Sam Gibbons: “In 1997 then-President Ronald Reagan signaled an end to the Cold War when he called upon Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev…”

“In 1997 then-President Ronald Reagan signaled an end to the Cold War when he called upon Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall. The time has come for President Clinton to make a similar call to the Communist Chinese. Next week President Clinton will have a landmark opportunity to call for human rights reforms in Communist China. He will have a historic opportunity, and millions of Americans hope and pray that he will not squander it. The President will be greeted in Tiananmen Square. This is the same site where 9 years ago the world watched as the Chinese Government brutally crushed the prodemocracy demonstration and killed or jailed thousands of Chinese citizens. As the world's only true leader, America cannot abdicate its responsibility to call for an end to China's human rights abuses. At every turn, President Clinton must call on the Chinese Government to respect the rights of Chinese citizens to assemble and to freely express themselves. The President must speak for the conscience of the civilized world and call for an end to China's notorious labor camps. The time has come for the U.S. to exercise its leadership and moral authority, and I sincerely hope that President Clinton doesn't waste it.”