"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are the luge, bobsleigh, and the giant slalom.
This perversion of the world’s greatest political document might be what Thomas Jefferson would write today if he were alive, and a fanatical Chinese communist. Why? Because it seems as though the “Chi-coms” have found a new right “enumerated in the penumbras” of human history.
The right to snowboard.
“Access to winter sports is also a human right, a spokeswoman for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics said on Tuesday, rejecting vociferous complaints from rights groups that China should not have won the right to host the Games.
Campaigners say human rights have deteriorated markedly in China since Beijing held the 2008 Summer Games. The last two years under President Xi Jinping's administration have been marked by a sweeping crackdown on dissidents, activists and human rights lawyers.”
To which an official who is apparently the Beijing version of “Baghdad Bob” (her name is Wang Hui, and she is a she, which foils my fervent desire to refer to her as “Beijing Bob.” I’ll get over it.) responded thusly:
"What I want to say is that China's progress on human rights has been recognized by the world," spokeswoman Wang Hui told reporters.
"Holding the Winter Olympics in China, first, is to guarantee the people's demand for winter sports. This human right has already been respected," she added.
Wang said the Olympics would "undoubtedly" help advance human rights in China further.”
Well, if “the people’s demand for winter sports” needs to be guaranteed, who are we to say no? Of course, the “people” have also at various times demanded to have religious freedom, freedom of speech, assembly, association, and the ability to form independent labor unions.
But hey, I’m sure they’re working on that. I’m also sure that granting the Chinese government’s demands with absolutely no strings attached will help improve the plight of their people greatly. The same way it did after they hosted the summer games in 2008.
I’m sure it will.
