Olympic Flame: Shining a Light on China?

Although I did not want to comment on the China vs. Tibet subject, I think it's time that people need to start to think outside the box.

Over last weeks the media has been reporting that the China's suppression of protests in Tibet has unleashed a storm of outrage worldwide.

Now, we have to ask first why these problems exist. We have to remember that these problems were created by the old Mao Zedong government during the Cultural Revolution.

Although, the People's Republic of China is still governed by a authoritarian, communist, and socialist government, things have started to change. Both President is Hu Jintao and its premier is Wen Jiabao have initiated policies to address these issues of equitable distribution of resources. For much of China's population, living standards have seen extremely large improvements, and freedom continues to expand.

We also have the notice that these problems have been on the agenda of the new government for some time now. Nonetheless, the west sees these changes as too small and too slow. In other words, conditions such as Tibet will change but not in the speed expected by the west or the Tibetan people.

By talking to people in China I found out that the People's Republic of China is mostly concerned that China will follow the path of countries such as Russia.

What happened in Russia? The country fell apart into small but now often poor countries after democracy was introduced. Most countries are now free of Russia but are weaker and often worse off of than before. To avoid such destruction, the Chinese government rules with an iron hand.

Moreover most Chinese will tell you that their life has improved over the last years.

So, one should ask oneself shouldn’t we us the Olympic Games as an opportunity to build bridges and help the country to move forward to a better country with the people for the people.

Even the spiritual leader of Tibet the Dalai Lama wants a meaningful dialogue with the Chinese leadership to exercise wisdom. Although the Chinese Government accuses the Dalai Lama of instigating the riots, the Dalai Lama said he does not wish to drive a wedge between the Tibetan and Chinese peoples. On the contrary, the Dalai Lama has always been committed to find a genuine solution to the problem of Tibet that ensures the long-term interests of both Chinese and Tibetans. His primary concern is to ensure the survival of the Tibetan people’s distinctive culture, language and identity. As a simple monk he strives to live his daily life according to Buddhist precepts.

On Sunday Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said to the Xinhua News Agency, "The channels for dialogue between the Chinese government and Dalai Lama is always open as long as the Dalai Lama abandons the claim for 'Tibet independence'."

The west needs to stop imposing their beliefs on other countries.

Sure, there are problems in China. Which country does not have problem. We need to give the government time to change. Change in China takes even more time than we in the west are used to.

Let's learn more about China before we shout "foul".