THE UNICORN RIDER AND THE DRAGON:

Obama wrong to be muted on human rights during China trip (Winifred C. Chin, November 18, 2009, The Progressive)

Today in China, the underground church is suffering major persecution. Thousands of pastors are on Beijing’s “wanted list” for opposing government policies on abortion and birth control. Hundreds of laity and clergy are under arrest and undergoing “re-education” in labor camps, and hundreds more are beaten and tortured daily, and their properties destroyed or confiscated for adhering to their religion.

Practitioners of Falun Gong suffer the same fate, as the history of their persecution marks its 10th year.

Obama, with all his good intentions of promoting democracy, steered clear of such controversial topics, and tactfully evaded talk of the recent unrest in the province of Xinjiang, as well.