President Obama confronted the Chinese government directly today by bringing up the issue of a free internet and basic civil liberties in front of a Chinese student group and the Chinese President.
Of course, bringing it up did not change the Chinese leader’s mind, as he made clear of the need for all countries to avoid interference in other nations’ internal affairs.
But just by saying it at public gatherings was an important step, particularly with a nation which we have unfortunately allowed to become our biggest lender due to terrible economic policies and irresponsible war debt buildup under President Bush. Who ever could have imagined that we would be in such a financial mess due to eight years of the Bush Presidency! But in the midst of this, Obama showed courage and principle by speaking his mind on the subject of human rights, even if it met deaf ears!