WHY CAN'T WE TALK TO CHINA?

The heartbreaking images of parents sitting and waiting for the bodies of their children to be pulled from the rubble of schools has, moved each of us in some way. As we watch day after day the aftermath of the horrendous earthquake in China, I'm sure that each of us is moved to reach out in some way to the Chinese people who are suffering so much.

Why is it then that there is no way to express to the Chinese government as an individual your care and concern for what their people are going through?

I went searching on the Internet and found an embassy in both Washington, DC and New York city. There are websites for these embassies of the People's Republic of China as there are for the three consulates which the government also maintains in this country. But not one of the web sites has a means of contact. There was a contact button on the web site of the New York City embassy but when you click on it it tells you this function has been removed.

What is the People's Republic of China afraid of? Criticism? Certainly they've earned that for their handling of the Tibet issue. But you would think that a country that wants to show itself off by hosting the Olympic Games would have someone with better public relations sense. You cannot stifle dissent or criticism from the rest of the world if you're going to be a part of that world. Nor should you cut yourself off, from any possible sympathy or concern with the plight of your people.

Perhaps the Chinese government will learn a lesson from what is happening in Burma. The military junta there is reaping a whirlwind of international condemnation and deservedly so for their foot dragging on allowing aid into the country for the victims of the cyclone. China could well squander the world sympathy for their misfortune by refusing to open themselves to expressions of that sympathy from the rest of the world.

China needs to learn that there is no benefit from a lack of communication. Only consequences.

RimPig