The Chinese government has reacted to the Nobel Peace prize award by placing Liu Xiaobo's wife under house arrest. Her 'crime' was informing her husband that he had won the Nobel Peace Prize.
While the newspapers have reported these facts, the international outrage has been muted. Once this news cycle ends, this story is likely to be forgotten.
Some of us are old enough to remember the cultural, economic and diplomatic boycotts imposed against a nation that repressed 80% of their citizens due to the colour of their skin. The boycotts worked and South Africa emerged as a democratic nation that has the highest living standard in sub-saharan Africa.
Why is a nation that represses nearly 100% of its citizens less deserving of outrage and condemnation? Is it that important to keep getting cheap stuff at Walmart?
Twenty five years ago Artists United Against Apartheid released the following video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjWENNe29qc
Today, Hollywood's silence is matched by the diplomatic corps to say nothing of the corporate world and the IOC.
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