Is anyone else disturbed by this article in the News today?

'Leaders bowing to China'

It seems Kevvy McRuddster has revealed himself to be the penultimate hypocrite by refusing to meet with the Dalai Lama when he visits Australia next month. The decision comes after 'warnings' from the Chinese Embassy in Canberra that such interactions with his holiness could damage trade relations with the Communist nation.

Oh how things change when people gain political power.... Kevy McKev did you fall down and bump your head at some point?? Do you not remember your little outburst back in 2002?? When you made such a song and dance about the fact that you didn't care what China said and met with his holiness anyway?? When you said this about Alexander Downer....

KEVIN RUDD: My own view is that I think it's pretty weak of Foreign Minister Downer to have somehow fabricated this excuse that he's somehow too busy to have met the Dalai.

LOUISE YAXLEY: But Mr Downer's been in Thailand and Indonesia.

KEVIN RUDD: My understanding is that Mr Downer, if he was so minded to have met the Dalai during his visit to Australia, could have done so, probably before he departed for his current visit to the region.

At the time of writing this, the Opposition leader had refused to comment on his rationale behind 'politely declining' to meet with his Holiness. Lame. You'd think he would come clean and admit that he was bending over and taking it up the proverbial cake hole from the Chinese Government and get it over and done with. Or is he just so afraid of people realising he is completely spineless when it comes to making the tough decisions that he has chosen to be evasive instead? Meanwhile, the real people of this country are coming out in droves to support the Dalai with his National Press club address selling out months ago and various free events in Melbourne and Sydney completely booked out.

As always, I just had to write to the man of the moment to let him know what I think knowing full well that my small little voice will no doubt go unheard in this an election year. A copy of my correspondence is below. As always I encourage you to write to the man to tell him what you think, you are able to do so here.

Dear Mr Rudd,

As an ALP supporter who has been campaigning in the community for your ascension to power in this country, I am writing to you to tell you how disappointed I was to read of your decision not to meet with the Dalai Lama when he arrives in the country next month. China is one of the world's most notorious human rights abusers as I'm sure you well know. They routinely torture and murder theircountry's own citizens and rule China with fear and intimidation. By buying into their bully boy threats you are effectively perpetuating this legacy and quite frankly, it's not good enough.
The Dalai Lama is a holy man who speaks of peace and compassion - a stark contrast to the views of the Chinese government, we should celebrate his peaceful philosophy on life and officially welcome him into our country. His people have long been targets of this violent regime and to perpetuate this legacy is morally unjust and downright disappointing to say the least. Need I remind you of the terrible incident which occurred only last year in which Chinese soldiers took pot-shots at innocent Tibetan refugees as they made their way to see their spiritual leader - an incident our country remained mute on might I add, again for fear of upsetting the Chinese Government'. (note: video may disturb some viewers - not sent to KR)

We should be treating the Chinese Government with the same level of disgust as we do the Mugabe Regime and other human rights abusers not picking and choosing who we support based on how much money we stand to make from them. Human rights abuse is human rights abuse, you can't dress it up and make it pretty and it is my hope that the people of Australia will see through any attempts to do so.

I am both horrified and disgusted to think that the only justification for your decision appears to be based on money and fear of a dressing down from Howard and his cronies during an election year. I realise that our trade relations with China are worth a lot of money, but the human cost of this regime far outweighs any kind of monetary value you can place on our coal and iron ore and it's about time we acknowledged that.

For shame Kevin Rudd, for shame - I thought you were bigger than this, where is your spine? I had expected this from the Howard Government, but not you. Either way they are going to get stuck into you as a result of your previous statements against Alexander Downer and I would prefer to see you maintain the moral high ground, not give in for the sake of appeasing the narrow minded economic rationalists that seem hell bent on turning this country into some kind of a money-driven machine. Your back flip makes me wonder what else you are prepared to turn your back on when push comes to shove and for the first time I have doubted your ability to truly move this country forward.

I remain hopeful that you will change your mind.

Regards

Erin ******
Update: Thursday 17th May - 12noon
JH and KR have both now said they are 'trying to find time' for a meeting with the Dalai Lama. No further details have come to light at this point.
This article sums up the situation perfectly...