Washington D.C., Nov 16, 2007 / 09:01 am
Several U.S. senators have weighed in on the Chinese Olympics web site's recommendation that entering visitors bring no more than one Bible into the country, Cybercast News Service reports.
Senator Ken Salazar (D-Col.) was asked whether Americans traveling to China should disobey the restrictions. "I think so," said Salazar. "It's a trampling on a freedom that we cherish in this country that's a universal freedom. I don't think that kind of constriction on something that is such an international global celebration is something that ought to be tolerated."
Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) said he wasn't aware of the Chinese policy. He declined to comment specifically on the matter, except to say, "That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard of. That's really strange."
Advice for visitors to the 2008 Olympic Games on the Beijing Olympics official web site initially read: "Any printed material, film, tapes that are 'detrimental to China's politics, economy, culture and ethics' are also forbidden to bring into China."