human rights and their priority

During the Summer Olympics many spectators were concerned about the multiple human rights violations that were going on in China. (Some even called for the US to pull out of the Olympics completely.)

Hillary Clinton, our Secretary of State, is currently in China talking with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao about a variety of things. When I checked www.cnn.com this morning, this is the first thing I saw: "U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton broached the issue of human rights with Chinese leaders Saturday, but emphasized that the world economic and other crises are more pressing and immediate priorities. 'Human rights cannot interfere with the global economic crisis, the global climate change crisis and the security crises,' Clinton said in talks with China's foreign minister." (You can read the article here: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/21/clinton.china.asia/index.html)

This statement angers me. Clinton is a representative of the United States and she goes to China and basically says, "We don't like that you're violating human rights but it's okay for now because we are much more concerned with money to worry about it. Maybe once we get all of this other stuff under control . . . "

Are you joking?! In my book, people will ALWAYS be more important than the state of the economy. And it hurts that my country does not believe the same.

I believe that we are called to take care of those who cannot take of themselves, no matter where they live: on the streets in a city, in the hollers of a rural area, or in a slum overseas. I believe that is what God calls us to do.

It's in black and white: "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" (Matthew 25:34-40)

I can read it again, but I'm pretty sure that doesn't say, "Take care of the least of these brothers of mine after you get the financial sector in line and once greenhouse gases are under control."

I hope that those who love the Lord step up and go their part to stop human rights violations not just in China but all over the world. Me included.