Ms Applebaum disappoints me. She seemed more thoughtful than the sort of person who would favor a gesture that is rude, too late, irrelevant, and actually kind of bizarre. Yes, there is a parallel with Nazi Germany, but in this case the show is running backwards. China is becoming a *more* open, *more* free society, *more* inclined to be constructive in world affairs. It is as if WWII and all the associated atrocities had happened first then as Germany recovered it's sanity it throws an international festival, at which point a huffy Ms Applebaum rises from her slumber. Protest before or during the calamity? But there weren't any festivals! What seems to be going on here is that some people can't bear the sight of happy people when there is still unhappiness in the world.

Yes, Tibet is a nasty bit of work and China is still an autocracy. It wasn't 8 years ago when China was selected to host the games? What has happened since? Millions have risen out of poverty and been allowed to largely go about their business as they see fit. Some of those millions have put their hearts into building and organizing a spectacular festival. Who exactly is going to feel the brunt of Ms Applebaum's protest? If we protest what China is doing wrong, what is the proper response to what it is doing right? A kick in the pants and a scolding for not hurrying up?

Ms Applebaum here seems much like her country: Rude, flashy, feel good, ahistorical, self-righteous, and little stomach for follow through.

Regards,

Sasuke99

I agree with Sasuke99's comments about this issue except that there is no parallel to Nazi Germany in China's case what so ever. It's preposterous to even draw any such comparison. The case in Tibet has its historical roots, and what's happening there right now is racial hatred of Tibetians towards Hans who in recent years moved into the area under the government's economic policy to help improve the economy and attract more investments in the region . Some Tibitians feared that more Hans and Hui ethnics (Chinese Muslims) moving into the territory will undermine ethnic Tibitians and eventually dilute their race, religion and culture, and the radicals started the recent riot to use violence against Hans and Huis and burned down their businesses. This is different form peaceful protest for the government to address the Tibitian's concerns and issues, and the Westen media's coverage is extremely bias and showed no sympathy to those Hans and Huis who were killed, lost their families and small businesses on which their lives depends on.

I'm not sugggesting that Chinese government did everything right here. They should have been more open to the Western media in reproting what's happening in Tibet. But as any other governments in the world, Chinese government has every right and obligation to proptect its citizens and incriminate those thugs and radicals causing damage to other people's lives and breaking the law, regardless of race and religious background of those criminals.

As far as the far cry for religious freedom, if there no religious freedom in Tibet, where are those monks coming from? China has made tremendous progress towards religous freedom since the eighties, and what's feared and hence not allowed by the government is using religion to breed hatred toward the governments and therefore undermine the one-party regime and casue social instability. To the western world, this is anti democracy, but to the average Chinese, why would they want to go to the Church and temple to express hatred and anti government sentiments anyway unless they have other political agendas under the pretense of religion?

The tremendous economic progress China made in the past twenty years has offered prosperity to its people and changed the world. Before anyone can point figer and criticize Beijing for its governing of the country with 1.3 billion population, I suggest you first go to China and see it for yourself.

China is country now its citizens can be proud of. There is better things to do than protesting the Olympics. Do something to solve the problems of your own country, there are plenty out there. Olympics is not a political event, cheers for your athleths to compets for their countries and appreciate their hardwork is what Olympics is all about. If you don't like sports and not a fan of Olympics, then don't try to tie politicis to this event just because you have anything better to do.

Don't know if MojoMojo6 is a Chinese or not. But I'd like to thank you anyway. Thank you for your supportive article.

Tibet is a part of China. So it's Chinese problem and have nothing to do with any other countries. U.S. may want to be police of the world, and Americans may like to point fingers at other country's policy. But I really hope Americans should investigate clearly before that, find out what's really happening in Tibet, in Darfur, and in Taiwan. Cause China is not a place where you can intrude to search for WMD. If Americans always believe what CNN or BBC says, I invite you to see this site: www.anti-cnn.com. You will find out what kind of lies CNN and BBC are talking and how ridiculous your so-called truths are.

I really like the title "Protesting China? For what??". For human right? For Darfur? For Tibet? I think stopping China from getting stronger may be the real reason. China is manufacturing stuff for all of the world. So what's in it for China to be like a "Nazi Germany"? China is just a country trying to take back it's position of the world which was lost during 19th century. And our Chinese are just people who want to live better lives.

Our goverment do have some problems, and may have made some mistakes. But still it's our goverment. If we don't like it, we may have it changed. There is an old saying. "Water may hold a boat, but it can capsize it too". Our people knows it. Our goverment knows it, too. So stop worrying about our Chinese and just take care about your own business, please. U.S. goverment also has many problems.

And if you really want to protest China, have a better reason please.