Politics vs. Sports
Along with literally millions of other people around the world, I’m a wholehearted supporter of boycotting the 2008 Olympics in Beijing this summer because of China’s horrible human rights abuses worldwide, such as their brutal occupation of Tibet and their involvement in the genocide horror of Darfur.
The Olympics ought to be more about sport and athletic competition and less about the participating countries’ propensity to use it as a vehicle for flaunting a vulgar sense of nationalism. But sadly it’s not.
A majority of World Cup sporting events happen every year, or every other year, and give world class athletes and their fans a better, more frequent, and more honest way to compete at their sport. Whereas the Olympics Games which happen once every four years, have become more about staging a gigantic media event and a forum for the media to discuss regional geopolitical events, whether anyone likes it or not; so why not use it for precisely what it is then – a great big political media event?
Boycotting the Summer Olympics in Beijing – by refusing to attend, watch on TV, and actively participate in them, while sharing this opinion with others – is an ideal opportunity to let China know, in no uncertain terms, exactly how millions of people everywhere feel about the way in which China treats her own people and others elsewhere in the world.
Who is against the boycott and why
You will find that most multinational executives and political heads of state – not just in the U.S. but everywhere – generally do not agree with the boycott because they believe it will only serve to upset and irritate China. Upsetting China, of course, is only an issue for them because of China’s enormous wealth and power. China happens to be one the few countries on the map that a superpower cannot simply push around or intimidate. No, no.
Nonetheless, their strongest argument against the boycott can be loosely labeled as the “don’t rock the boat” concept. “China is going in the right direction and must move at her own pace, they say, so why piss China off by rocking the boat? Besides, there’s no need to harass China with uncomfortable human rights issues, they add, and point to the enormous strides China has made since the days of Mao – while they do a very quick end run around Tiananmen Square, naturally.”
But regardless how legitimate you feel this point may or may not be, it is important to understand that the argument itself is essentially an equivocation because it fails to directly address the question of how they propose to get China to adopt an acceptable human rights agenda and change what they are doing right now in places like Tibet and Darfur. And if China happens to respond by asking the U.S. what we’re doing in Iraq, I say let them. It’s a damn good question.
Historical irony
Some of you may remember that back in 1980 China, along several other countries, supported U.S. President Jimmy Carter’s call for a boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympic Games scheduled to be held in Moscow, because of the Soviet Union’s invasion and occupation of Afghanistan six months earlier in December of 1979. At the time, China believed a boycott for similar reasons being used to support a boycott today perfectly appropriate – and let’s not forget that China was a lot more hardcore “communist” back then, than it is today.
Doing the right thing is really easy
This is where the issue remains. Business and political leaders – whether they sympathize or not – are unlikely to demand that China start treating people better and act like a better global citizen. That leaves it up to the rest of us – the average working Jane and Johan, no matter where you are or what you do.
In reality, though, it’s something we can actually do. We’re taking about boycotting, here. How hard is that? You don’t have to do hardly anything – well, except remember not to do something. But basically that’s “do-able” for most of us, right?
Good vs. Evil
Rarely is human conflict ever really black and white, but China’s invasion and occupation of Tibet has a clear moral bright line. Even if you’re not a Buddhist or even religious, it doesn’t matter. Anyone with a conscience has to agree that this act by China is clearly wrong. It’s about a group of people who are strict pacifists at heart. Come on, we’re talking about Tibetan Buddhist monks here, and the Dalli Lama, for God’s sake! They couldn’t hurt a fly – literally. Think about it. What other group on the planet do you know that could possible be considered less aggressive or threatening than they are – newborn babies, perhaps?
It’s unfortunate, but if we don’t stand up for Tibet and Darfur, then who will? And, this boycott is the perfect tool at the perfect time, because it can send a unavoidable message to a giant totalitarian regime with complete impunity and without risking more lives in the process. Now, really, I ask you. How often does that ever happen?
So, I implore you. Please be extra lazy this summer, do something fun instead – like go to the lake with friends, have a picnic, drown the neighbor’s cat in the pool (no I’m just kidding!), anything but participate in this years global sports extravaganza centered in Beijing. I thank you, and your conscience thanks you.
Descent from inside China
Beijing Olympic stadium designer, Ai Wei Wei, accuses Chinese political officials of what he sees as a hypocritical representation of his country and wants nothing more to do with the upcoming Olympic games. Watch this Al Jazeera news report posted on YouTube.
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Boycott news around the Net:
- 2008 Summer Olympics torch relay: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Summer_Olympics_torch_relay
- Boycott 2008 Communist Olympics: http://boycott2008games.blogspot.com/2008/04/tibet-chinas-make-believe-world.html
- U.S. should boycott China’s Olympics: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/264131_olympics24.html
- US legislators propose China Olympics boycott over rights: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/sports/view_article.php?article_id=81343
- China scorns Olympic boycotting: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23469731-38197,00.html
- Merkel says she will not attend opening of Beijing Olympics: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/mar/29/germany.olympicgames2008
- Calls Mount for Olympic Ceremony Boycott: http://apnews.myway.com/article/20080318/D8VG3QDG0.html
- Boycotting the Olympics because of China’s crackdown on Tibet? http://caffertyfile.blogs.cnn.com/2008/03/17/boycotting-the-olympics-because-of-china%E2%80%99s-crackdown-on-tibet/
- Beijing Boycott? Don’t Tell Olympic Athletes: http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/story?id=4501952
- digg: Calls for Olympic boycott after Tibet brutality: http://digg.com/world_news/Calls_for_Olympic_boycott_after_Tibet_brutality
- npr: Calls for Olympics Boycott Follow Tibet Crackdown: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=88293000
- China, Tibet, Olympics boycott: Germany’s Merkel won’t go: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=15&entry_id=25310
- Millions petition for Olympic boycott: http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?id=14897
- Nat Hentoff: Boycott 2008 China Olympics: http://www.sacbee.com/110/story/155863.html
- 2008 Olympics boycott talk — China vs. Tibet http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/2008-olympics-boycott-talk-china-vs-tibet/
- Boycott China’s Olympics Petition: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/boycott-chinas-olympics.html
- Olympics Boycott Chatter Grows as Tibet Unravels: William Pesek: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&refer=columnist_pesek&sid=aLEQXWQWtbzM
- Olympic Boycott Skirts Human Rights Debate in Europe: http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3224333,00.html
- Haile Gebreselassie to boycott China Olympics over pollution fear: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/athletics/2008/03/11/haile-gebreselassie-to-boycott-china-olympics-over-pollution-fear-89520-20347644/
Sterling Kekoa
What a pathetic article. Boycotting an Olympics because of your own stupidity. Loser
YES! Loser!!
Any sensible human being will boycott the games.
It’s a shame that the effect of the 1980 Olympic boycott isn’t addressed. It accomplished nothing. Hurt the BOYCOTTING countries’ internally and externally. It only hurt the boycotting country athletes – for whom the Olympics are put on. Those Olympics went on. Records were set. Medals were won. …by those who went. The true bottom line is that Olympics are for the athletes regardless of what some want us to believe. It is not about politics or ideologies or revenue streams from advertisers. When it comes down to a competition – it’s athlete against athlete. Period.
Well, is not only athlete against athlete but TV upon money and propaganda upon more money and more propaganda.
I do not care for the athletes and the competition, they must go to the games, of course, but I, the people, will not support the propagande from such a political regimen and the TVs who are making business in such a place. So, I will not see the 2008 games in the TV. I will do in 2012 … if they are not organized by North Corea, Burma, Iran, Cuba, etc.
[...] Boycotting the Beijing Olympics in 2008 ” S T E R L I N G * A G O G … supporter of boycotting the 2008 Olympics in Beijing this summer because … Responses to “Boycotting the Beijing Olympics in 2008″ on August 3, 2008 at 11: … [...]
To all BOYCOTTERS
GO TO HELL!
and fu*k ur mom while ur at it
I think you should look up the truth about the occupation in Tibet. China invaded Tibet and liberated its people. Tibet was once controlled by monks who enslaved its people and treated them like nothing. Yes, monks that you think “wouldn’t hurt a fly” enslaved Tibetans in worse conditions than slaves in the US. The only people who fled Tibet were monks and their families, many of whom were rich. Today, Tibetans are against Tibet’s freedom to become its own country. Tibet is not a place that is full of monks. It is a place where regular people live.
The reason why China became Communist was because of Western powers who took wealth away from China. Take for example the English who forced China to buy Opium. If you look at many South American countries who live in chaos because of corruption today, it was all caused by the USA who went in and left that mess.
Also, the reason why the US is hated by many people today is because it had and still supports many dictators that were so called “democratic”. The propaganda spread about China is all because the US wants to weaken the Chinese government and this is seen through the Vietnam War, Korean War and now, trying to free Tibet. All these areas surround China, isn’t it a little coincidental?
Olympics is about unity, to boycott the Olympics is to say that you don’t support unity. China is trying to change, but with its population and history, its a long, difficult process that any American President would not be able to fix.
You can boycott the Olympics all you want because of your own ignorance.
Your story about Tibet is an untrue fantasy, looks like propaganda from a Chinese agent … Please, review it in any encyclopedia.
I agree more or less with all the rest of your letter, except with “to boycott the Olympics is to say that you don’t support unity”. For me, to boycott the Olympics organized by China is to say that I do not support such a political regimen nor those who make money with all this.
Anyway, perhaps you are right and that China organizes the Olimpics is good for such country and the world.
Also, it is quite good that some people around the world showed to China and other countries their disagreement with what is going on there, including the invasion an annexation of an independent country like Tibet. Do you think that the USA must annex Irak as a part of the US after its invasion “for liberating the Iraqies”?.
Take care,
Cac, the ignorant.
so suck…y talk bout china like tat…China is a good place..u never taste it,dont say like tat..
I’m so glad that so many people took the time to read my article and gave the notion of an Olympic boycott serious consideration, whether you agreed with it or not. And quite honestly, I appreciate that a few of you took the time to submit comments as well, expressing what it was that you felt particularly passionate about.
You may not have agreed with me, that’s fine, and in fact, some of your comments got me thinking – questioning how much I actually knew about China and Tibet. So, I decided I would learn more about the entire conflict — a lot more. I will post an updated on this topic and what I’ve learned, I promise you. After all, this is such an emotionally charged issue, important enough not to be treated lightly. I don’t want to be another ignorant American dilettante who wallows in stereotypes and false presumptions. You’ll be hearing back from me on this topic, I guarantee it.
And just a note on the specific concern of what a boycott would have meant to the athletes themselves; I should have mentioned that I have two friends who are former Olympians. I made my opinion known to them before posting my article. Each understood where I was coming from, and they concurred, but you must realize that they have the benefit of hindsight, which is a whole lot different from an athlete who has never been to the Olympics. In fact, they were the ones who gave me the entire “skinny” on World Cups events, and how they viewed them as a much better measure of true competition. “The Olympics are great,” JP said, “but in reality it’s more for the general public and the casual sports fan than it is for those of us in the sport.”
As far as those of you who cannot distinguish between my criticism of the official Chinese government’s “human rights policy and actions” from China, itself, and her people – you need to WTF up! I have nothing against the Chinese people. I disagree with my own government on a number of issues, but it doesn’t mean I hate America or my fellow Americans. Jesus Christ, get a grip!!
Hello.
:)
Martha Louise, who is the only daughter of King Harald and Queen Sonja, gave up the title of ‘royal highness’ upon her 2002 marriage to writer Ari, and has a reputation for not standing on ceremony.
Bye.