don't have much else besides a McD's. And we had to eat, too, so we also ordered food. Again, what are you gonna do?

My Own "Minority Report"

This past weekend made me think of this Tom Cruise film (loosely based on the Philip Dick short story), in which the omission of a dissenting opinion causes tragic consequences.

Do you ever find yourself in the minority and wonder how the hell that happened? There you are with friends, spouses or co-workers who you think are pretty much like you only to realize they have VERY different ideas from yours? Well, that happened to me this past weekend, and while I survived it made me quite uncomfortable. I began to question why I was so far outside the group. Am I naive? Stupid? Insane?

Here's how it went down. As soon as my partner and I arrived at my friend's house for the long weekend, everyone was talking about the Olympics. There were 5 of us total. As you know, I'm boycotting the Olympics coverage as well as sponsors. They were all talking about watching the opening ceremonies, which I usually love to see. But we had dinner plans, so I was hoping we might be out so late, we'd miss the coverage.

Turns out, we did miss most of it, but as soon as we returned home, the TV was turned on to NBC. Sure, I thought about mentioning my objections. I thought about feigning a headache and going to bed early. But I did neither. I decided to stay up with them--and yes, my silence felt like tacit approval of the Olympics. Guess I didn't feel like fighting that battle right then.

Then on Sunday, we all got into a friendly political discussion. I knew 4 of us were Democrats and the other was a Republican, seemingly in name only. We discussed Obama and McCain, and I suddenly realized that no one liked Obama--except me. Even my partner expressed some reservations (although he didn't say he'd vote for McCain). I found myself defending Obama, defending his wife Michelle, and explaining all sorts of reasons why I was voting for him.

Their objections? Money, first and foremost. They were worried about Obama reinstating the capital gains tax or raising taxes to pay for national health care. I countered with all the usual arguments, but it was clear these friends of mine had a very tight grip on their money. One of them also couldn't get past Obama's past affiliation with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. In her mind, Obama was a black liberationist and would turn our country into some kind of new Marxist nation. She suspected his loyalties to lie everywhere else but with good ol' American mom and apple pie.

All in all, it was a good discussion, proof that you can discuss politics without fist fights. But I left feeling like I had been in actual fist fight. It caused me to question everything I feel about Obama and about the Beijing Olympics. I like these people and we have fun together. Should we all feel the same? I suppose that's unrealistic, but it isn't so comforting when you discover yourself in the minority.

My Own "Minority Report"

This past weekend made me think of this Tom Cruise film (loosely based on the Philip Dick short story), in which the omission of a dissenting opinion causes tragic consequences.

Do you ever find yourself in the minority and wonder how the hell that happened? There you are with friends, spouses or co-workers who you think are pretty much like you only to realize they have VERY different ideas from yours? Well, that happened to me this past weekend, and while I survived it made me quite uncomfortable. I began to question why I was so far outside the group. Am I naive? Stupid? Insane?

Here's how it went down. As soon as my partner and I arrived at my friend's house for the long weekend, everyone was talking about the Olympics. There were 5 of us total. As you know, I'm boycotting the Olympics coverage as well as sponsors. They were all talking about watching the opening ceremonies, which I usually love to see. But we had dinner plans, so I was hoping we might be out so late, we'd miss the coverage.

Turns out, we did miss most of it, but as soon as we returned home, the TV was turned on to NBC. Sure, I thought about mentioning my objections. I thought about feigning a headache and going to bed early. But I did neither. I decided to stay up with them--and yes, my silence felt like tacit approval of the Olympics. Guess I didn't feel like fighting that battle right then.

Then on Sunday, we all got into a friendly political discussion. I knew 4 of us were Democrats and the other was a Republican, seemingly in name only. We discussed Obama and McCain, and I suddenly realized that no one liked Obama--except me. Even my partner expressed some reservations (although he didn't say he'd vote for McCain). I found myself defending Obama, defending his wife Michelle, and explaining all sorts of reasons why I was voting for him.

Their objections? Money, first and foremost. They were worried about Obama reinstating the capital gains tax or raising taxes to pay for national health care. I countered with all the usual arguments, but it was clear these friends of mine had a very tight grip on their money. One of them also couldn't get past Obama's past affiliation with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. In her mind, Obama was a black liberationist and would turn our country into some kind of new Marxist nation. She suspected his loyalties to lie everywhere else but with good ol' American mom and apple pie.

All in all, it was a good discussion, proof that you can discuss politics without fist fights. But I left feeling like I had been in actual fist fight. It caused me to question everything I feel about Obama and about the Beijing Olympics. I like these people and we have fun together. Should we all feel the same? I suppose that's unrealistic, but it isn't so comforting when you discover yourself in the minority.

Olympics/China Boycott Day 127: Why Should American Cyclists Apologize for Wearing Smog Masks?

This is so stupid and illustrates perfectly how the true Olympic spirit has been hijacked by a repressive Chinese regime more concerned about its image than reality--in this case, more than the athletes' health and well-being.

Looks like some of our cyclists arrived in Beijing well-prepared for the city's legendary smog problem. The black masks were an immediate hit! Damn, those Chinese are sensitive folk. "Welcome to our city! Oh, that's not smog--just morning mist. Ah, smell that clean air? That's progress and freedom!"

How stupid do they think we are? Hello, Chinese government, the rest of the world is not as gullible and cowed as your own populace. We do not and will not believe anything you say. Let the Games begin!

But now the cyclists have apologized for wearing the masks! What is there to apologize for? They were concerned about their health, so they took precautions. Was it a stunt? Who knows and does that matter? It's a fact Beijing has notorious pollution. Cyclists need to have healthy lungs. Why go all the way around the world to compete in the Olympics and have your chances of winning reduced because the host country pretends that lung-scarring smog is really just "mist?" Those athletes had nothing to apologize for, and it disappoints and saddens me that they did so. Welcome to China!

Oh, and I should mention past Olympian Joey Cheek's visa being revoked at the last minute, obviously because of his work on the Darfur cause, which is embarrassing to China because of its support for the Sudanese government and alleged arms deals. Guess the Chinese don't understand irony because in their efforts to keep Cheek quiet, they just gave him the bullhorn he needed.

Boneheaded, pure and simple.

Olympics/China Boycott Day 127: Why Should American Cyclists Apologize for Wearing Smog Masks?

This is so stupid and illustrates perfectly how the true Olympic spirit has been hijacked by a repressive Chinese regime more concerned about its image than reality--in this case, more than the athletes' health and well-being.

Looks like some of our cyclists arrived in Beijing well-prepared for the city's legendary smog problem. The black masks were an immediate hit! Damn, those Chinese are sensitive folk. "Welcome to our city! Oh, that's not smog--just morning mist. Ah, smell that clean air? That's progress and freedom!"

How stupid do they think we are? Hello, Chinese government, the rest of the world is not as gullible and cowed as your own populace. We do not and will not believe anything you say. Let the Games begin!

But now the cyclists have apologized for wearing the masks! What is there to apologize for? They were concerned about their health, so they took precautions. Was it a stunt? Who knows and does that matter? It's a fact Beijing has notorious pollution. Cyclists need to have healthy lungs. Why go all the way around the world to compete in the Olympics and have your chances of winning reduced because the host country pretends that lung-scarring smog is really just "mist?" Those athletes had nothing to apologize for, and it disappoints and saddens me that they did so. Welcome to China!

Oh, and I should mention past Olympian Joey Cheek's visa being revoked at the last minute, obviously because of his work on the Darfur cause, which is embarrassing to China because of its support for the Sudanese government and alleged arms deals. Guess the Chinese don't understand irony because in their efforts to keep Cheek quiet, they just gave him the bullhorn he needed.

Boneheaded, pure and simple.