THE NARROW STRAITS GET NARROWER - July 22 - 2008

Hi Folks –

 

Like a large – a very large – pot simmering on the back of the stove, emitting a column of steam from time to time, we have the spectacle of China, its’ people suffering under poor leadership, bad government and a devastating earthquake.  When is this pot going to boil over?

 

There is no question the world’s largest Communist government knows how to oppress people, keep outward order, and to a degree make the trains run on time. (As Mussolini promised when he took over Italy.)  But how can such an internally fragile society, hovering on the border of an increasingly porous information border, bedeviled by the Internet, fax machines, cell phones and other gadgets of modern technology continue to plug the dikes of knowledge of what’s happening out there – especially when thousands of journalists come to be embedded into society for several weeks while the world’s sports cameras are focused on the “Middle Kingdom?” It is indeed a Chinese puzzle. And the oppressive Chinese regime is laboring heavily to bring it off. But there are problems.

 

One of them is the CAA – China Aid Association – headed by Bob Fu. I get several press releases a week from his organization (more than I can readily use) telling about continuing acts of oppression, intimidation and outright gangsterism as the Red Chinese government attempts to hold back the tide. A giant hole in the dike has been created – at least for now by Amity Press which has the capability of printing a million copies of the Bible per month – and is set up to distribute them to the thousands who flock to see the Olympics.

 

At the same time I have 25 or so recently documented and filed stories of oppressive behavior against house churches, individuals and organizations to make your hair turn white. As Abraham Lincoln said – “No nation can long exist half slave and half free.” The Scriptures say effectively “You shall know the truth – and the truth shall make you free.”  It seems the Lord is setting the stage for either a blood bath (possibly after the Olympics) or a showdown on religious freedom that must accompany China’s entrance into being a major trading partner on the world market. Let us be seriously involved in prayerful efforts for ourselves and our Chinese Christian brethren in the prospect of these hard times.

 

Cordially, IN HIM

 

 

Jack Buttram

 

http://www.jebcovoice.net/audio/jama07-22-08.mp3

 

http://www.jebcovoice.net/scripts/jamt07-22-08.doc

 

 

 

“JUST A MINUTE”

THE NARROW STRAITS GET NARROWER

Just A Minute – Often Yogi Berra is quoted – “It’s déjà-vu all over again.” – Across the Taiwan straits now we believe the tectonic plates of Chinese politics move languidly but inexorably toward change revealing changes not imagined 25 years ago.

I say 25 years for that was the period of time I worked as head of an American -- Chinese friendship organization watching US-Taiwan relations transform themselves from after WWII, through the Korean effort, Vietnam and during the Nixon – Mao exchange. Now the world holds its breath as China approaches the waterfall event of Olympics 2008 – which will either give evidence of cataclysmic clashes between growing freedoms in China and recalcitrant Red Chinese efforts, or reluctant realization the world won’t stand by to watch totalitarians maintain their throat-hold on Beijing’s people.

Changes in China always seem to be accompanied by violent shocks. Tiananmen Square is the most prominent big one which, like the devastating earthquake in parts of the mainland, creates its own thunder. We look for even greater effects in coming days. 

<> I’m Jack Buttram

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