So, as I sat last night, nursing an illness and watching the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympic games on television, I remarked to a friend on the telephone that it seemed so strange to me that China would be the spot chosen to host such an affair, to which I was told "they have come a long way". It is this statement that prompts this conversation today. I feel as though many people are willing to completely dismiss the history China has showed us, in just the past few years. It was former President Bill Clinton who stood in Tianamen square and hailed China's efforts at human rights. The same place where innocent students were gunned down, while they harmless protested. America, in fact the world as a whole, is short-sighted. We tend to ignore that which is uncomfortable, or difficult to process. We prefer, instead, to turn a blind eye to violent injustices, and put on charming faces. So this year, while you watch the Olympics, remember those who gave their lives for nothing, and when you hear of China's efforts towards human rights, remember that not everyone agrees.