What has history taught us ?
People desire freedom and liberty more than anything else.
During almost 2000 years , the parting greeting of the Jew was 'next year in Jerusalem'.
The French people abandoned to poverty and tyranny had to storm the Bastille and get rid of an opulent monarchy . Thus was born , ' Liberty , Equality and Fraternity '
The Americans unjustly taxed and oppressed by colonial England had to resort to war after peacefully trying to make the English monarchy see sense through negotiations .
The racist , fascist. , communist Sinhala Lankans can never ever win this war .
Even if they succeed to take back some territories , the Tamil Eelam government will be setup in exile . Like the oppressed South Africans did , during the abnoxious Apartheid of the Dutch , by forming an ANC government in exile.
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All That Glitters …
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Another message from propaganda-meisters is that Chinese athletes aren't automatons. The Oriental Morning Post, based in Liu's hometown of Shanghai, compared Liu to the not-quite-invincible Greek hero Achilles and counseled Chinese fans to be more tolerant—and mindful that sports stars are human beings, too. Official rhetoric in the wake of Liu's disappointment has dripped with sympathy and compassion. Politburo heavyweight Xi Jinping, heir apparent to President Hu Jintao, was quoted as calling Liu's decision to pull out "understandable" and saying, "We hope that after [Liu] recovers he will continue to train hard and struggle harder for the national glory."
China's media czars have warned domestic editors to steer clear from criticizing Liu or delving into details of his withdrawal from the Games. Internet censors purged some early Web chatter that dubbed Liu a "coward," a "eunuch" and "a big waste of the taxpayers' money." In an apparent riposte to such critics, a commentary on the Web site of the party mouthpiece People's Daily stated, "Perhaps a nation of 1.3 billion should not place the burdens of its aspirations on a boy's shoulders."
At least some Chinese officials agree that glory doesn't depend solely on gold. Shortly before the Games kicked off in Beijing, I sat down for an interview with Chen Gang, the Communist Party secretary of Chaoyang District in Beijing. Chaoyang is home to not only the Bird's Nest and many other Olympic venues but also the prestigious Central Business District. When I asked about his country's coming gold medal count—what some pundits are now dubbing the "Great Haul of China"—Chen's answer was decidedly humble. "China may not win as many golds as expected, because of the psychological pressure [to win]. There's just too much pressure," he said. "Gold medals aren't the most important thing for us in Chaoyang. The most important thing is how much people enjoy the Games—and I mean all people, including our many foreign visitors." Chen's first prediction might have been off; China will likely exceed its expectations for a golden haul. But his last comment struck a chord. If China's gauge of success shifts more toward the enjoyment of the people--and away from the diktat of the state—that would be a welcome new gold standard indeed.
© 2008
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