Opinion

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April 30, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Old Media (ABC, CBS and NBC) are describing it as a “dilemma” for the United States that Chen Guangcheng has made a daring and amazing escape from home-imprisonment and years of torture and detention.  Only in the Old Media’s world, where evil is called good and good is called evil, is there a perceived negative to the United States due to this turn of events.

As readers of LifeSiteNews recall, Chen Guangcheng is a heroic human rights activist, blind since childhood, who nevertheless became a lawyer and catalogued abuses perpetrated in China due to its one-child policy.  In 2005-2006 Chen’s focus on Linyi City in the Shandong Province of China brought world attention to forced abortions and sterilizations, beatings of people who resisted the one-child policy, and the detention, fining and torture of the extended families of those trying to protect their unborn children.

Chen and his wife were incarcerated and tortured.  Even under house arrest, it is said that they endured hours-long beatings by multiple men.  Last week Chen escaped to the American Embassy in Beijing.  From all accounts it appears that he is somewhere in Beijing under American care; there is no news yet about the Chen family.

CBS News described Chen’s pursuit of American protection as “High Stakes,” which forces a “potential crisis” as Chen arrived at the Embassy only one week before Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s anticipated visit to China to discuss economic issues.  President Obama has already made it abundantly clear on other occasions that China’s human rights abuses would not be a stumbling block to his administration’s dealings with China.

NBC News reported that Chen’s actions “looked sure to complicate” Secretary Clinton’s trip.  Reporter Andrea Mitchell said, “There are very delicate negotiations under way.”  ABC News reported on its website, “Top officials from the U.S. and China are locked in intense meetings regarding the fate of activist Chen Guangcheng ….”

Not one of the Old Media Big Three produced comment from Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ), who has tirelessly advocated for Chen’s security.  It would not have been difficult for ABC, CBS or NBC to obtain such a comment, given that it is showcased on the Congressman’s website and reads in part,

“This is a test of Premier Wen’s commitment to fundamental human rights, the rule of law, and common decency.”

“It is also a test of America’s resolve to safeguard human rights whenever and wherever those rights are violated.”

“The Chinese government construed Chen’s compassion for women and unborn children as a crime.”

“The eyes of the world are on Premier Wen Jiaboa, the Chinese government and U.S. diplomatic leaders—Secretary Hilary Clinton; Assistant Secretary of East Asian Affairs Kurt Campbell; and Assistant Secretary for Human Rights Michael Posner—all of whom are in or are about to be in Beijing.”

“Chen’s dramatic escape from his prison home in rural Shandong province underscores the depth of the danger facing his family and his need to once again—in the most conspicuous way possible—call the world’s attention to human rights abuses in China.”

“The cruelty and extreme violence against Chen and his family brings dishonor to the government of China and must end.”

“Over the next few hours/days, whatever it takes, everything discussed in China between Secretary Clinton and Premier Wen, as well as their staffs, must be through the prism of the struggles, torture, escape and justice overdue Chen Guangcheng, his family and other human rights activists in China.”

“Perhaps it is a gift that so many U.S. leaders are there. They must push for human rights like never before.”

“On her first trip to China, Secretary Clinton said she would not allow human rights concerns to ‘interfere’ with other issues like global warming and debt. That’s nonsense.”

“Chen and his family must be free.”

And so dilemma for the Obama Administration, according to the Old Media, is that Obama in the past has avoided calling for basic human rights in China.  Now during an election season and with an internationally known human rights activist seeking refuge, how can Obama call evil evil and good good?  (Isaiah 5:20.)

Marianna Trzeciak, Esq., is a homeschooling mother of three who contributed to amicus briefs in the Rule 60 motions to overturn Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton. She initiated 40 Days for Life—Burlington, Vermont.  Now residing in Texas, Ms. Trzeciak speaks regarding pro-life feminism at college, law school and other forums.