Urumqi Unrest

The most Western and Northern part of China there resides a population consisting of a Turkic Muslim minority known as the Uighurs. The last few days it has also been a place of riots, violence, and unrest due to feuding ethnic groups. As of now, the count is up to 156 dead and thousands wounded. The funny thing is, people aren't even sure what started this. Some news medias stated that some protesting Uighurs (protesting something)became violent on some of the Han. Then yesterday, it was reported that as a response to the violence, some of the Han (majority population) Chinese has started to carry bats and machetes to beat and hurt anyone who crosses their path and is a minority. This is absolutely horrifying. What century are we in? As happy as I am living in my city,state, country and bubble, I try to remember that PLENTY of other regions and countries in this world are still different in terms of thoughts of human rights. To me, it's a no brainer. We're all humans. And these NUTSOs (I mean from both sides!) are wielding around bats and machetes to do what? What is there to gain? Nothing but more hate and death. Violence + violence = more violence. Absurd. Make room for an olive branch!

If you've been noticing, there has also been a degree of openness in information traffic. The Chinese government hasn't tried to block as much traffic(I said as much. I know they blocked Facebook.) of information as it used, too. It's starting to see that the world is getting smaller and smaller and communication and not isolation is key.

Today, President Hu Jintao sent in thousands of troops to handle this situation. Troops are urging people to stay home and stop fighting. They are protecting Muslim communities from crazy mobs and vice versa. Putting a crackdown and a curfew on the region helps stop the bloodshed for now, I hope. Drop that stick first, then we can talk.

Thomas Hobbes (Leviathan):
"No arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear and danger of violent death; and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short."