POLITICAL

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When I started this Weblog on 24 March 2008, I was merely moved by the feeling that we must somehow involve the 'man on the street' who sits glued to his TV watching the Olympic Games or any other sport, but with little attachment to the Spirit of Olympia and all the good values which flow from The Olympics.

My only objective then, was to bring the multitude to share and become active 'Spirits' in this Great Celebration.

NOW TODAY, Monday 7 April 2008, and as I surf the net, there are tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat - Shame On Me! There are acts of violence, demonstrations and loud voices on the streets - all in the name of Liberty, Fraternity and Equality . . . etc. etc. etc. How can I not welcome these acts of violence, demonstrations and the raised voices - they are but in support of the ideals we so cherish and for which so many men and women have given their lives.

Having studied political science at university and having read Plato, Aristotle, Mill, Locke, Rousseau, Hobbes, Machiavelli and much more, I must surely be sympathetic to the current demonstrations. Having given lectures on political philosophy at university, I must surely appreciate the rationale of the current demonstrations and the loud voices.

MORE, in the late Sixties, we marched down the main streets of Wellington and other cities of New Zealand, protesting against Apartheid, the War in Vietnam, and a host of other issues. Vivid are the memories of the camaraderie, the passion and the fun. But most of all, the flush of excitement – thinking we were part of the human revolution movement.

EVEN THEN, we had our fair share of Professional Agitators; they lived for "causes", jumping from one cause to another and generating new causes when the old ones are no longer "fashionable". They survived on donations from the supporters of their causes.

There is no doubt, that demonstrators of today experience the same feelings. No doubt, Professional Agitators exist even today and are the main instigators of present day demonstrations.

BUT THEN, in the sixties, we did not burn and loot, we did not attack by-standers of different persuasions. We did not attack the police, etc, etc, etc. Alas, can that be said of the current demonstrators and demonstrations.

The whys, whats, whens and hows of the present Anti-Beijing Olympics protests is not a subject for this weblog. There are other forums for examining these issues. The Reasons and Logic, however, are legitimate areas for discussion.

Allow me to tell you A True Story from the past, and to give a Personal Opinion.

A TRUE STORY
I once knew a Christian, Chinese businessman from Singapore - a church elder at his local church. Sometime in 1974-1977, he claimed that he knew President Suharto of Indonesia. I heard but did not respond. He repeated the claim a second time, and I took note. The third time he made the claim, I asked, “You mean you do business with him?” His reply to my question was an angry “No” and a red flush of anger / guilt on his face.

Was I wrong to pose to myself then, and which I pose to you now, the question - "What does a Christian, China born and Chinese speaking businessman have in common with an Indonesian, Indonesian speaking, army general to allow either one to claim that he knows the other?"

We know for a fact that Suharto was a corrupt dictator. Some of the government linked media in South-East Asia are now beginning to label him as a corrupt dictator. The World Bank which funded the transmigration project(s) in Indonesia drew much criticism - reports of large scale corruption and misuse of funds. I know for a fact that this Chinese businessman, was undertaking one if not more project(s) - the same businessman painted the transmigration projects(s) in glowing terms. Just type 'transmigration indonesia world bank' in Google Search to see the real picture - don't take my word.

We know for a fact that in the years 1974-76, Suharto and under him, the Indonesian army or militia groups funded by the Indonesian government, were burning churches, attacking and murdering Christians in East Timor, now known as the nation of Timor Leste. Is it acceptable for an elder of a Christian church, to act as the conduit to steal monies which rightly belong to the Indonesians and to turn a blind eye to the burnings and the killings of Christians?

To top it all, Chinese businessman can, with audacity, preach and opinionate on matters moral, ethical etc.

Some call him a saint, because he distributes a bit of his ill-gotten gains to charity. Unfortunately, in this imperfect world of ours, there are too many like the Chinese businessman - "Pretenders" that they are, exist in all nations, cultures and groups and at all levels of society. They "sin" and they "spin". We have the right and even a duty to "scorn" and to "spurn".

The Fundamental Principle:

THE MORAL to this story is very simple :
Listen with our ears - that we may learn
Open our eyes - that we may discern the truth from the lies
Open our hearts - that we may feel for man and share with humanity

BUT MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, put our brains into gear before we open our mouths to preach, to opinionate or to criticise. Put our brains into gear before we move our hands and before we act.

The above Principle is neither original nor new. It has been spoken off and acted upon, a million times and more, by men of greater stature and intellect. Suffice that I am a follower.


A PERSONAL OPINION

TODAY, Monday 14 April 2008. A week has passed since I last wrote to this page. A long week of turmoil, pronouncements and condemnation. The legitimate concerns for: Liberty, Fraternity and Equality, often grey in this imperfect world of ours, turned Brown and sank into the Black Abyss of outright stupidity - the French Revolution and the era of Mob Rule. It was a week of blunders and stupidity, garnished by the litany of lies and half truths. You can count the number of significant western political philosophers on the fingers of your two hands. Amongst the best are JS Mill (English) and Rousseau (French). I can only ponder in disbelief, the words and deeds of the current batch of political leaders from these two nations and from Europe at large - go back and read and learn from your Past Masters and Philosophers and your Histories.

Add in the other Pretenders, the veterans of old campaigns, men of the cloth and robes, reporters without borders or professional ethics who create news rather than reporting them. What do we have, if not a band of men with wool over their eyes and woolly thinking in their brains. And like sheep they follow and pay homage to the current fashion: China bashing!!!

Enough of polemics, but do not misunderstand. Beneath the polemics are some serious issues and principles, which we shall now examine without passion and emotion but with reason and logic - maybe a little bit of passion ?

The Nature of Rights & Obligations
To lay claim to a right, carries with it an obligation to similarly acknowledge that others have similar rights. The Relay Torch Bearers, men and women of discipline with lifelong service to their nations and societies, were set upon by these Mobs who claim they are acting to promote human rights etc. etc. etc. Shallow are the claims of these people, who threatened, disturbed and prevented those who may have more justification for claiming similar rights.

The Mob of human rights activists, can surely be proud - they share the same behaviour patterns of Past Dictators like Hitler, Stalin and Suharto, just to name a few, and the many current dictators the world over. That characteristic is to deny others, rights which they claim for themselves.

The International Olympic Movement & The Host City
What is generally not known is the fact that the International Olympic Movement has full control over the running of any Olympic Games. The Host City, merely provides the venues, accomodation and food, transport and entertainment. Even then, what is being provided by the Host City is subject to review, supervision and control of the Olympic Movement.

The judgements, nay! call these utterances, or decision making capabilities of those high officials, politicians and even kings (or Pretenders), who cannot see or will not see the nature of this relationship between the International Olympic Movement and The Host City must surely be questioned.

The recent events of the last month clearly indicate that the issue is not about human rights, but the self-serving interests of these nations and their leaders. The cats are slowly jumping out of the bags - the issues of the Chinese currency, the apparent loss of jobs in Europe. More, many use the "human rights" as a front, to dishonestly hide and disguise their self-interest and their geo-political ambitions and Pretensions !!!

It is imperative that such issues be handled through the proper channels and not be dropped onto the laps of the International Olympic Movement and sportsmen the world over.

This is and will be the only political statement from this site...
This site is about The Spirit of Olympia and all that it stands for.

Happy Olympics To All