By Thomas Kenney Los Angeles
Now that China has voted to conduct a military strike against the tiny island of Taiwan, I’ve been waiting for the international media to cover the massive protests that must be going on across the globe. Protests of the Iraq war must pale in comparison.
After all, while Iraq threatened the international community for 12 years, Taiwan merely wants to formally declare its independence. Is that justification for war? China is only after Taiwan’s remarkable (capitalist) economy. Does Jerry Rubin have a bumper sticker for that? Not quite as hip and trendy as “No Blood For Oil.”
Will Michael Moore make a “documentary” about the Chinese government? Will there be a candlelight vigil on the Third Street Promenade? Now that the people of Iraq and Afghanistan live in free societies, groups like A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition claim to continue protesting “empire” and “occupation world-wide.”
Why won’t they take a stand against the communist empire? Perhaps because they are a part of it.
Further, in Nepal, a dictator has seized power and stripped the people of basic civil liberties. Groups like the A.C.L.U haven’t spoken a word. The ruler of Nepal justifies his actions by saying that the other political parties couldn’t stop the communists. A Machiavellian approach — but sometimes peace is not the answer. You could ask the Dali Llama... if he was home in Tibet.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 21, 2005. Read the original PDF.