America's corporate co-option and China's oppressive activities is shameful.

For the Colson Center, I'm John Stone Street with the point.

Political philosopher Charles Montesquieu said that the tyranny of a prince and an oligarchy

is not as dangerous to the public welfare as the apathy of a citizen and a democracy.

Well, with China, we're seeing this play out in real time.

China's control and censoring of its own citizens is disturbing, but it's predictable.

But the number of American corporations and media willing to censor themselves, that's

what's really stunning.

With access to 1.4 billion consumers at stake, corporations like Nike and the NBA and most

Hollywood studios have bowed to China's demands, apologizing

profusely for any perceived offense. Ahead of the Olympics, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi warned

athletes not to speak up against human rights abuses while in China. Clearly, those with the most

money to lose are willing to stay silent on human rights abuses, which makes China's evil's not just a them problem.

It's an us problem too.

After all, freedom of speech is only as good as what it is used for.

For the Colson Center, I'm John Stone Street.