Let Freedom Ring

In another sign of an ever more free society the government of China rounded up and beat mourners trying to pay their respect to a recently deceased official. This is an improvement from the 80's and 90's when citizens were run over by tanks. Other reports have shown that once arrested most detainees were sent to slave labor camps, which is a major departure from the old policy of taking the detainees out back and shooting them in the head. Even more astonishing was the announcement that the officers responsible for the beatings would not be publicly praised for their crowd control tactics, but instead would have a private honoring ceremony held in their precinct with only fellow officers invited. A State Department spokeswoman stated, "That this is just another example of how the policy of investing capital in a brutal dictatorial regime helps in bringing democratic reform."