Bejing Strong-Arms Grieving Parents

Local government leaders have repeatedly promised to get to the bottom of why a staggering 7,000 classrooms collapsed in the quake, killing about 10,000 children. But there is little evidence that they have conducted more than a cursory examination, and there are hints of a cover-up. Even as negotiations with some parents continue [those who have not already been pressured or strong-armed into signing 'settlement agreements'], local governments have bulldozed the remains of many schools, appearing to close the door on a full investigation. The issue remains one of the most delicate facing the Chinese government. Many parents accuse local officials of negligence or corruption during the construction of the schools. Some say they still hope the central government will take action, and they plan to go to Beijing to file petitions after the Olympics. “We don’t want to get the government in trouble ahead of the Olympics,” Mr. Yu said. “We don’t want to hurt the nation’s image.” Poor suckers. You can read the full story at The New York Times - if you can stand it without getting sick to your stomach. I, for one, will not watch a single moment of the Olympics on television. I hope a gigantic earthquake such as has never been seen before strikes Bejing and swallows everyone and everything up during the Opening Ceremony. Justice would scarce be served by such a happening, but it would be something, some small bit of recompense and evening out of the scales.