Spreading American Values
From the Post:
China announced late last month that it would permit protests during the Olympics in specially designated zones, as long as demonstrators first secured permits. […]
[Human rights groups] say the “protest pens” being set in Beijing parks are part of China’s Potemkin-village-like display for the Summer Games, which open Friday.
Gee, I wonder where the Chinese might’ve come up with that idea.
When Bush travels around the United States, the Secret Service visits the location ahead of time and orders local police to set up “free speech zones” or “protest zones” where people opposed to Bush policies (and sometimes sign-carrying supporters) are quarantined. These zones routinely succeed in keeping protesters out of presidential sight and outside the view of media covering the event.
(Though in fairness, tehPedia cites several pre-Bush instances of putting protesters in cages in the US.)