In Beijing, China, the International Olympics Committee told the Chinese government to ease up on their treatment of people. The Chinese government, in turn, invites protesters to register at their local police department and, when the Olympics come, to just stand in one of the designated protest areas and they can do as they please. As prominent protesters have disappeared into the secret confines of their prisons, no one’s shown up to these protests, despite the myriad “opportunities” to do so.

As I read between the lines in that New York Times article, I’m bothered by the idea that we’d actually have to ask the authorities whether or not we can protest against them without them seeking some retribution of some nature. And it’s not that I’m disenchanted; to the contrary, I’ve never had more hope for the future. But it’s going to get worse before it gets better. I’m sad about that portion.

“Inside every cynical person is a disappointed idealist.” – George Carlin

Truer words were never spoken …

jose, who tries to turn his cynicism into action …