Don't burn, baby, don't burn

Every once and a while, something happens that makes me think there's enough people power left in the world to have a little hope.

Witness the Olympic torch protest parade, in which China's efforts to capitalize on the Olympic spirit with a waltz around the world are being foiled by tons of protesters who see it for what it is. The free world's governments may ignore China's efforts to eradicate Tibetan culture, heritage and independence, but the people haven't.

It never made sense, of course, to send the Olympic Games to Beijing. Between the dirty air and water and the child labor, it's hardly an ideal proving ground for young athletes. Aligned with the world's most brutal dictatorships, it's hardly a showplace for global unity.

And not that long ago, we all watched on TV as tanks rolled over Chinese young people for the crime of demanding freedom -- an event China's leaders not only don't apologize for, but basically deny ever happened.

The aftermath shamed the US as well. Then-President Bush waited barely a blink to send his emissaries over to shake the bloody hands of China's leaders and reassure them. The assurance: there had to be sanctions, but they'd be weak and short-lived. Almost immediately, US and Western businesses parachuted in with money and big deals.

Sure, we spent trillions of dollars and many lives to topple one freedom-hating Communist superpower. But they could help build another in China. And China promised stability; they knew how to deal with rabble-rousers.

So today, they give us lead-filled toys and other dangerous products, and we give them hard currency and a huge trade surplus. And the Olympics.

The Olympic Charter starts like this:

1. Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of
body, will and mind. Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a
way of life based on the joy of effort, the educational value of good example and respect for
universal fundamental ethical principles.

It also says:

5. Any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion,
politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement.

and it adds:

6. Belonging to the Olympic Movement requires compliance with the Olympic Charter and
recognition by the IOC.

Exactly what part of that ideal does China represent? Perhaps they need to add "Cash-rich countries able to throw a grander bash will be granted an exemption from these ideals."