People, politics and the Olympics game.

I find it difficult to write about human rights.

I think it's because it's so hard for me to believe that anyone doesn't believe in the concept of equal rights for all human life. But, every day I'm slapped in the face with the ugly evidence that an alarming number of people just don't seem to give a crap about their fellow human beings. Particularly if those fellow human beings look different, sound different, have different customs, belong to different parties, belong to the same party, have long legs, short legs, facial hair, no facial hair, blue eyes, brown eyes, believe in different gods, believe in the same God, prefer Coke over Pepsi 0r Pepsi over Coke. 

I am now convinced that even if race, religion and sexual orientation didn't exist, people would still find ways to distance themselves from one another. I don't know if it's because we can't literally feel each other's pain, walk in each others shoes, see through others eyes or any other cliche you'd like to plug in here.  Maybe we all secretly believe in the whole "I'm the center of the universe" junk.

Well, I've got news, I am not the center of the universe and neither are you. Bill Gates may be but that's a possibility I choose not to consider.

Which leads me elsewhere. 

I've been watching the coverage of the Olympic torch relay. Couldn't avoid it.  Violent protests in the streets over China's human rights record, their support for Sudan and their hold on Tibet.

I can certainly understand the protest. It's people's voices that can ultimately change the course of governments, but violence against people in the name of anti-violence against people, is an oxymoron. Violence is violence no matter who's doing it and to whom.

See, that sounds preachy doesn't it. I don't mean it to be. I just wish people would think about this stuff.

cnchnz