A child sees the deeper truth.

“Mum,” began Fintan, eight, with an infinitely curious gaze, “Why are all the “United” countries, not United?”

The oddness of the question drew her immediate attention.

“The United States,” he continued, in explanation, “and the United Kingdom...they are not united, at all. Look at all the riots...that’s not united!”

She had to admit, he had a point. The countries of the world were just not living up to their names. Just as “Great” Britain, most certainly doesn’t live up to its.

Later on, I explained to him the political history of the United States and the United Kingdom, that gave them their names. He smiled a little to himself, on hearing this. What he was thinking, I do not know. However, I know this: Fintan sees the world more clearly than many a political figure, these days, seems to. It seems such a shame that we name our countries “United” and then fill them with such dissension. In the US, the Republicans and the Democrats are ever at each other’s throats: they can’t make a decision in Congress, without a mini-war about it first. Fintan sees this. He sees that there is no unity of mind, spirit or intention, in the USA. He looks at the UK and sees a nation simmering on the edge of chaos, made manifest in the recent riots. Our world is not a comforting one, for a child to stand witness to. It seems that adults, who should be wiser, are creating a world that seems, even to a child, to be one of fracture, and dissent. If a child sees this, so clearly, why do adults persist in ignoring it? Why is not more done about this? The USA needs a more agreeable way of governing itself – and the UK needs a more civilized way of being...or should I say, it needs to address the uncivilized element within.

I hope the world learns civility and unity, before Fintan becomes an adult and has to deal with it. However, that hope seems hopeless, in a way...for those characteristics have yet to be fully imbibed by any modern society. I wonder, shall they ever?

Posted by Valentine Cawley

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China's confession of guilt.

China has implicitly confessed its guilt in the matter of human rights and the suppression of dissent. It did this in the most public and clear manner possible: censoring President Obama's Inaugural Speech.

When President Obama referred to communism and later to dissent, Chinese TV stations cut away from his speech. The matters they censored included these words: "Recall that earlier generations faced down communism and fascism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions," and "To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist."

Later, China did a clean up job on websites, taking down all references to the offending words.

No clearer confession of guilt could there be, than to react in this manner to those words. Why would a government seek to prevent its people from hearing those words? It would only do so if: a) the words applied to China and b) if the people of China would realize that those words applied to China. The action, in itself is a plain confession of guilt.

Look at what is being confessed to: "...those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent..." These words are harmless in the ears of those who have done no harm: they only wound those to whom they apply.

There is hope, though, in the Chinese action - for it shows that they are aware of their own nature. It is harder to reform someone who persists in believing that there is nothing wrong with themselves. In China's case, they are all too aware of what is wrong with them - they just don't want their people to know, too (if they haven't already twigged).

I am left to wonder what China's people think of a state coverage of the Inauguration of a superpower President, being censored. What would they conclude? What would they think they are missing? Would such censorship backfire and spread mistrust of their own government?

It seems to me that a state that does what China is doing is a state that has a short future. There is only so long that a people can stand being manipulated in this way. The censorship, in itself, tells the people what is being done - and that should be message enough to let them know what is happening, even if they never get to hear President Obama's words to them of hope.

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