true!...it should be the lazy bastards in the U.N that should be getting of their fat arses and slamming sanctions against China and while they are at it sending armed forces into Zimbabwe and Dafoure(sorry about the spelling)...but then that means they would have to spend some of the millions they get from the world ...can't have that can we!!

I just gotta ask....does this friend live in the U.S.?

I think she's smoking crack. True enough that the US crying foul on human rights issues is the pot calling the kettle black but what-the-hell. Got to start somewhere. Why not China. A place where female infanticide is conisdered normal. It's a bad, backward place and she knows that. That the USA is up to its eyeballs in debt to them shows that most people here don't care at all what goes on in China. Oh, and RIP Yangtze River dolphin. Our cheap TVs were worth your demise.

Well, if the Chinese want the rest of the world to stop meddling, why not do it properly and cut off trade in Chinese goods? The fact of the matter is, the price of being a player on a world stage is having some respect for human rights. Not that I think the west, or America at least, can or would hold any leverage over China, what with the *Massive* trade deficit they have over us, not to mention all the hypocrisy the U.S. government would be guilty of if they tried to bring the hammer down on China for human rights violations. Frankly, I think your friend is probably a great example of just how successful the Chinese government's champaigns to keep their populus ignorant are.

G'day Dirty Ninja, Thank you for your question. I don't know that we are. We may have concerns about human rights in China but these are raised peacefully. Most of the problems with the Torch relay are as a result of the continuing occupation of Tibet by China which has been occuring since 1950. Tibet was independent since 1911 and most Tibetans do not consider themselves Chinese. Regards

I recall learning in History that when Germany and everything was in trouble... around the time of the holocaust, the USA tried to stay out and keep from interferring but we were needed. I think that sometimes we interfere but it's to help not to harm. That's what Allies are for... to help different counntry's band together

It's in every nations interest to keep tabs of what's going on in other nations. If human rights are being violated, it is only natural that a nation would wish to prevent this from happening, especially if the violations are government sanctioned. This doesn't mean that all nations must police each other, but that it should be expected for other nations to investigate and put pressure upon others if people's livelihoods are at stake.

Well, China has kinda always wanted to be left alone....they even asked nicely once...

Now if only China would leave Tibet alone!

I agree that America and its allies should stop being so aggressively militaristic (there's a great series of articles about this on Noam Chomsky's website), but I'm all for Human Right's Watch and the UN keeping a tab on the activities of the PRC.

First I'd like to say as far as the germany thing goes. Yes the U.S wanted to stay out of the conflict but the reason they did join was in self defence. I'm sure we all know what happened at pearl harbor. Don't forget that Japan was one of the countries with Germany. Plus the war helped end the great depression because the U.S (before they enterd) was selling weapons to other Allies and Japan asked them to stop because it was adding them since the U.S had nothing to do with the war, which is y pearl harbor happened. As far as the UN comment about africa, if you look at histoy its because if the UN's fault whats going on now. Actually whats going on in the Middle east we can all and India we can all Blame the UN and the U.S. So thats what happens when u BUTT in other peoples problems. And yes China do need to leave Tibet alone but China is not a democracy is it. So something call manifest destiny keeps the U.S doing what it does. Most Americans who read this wont know what the hell i'm talkin about. I love history I know a lot of hard to see threads thats been woven in time what you think u finally know the truth you don't. Everything that has happend to the U.S was known before it happend and people didnt listen. I would say the most important was Geroge Washington. He warned not to interfear with other countries affairs because it would cause us problems and we would not be liked. MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

I'm sorry, but I will always interfere (peacefully) when I know people are being harmed.

We should stop doing any business with China. It's ruining our ecomony. At the very least we should make tariffs on goods from China so high that it's unprofitable to get anything from there. One Congressman calls it economic treason to send jobs out of our country. He deserves the highest praise for coming up with this praise. If only Washington will listen to him.

I would agree with her if China was not a member of the United Nations and especially not a permanent member of the Security Council. However, when they joined, they agreed to abide by certain principles. They are not abiding by those principles, therefore they deserve censure. Not that they are the only country to deserve it, not by a long shot. When human rights are violated , it's everyone's business. And as for China's position that other countries are not lily-white, that's just a diversionary tactic - something that is wrong is not made right by the fact that other people do it. And sometimes others can see us more clearly than we can see ourselves.

If China wants us to "stop interfering in the internal affairs", the can become an isolationist country. No business with other countries, no Olypmics, nothing. But as long as we are doing business with them, and they include lead in the products they ship, it is our business. AND IF WE ACT NOW, 10% MORE LEAD AT NO ADDITIONAL COST!!!

I AGREE 100%. What if people around the world protested against America's continued occupation of Iraq?

It is our business, if they want to trade with us. No country on the world is on its own these days. They have to understand that.

You may tell your chinese friend, in all politeness, to blow me. "Stop interfering in the internal affairs of China". Yet a Chinese spy was discovered inside the US and sentenced to 25 years in prison just a few months ago. So once again, may I reiterate, B-l-o-w m-e.

When the innocent are repressed, the free in shackles, and people are oppressed, it is everyone's business. After all, are we not in this all together? If the tables were turned and you were overrun by the hordes of Han Chinese, denied a part in a booming economy, if your religious freedoms were abridged, if your ability to travel was restricted and you were randomly beaten by a foreign occupying force, wouldn't you want someone to stand up and say "enough?" Wouldn't you want someone to block the Olympic Torch in your name?