Chinese-Americans Protest CNN's Cafferty

At the very outset let me be clear that the Chinese-Americans I have met are some of the world's most intelligent, motivated, and gracious human beings. Thus, my words here are in no way directed toward them.

As for the government of China, however, all of the indignation, ire, and condemnation we can muster should be sent their way, and most freedom-loving Chinese citizens, and their counterparts among Chinese-Americans, know it.

A group of angry, misguided Chinese-Americans gathered in Hollywood on Saturday to protest the remarks of CNN's Jack Cafferty for his assessment of the Chinese government as 'the same old group of goons and thugs they've been for the last 50 years.'

Cafferty also complained about the quality of Chinese goods imported to the U.S.

He is right on both counts. China is held in the grip of Communist goons and thugs, placing the citizens under the heavy hand of oppression. China has also been the source of much controversy over the goods it has shipped to the U.S., some of which contained poisons that killed our dogs.

Toys made in China were also the source of danger to America's children due to their lack of safety considerations and the inferiority of the materials used to make them.

These two considerations alone led to massive recalls.

These are simple facts. It is therefore stunning that a few misguided souls in the Chinese-American community would take to the streets to protest the words spoken by a news commentator, who was merely reporting the truth.

And by the way, the protesters are calling for Cafferty to be fired by CNN.

This leads me to one inevitable conclusion--true Americans no matter what their ethnic background should protest the protesters. The protesters are wrong, period, and they should be resoundingly condemned.

The group that gathered in Hollywood yesterday is a far cry from the Chinese patriots who gathered in Tienanmen Square nearly 20 years ago to protest and condemn their own government and to demand liberty.

Chinese-Americans who support the oppressive regime of Communist China are unworthy of their citizenship in this country and are certainly unworthy of their brave forebears 20 years ago who actually believed in human freedom.

If CNN cannot support Cafferty in the midst of this 'controversy' then it will be proof positive that the network, like Google and Microsoft, sold its soul to the Commies for the freedom to do business with those who hate human liberty.

Criticize China? Better Watch Your Back

It's a good thing CNN's Jack Cafferty isn't in China. In all likelihood he would be placed under arrest and hauled into prison for a lengthy sentence.

Cafferty's crime? He dared refer to the the Chinese government as 'goons' and 'thugs' in response to the regime's treatment of the people of Tibet.

The remarks were spoken from the safety of CNN's headquarters during the network's daily broadcast of 'The Situation Room. Cafferty quipped, 'I think they're basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they've been for the last 50 years.'

This prompted the Chinese Foreign Ministry to summon CNN's Beijing bureau chief in order to demand an apology.

As usual, the regime's spin on the incident is that Cafferty was referring to 'the Chinese people as a whole' and not merely to the regime. According to the ruling Communist Party officials such words are tantamount to 'verbal terrorism' against the Chinese people and indicates an anti-Chinese bias at CNN.

Officials at CNN, however, refuse an apology. Cafferty himself stated that he was in no way referring to the Chinese people but only to the Chinese government, and that he apologized if anyone thought otherwise.

The entire display, however, is classic Chinese Communist reaction to criticism. Not only does the regime fail to recognize the value of free speech but it is particularly harsh toward speech, either written or spoken, that in any way portrays the government in a negative light.

In other words, if you dare criticize the government, it's off to jail with you.

Most of the Chinese people understand this, including Chinese-Americans. Some, however, view the American ideal of freedom of speech as a totally foreign concept that is to be devalued. It is extremely important for such person to understand that in this country freedom of speech was first envisioned to protect in particular any speech that is critical of government.

This is part of our understanding of basic, inherent human rights and liberties.

Thus, until the Chinese government understands that human liberty is the pinnacle of human progress, most of us in the States will always view the regime as 'the same bunch of goons and thugs they've been for the past 50 years.'

I will even go further than Mr. Cafferty. China's government is tyrannical. It suppresses the liberties of the Chinese people and holds them in the heavy grip of oppression.

Therefore, it is a rogue regime that is worthy of nothing but the free world's disdain and condemnation.