Just say 'No' to the Olympics in China
Unless you've been asleep for a year, you probably know already that the People's Republic of China is engaging in the systematic destruction of the Tibetan culture. In response, friends of freedom and liberty are protesting China's use of the Olympics to burnish is repressive actions.
************************
Here in the US, the Chinese government is carrying bus loads of pro-China students to counter then anti-China protesters who are calling for US athletes to boycott the Olympics.
My wife has a Chinese graduate student, who until recently, believed Tibet has always been a happy part of China and that it's only because of the mean old Dali Lama that there is unrest. ortunately, this young person had enough sense to talk things through with my wife - and has come to the conclusion that she has been lied to her whole life by Chinese revisionists who use text books in schools as propaganda.
************************
I don't know if the Olympics have always had political undertones, but they certainly do now. China's investment in the events is extraordinary and the country is using that investment platform to strengthen its position in the world.
Sadly, the US is a toothless tiger standing by this travesty on the sidelines. Having sold our country and our economy to the Chinese for a bunch of lead-painted trash., and having convinced the world that we are war-criminals who torture innocent people, we have little moral standing to call China on its horrific treatment of its own people and its neighbors in Tibet.
But our athletes here in North Carolina could take such a stand. Our athletes could say "no" to participating in the Chinese Olympics.
Will they? I doubt it. They will most likely argue that the Olympics shouldn't be politicized. They will most likely argue that their own performance goals are what matters most, and that participating in the Chinese Olympics is no big deal.
Try telling that to China.
Subscribe to our feeds!
Free Tibet
Read all about it.
Tolerance ends
I don't know if the Olympics
Seems like the Olympics have always been a political exercise. State's spend hundreds and millions of dollars building new stuff and cleaning up their cities--it ain't just for the folks living in that particular area. It is probably done for two main reasons 1) to please domestic constituents (even dictatorial regimes have audience costs and have to keep at least some folks somewhat happy) and 2) obtain international legitimacy and/or goodwill from other counties.
Ahh, but the leaders of the Olympic organization will tell us it's all about the athletes...
If only it was...
And when i say "always"
I'm talking about the modern era.
...though it probably had heavy political overtones even in the days of the Ancient Greeks! (though, someone who is a ancient history scholar will have to tackle that one.)
Naw! The games are not political! Nero!
though it probably had heavy political overtones even in the days of the Ancient Greeks! (though, someone who is a ancient history scholar will have to tackle that one.* Proud progressive Nike runner
Not really! The Greeks had a simple policy about the games. No barbarians or midget wrestler Persians [know as Turks today]allowed to enter the games. In fact the Greeks would stop in the middle of war and have the games among themselves for a week of so. However like all good things, those damn Romans came along and made it international and corrupted the sucker to what it is today....
I'm against a boycott
I am (almost) categorically opposed to trading with China, and I also agree that having the Olympics in Beijing is a slap in the face to Tibetans (and rural Chinese) that have suffered and are suffering under this regime. I also accept that doping scandals and the near-certain corruption of the IOC have turned the Olympics into a shadow of its once majestic self.
But...in this day and age, where the visible benefits of Democracy are so tainted by ideological compromises and corporate greed and malfeasance, I recoil at the idea of wasting the opportunities the Olympics can provide.
I believe in the passive promotion of Democracy and freedom, as opposed to the direct actions of regime change and even nation-building. As we can plainly see in Iraq, just removing a dictator is not nearly enough to ensure freedom. People have to not only want it, they have to actually be able to "picture" it in their minds. In order for them to do that, they need to see Democracy in action. Not tanks rolling, but actual free people interacting with their environment. People of all different races and ethnicities, whose descendents hailed from every corner of the world.
That's what the Olympics is (or should be) all about. American athletes of all different colors, meeting and competing with athletes from all over the world. Absenting ourselves from Beijing would be a strong statement (and embarassment) to the Chinese. But it would also be a statement to all those other athletes from less-fortunate countries who really need us to run alongside them, if only for a brief moment in time.
And you know, there's nothing that says our athletes can't pull on a "Free Tibet!" t-shirt right before the medal is placed on their chests. ;)
I think this is how I feel too
We need for some Tibetan athletes to recreate this scene for a new century:
I want for the Olympics to happen so that the international family can come together. But if some of us got a legitimate reason to be pissed at our kin, what better place for us to initiate a dialog?
I don't know how refusing to show up will help the situation, but maybe I'm uninformed.
- - - - -
- - - - -
http://twitter.com/Jerimee
You're right, there are few ways to promote demococracy gently
I was so impressed when the New York Philharmonic organized a concert in Pyongyang North Korea this past February. Exchanges like these are hard to come by in an increasingly suspicious and calculating climate.
I hate to think the only things most cultures know about us is learned at the end of a gun or an American action movie.
Progressive Democrats of North Carolina
Progressive Democrats of North Carolina
Cha-Ching in China
It's all but impossible to boycott Chinese goods, but to the extent that any boycott contributes to the attention the Tibetan cause is getting, I'm all for a boycott. Besides, money is all the Olympics organizers understand or care about.
The Chinese government doesn't need the money -- it has already bought us -- but it does gain world attention and praise for the honor of hosting the Olympics. That this arrangement was made despite the fact that the government of China is a ruthless, brutal, tyranny means Tibet's doom was sealed long ago.
I'm grateful that the protests have garnered as much attention as they have, though. I have no illusions about how lasting the effects will be, but again, to the extent that these protests enlighten even a few people, I believe they're well worth the time and trouble.
What China has done and is doing to Tibet is horrible. The world should be condemning rather than ratifying it with an Olympic seal of approval.
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing
-Edmund Burke
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing
-Edmund Burke
Chinese Peoples Blackwater Army lands in San Francisco
The Olympic torch’s mysterious companions
Joshua Keating
Foreign Policy* [CFR] Council of Foreign Relations Front
April 9, 2008
If you’ve been following the Olympic flame’s troubled progess (it braves hostile crowds in San Francisco today), you’ve no doubt noticed the phalanx of Chinese guards in blue track suits, baseball caps, and fanny packs who follow it everywhere. As Der Spiegel’s Alexander Schwabe reports, the guards are just as sinister as you might imagine:
The agents are described as "employees of the Beijing Organizing Committee," which founded a "flame protection squad" in August 2007. […]
According to Chinese media, the agents are members of the paramilitary People’s Armed Police, which in China is responsible for fighting unrest and maintaining internal stability. Tens of thousands of the "Wujing," as the People’s Armed Police are called in Chinese, recently took part in crackdowns against demonstrators in Tibet and neighboring regions.
"These men, chosen from around the country, are each tall and large and are eminently talented and powerful," the squad’s leader Zhao Si was quoted as saying. "Their outstanding physical quality is not in the slightest inferior to that of specialized athletes."
They’re also racking up an impressive list of complaints from protesters as well as relay organizers for their rude conduct and heavy-handed tactics. In some cases they’ve even gotten into fights with local police. Sebastian Coe, the head of Britain’s organizing comittee, repeatedly described them as "thugs" to the media. Australia’s Prime Minister Kevin Rudd recently stated that the guards would not be welcome for the Australian portion of the relay.
Eighty-five thousand miles never felt so long.
Your Chinese shipping containters appears to be broken Captain?
It's all but impossible to boycott Chinese goods* Brunett
Naw! We could boycott those suckers tomorrow morning. Simply pop a 400% excise tax on all Chinese products hitting our ports and Wal-mart. If that does not get their attention, do what we did to the Japs 160 years ago. Sent the gunboats in and snuff out our present Nafta, Gafta, Cafta sucking up Globalist minded congress.
Say "no" to boycott?
The Dalai Lama says "don't boycott" ... but also "allow protest." Somehow I don't see China all of a sudden embracing free-speech.
Tolerance ends
James, FWIW
Right now, on 91.5, the DR show is addressing this topic.
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing
-Edmund Burke
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing
-Edmund Burke
Thanks. I love DR's show
Much appreciated.
Tolerance ends
Now more than ever
China needs a dose of the Olympic Spirit.
Let's not forget the reason for holding these Games was never just about the athletes' performances. The Olympic ideal has always been to promote peace and unity through athletics.
Now more than ever, we need the Olympics. Especially in places like China.
Congratulations, Congressman Kissell!