The New China, Just Like the Old China

In China, it seems, Olympics or no Olympics, capitalism or no capitalism, it’s probably best not to protest, not to challenge the totalitarians who run and rape the place:

BEIJING — Two elderly Chinese women have been sentenced to a year of “re-education through labor” after they repeatedly sought a permit to demonstrate in one of the official Olympic protest areas, according to family members and human rights advocates.

The women, Wu Dianyuan, 79, and Wang Xiuying, 77, had made five visits to the police this month in an effort to get permission to protest what they contended was inadequate compensation for the demolition of their homes in Beijing.

During their final visit on Monday, public security officials informed them that they had been given administrative sentences for “disturbing the public order,” according to Li Xuehui, Ms. Wu’s son.

Mr. Li said his mother and Ms. Wang, who used to be neighbors before their homes were demolished to make way for a redevelopment project, were allowed to return home but were told they could be sent to a detention center at any moment. “Can you imagine two old ladies in their 70s being re-educated through labor?” he asked. He said Ms. Wang was nearly blind.

That’s right, China has sentenced two women in their 70s to “re-education through labor” not for protesting but for wanting to protest the government for demolishing their homes.

What a charming country. I’m so happy they have the Olympics, a global platform that serves to legitimize their controlled-market totalitarian regime.

Mao might not go for much of what China has become, a technological superpower with capitalist leanings, but he would still find much to like in how it treats its people.

The Cultural Revolution, after all, isn’t over yet.