China Human Rights

By Will Fudeman

"As American practitioners of Chinese medicine, we have great respect for Chinese culture, and its gifts to the West. Here in the West, we have the habit of giving our leaders critical feedback. When our leaders persist in ignoring the critiques of the people, the people have the ultimate power to choose different leaders.

"The choices the American people make are not always the wisest choices. It has been our experience that encouraging open discussion of the actions of the leaders of the USA can have a correcting effect on some of the more questionable actions of our leaders. Not always. But, it is our belief that honest and respectful discussions can be productive."

Dear Colleagues in Chinese Medicine,

Many practitioners of Chnese medicine share concerns about reports of human rights abuses by the government of China. In the news media we see, read, and hear reports of Chinese police shooting at with the intent of injuring or killing Tibetan protestors*, as well as jailing outspoken Chinese advocates of human rights for making statements such as "human rights are more important than the Olympics".**

(* March 26, 2008- The New York Times article- "Unrest at Shuttered Gateway to Tibet" by Jake Hooker )

(**March 25, 2008- Toronto Star article- "China slams Jail Door on Olympic Dissent" by Bill Schiller- www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/03/25/7883)

A group of 29 Chinese intellectuals have signed a document entitled "Twelve Suggestions for Dealing With the Tibetan Situation" (www.hrw.org/english/docs/2008/03/22/china18336.htm) which suggests peaceful alternatives to the ineffective ways the Chinese government has, so far, attempted to deal with the Tibetan protestors.

What role can we, as American practitioners of Chinese medicine, play at this critical time? Is there a way that we, as individuals or as members of local and national organizations, might support the people of China and Tibet? Are we willing to issue a collaborative statement of agreement with the"12 Suggestions for Dealing with the Tibetan Situation," or draft and issue a position statement of our own?

What might the impact of a statement from our national acupuncture association be? If it were publicized widely, the courageous Chinese dissenters and Tibetan protestors might feel supported by us. Hugh Masakela, the South African musician, told a concert audience a few months ago that he and his South African friends in the struggle to end apartheid took great comfort in news of communities around the world making statements of support for their cause.

Although the Chinese government may dismiss us as Americans who might better address the human rights abuses of our own government, we believe it is important to not only take action against human rights violations by the Bush/Cheney administration, but to also take action when human rights are being violated anywhere in the world. The United States under the current administration is far from a model in the realm of human rights, but vocal critics of the American administration are not yet being jailed for speaking out.

We have an opportunity to show our solidarity with the Chinese people who are expressing very reasonable concerns about their government's abuse of power. I believe it is worth taking a stand at this time.

Will Fudeman, L.Ac., L.C.S.W.
Ithaca, NY

To get involved and add your voice, please send an email to Will Fudeman at wfudeman@twcny.rr.com no later that May 20th, 2008.