Over the past few weeks there has been a lot of talk about the upcoming Olympic Games and whether or not various national and supranational governments and entities should boycott the games to send a message to China that their constant and unabashed violation of human rights, especially in Tibet, will not be tolerated any longer. Let me be clear at the very start of this, China’s record on human rights is appalling. There is absolutely no excuse in my mind for their continued occupation of Tibet, their violent crackdown of peaceful Tibetan protests, or their continued sale of arms to the Sudanese government despite the genocide it is perpetuating in Darfur (to list a few things).
With that said however, I cannot say that I am fully in support of boycotting the 2008 Olympics, though I fully understand the reasons for doing so. There is something fitting that the world, unwilling to pressure China on its human rights, finally takes some action at the very moment China is attempting to promote itself as a modern and respectable country.
However at the same time, as it seems to me, the Olympics are not the venue which should be used to protest China’s record of human rights violations, in large part because of the spirit in which the Olympic Games are supposed to be held. The Olympics are about a time when the world comes together and finds a way to compete in a non-violent manner, and shows people across the globe that we are not as different as we are made out to be. The problem that I’ve had with some of the protests is that they seem more focused on forcing world leaders to boycott the Olympics than they are in forcing China to improve its human rights record. Thankfully there are many people who have been pushing this issue for a while, and others who have learned about it recently and will support their cause, but for others it seems to be a bandwagon to jump on rather for the time being rather than a cause they are willing to see through to the end; a situation which does not result in real change but rather one which leaves the Olympics and this rare moment of world unity as the real victims. One such example can be found in Congress, where the House passed a resolution saying that China needs to improve its human rights record or these will be the “genocide games”. A good statement but how many of those same members of Congress who voted for that resolution would vote for trade sanctions with China if it’s human rights record doesn’t improve, or even for a resolution calling on China to support human rights any other time of the year?
Protesting for human rights in China is one thing, using the 2008 Olympics to protest because you’re too afraid or just unwilling to do it otherwise is something else entirely. It’s up to us as a world population not to work towards boycotting the games but towards convincing members of Congress, the President, the United Nations, and other world leaders that they must take real action on this issue even when the Olympics aren’t an issue; because it seems to me that only then will real progress be made.
I have to admit that part of me does want the games to be boycotted, and that same part cheers a little whenever I hear that someone else isn’t going to the Opening Ceremony. But I think what finally moved me just over the edge to where I am now was the Dalai Lama who said that the protests should be allowed (so long as they’re peaceful obviously), but that at the same time China has the right to host the games. He knows the important thing is not what happens at the games but what happens to his people, and I think that’s what’s really important.
6 comments:
I hear your argument but it is important to remember a few things. Hitler started the the tradition of the Olympic torch relay before the Berlin games. Nazi Germany used the games much like china is now, as a coming out party and show of their power and strength. The hosting of the Olympics is always a way for world powers to flex there muscles. Why not have it back fire this time? China wanted the games to make themselves look good so why not use them to make them look bad. it could be a catalyst for real change. We can use the games ability to create a global community to fight an oppressive power.
I would also argue that the Olympics are the perfect time to protest because all of the world's attention is on China at this very moment. Protesting the torch is the best way to make sure CNN covers your protest and your issue.
Not only that, but the added revenue going in to China (the thousands of people staying at hotels, buying souvenirs, etc.) will only help China continue it's human rights violations. So, in my opinion, not only are the protests justified but the boycott is as well. The Olympics, while about bringing people together, has a bottom line that means attention, revenue and support for the country that hosts the games. China should not be supported in any way until they change their human rights record. If that means not watching a few sports games, so be it.
Geoff and Naomi both I totally understand what you're saying, and I really would have no problem with people, and especially world leaders, boycotting the Olympics if I thought the majority of them were going to do something once the Olympics were over. I do like Geoff's reasoning of having China's show of force come back to bite them in the ass, I'm just worried that people will become so focused on politicizing the Olympics that they will forget about the real issues, and I'm afraid to lose a chance at even a small bit of world unity if the only reason is so that politicans can say that they've done something without having to take real action, so I suppose what I'm really talking about is world leaders boycotting the Olympics, I really do like the idea of individual people doing it, becuase like Naomi said it cuts into the revenue which will be brought into China.
With that said, I really do hope that this attention can be used to focus the world's attention and actually create positive change in China.
What do you guys think about this?.
I don't know honestly.
Again, part of me would cheer if the athletes did something, but then again, the article does note that all of these countries come together despite many being in conflict with each other, and it could definetly be that if athletes start protesting Tibet, it opens the door for everything else, and then we really do lose the spirit of the Olympics I think
How could attention be drawn away? We are boycotting...I see no way to avoid the political discussion and realization of WHY that boycott is taking place. Are we just going to forget why we didn't go? Your right though, there is a lot more talk about the boycott then FIXING the human rights violations, but that's because WE CAN'T fix them. It's not our country and it's not our place. We can however, use the power of free speech against a government that frowns upon it. We can't fix it, but we can get pissed about it and show our utter disrespect for the actions of China. Drawing negative publicity to their actions and showing our discontent. Why? Because sadly that's all we can do.
There has never been a more perfect time to stand up for the people of Tibet, because they sure as hell can't do it themselves.
You say it might be disrespectful to boycott China at a time where they are trying to promote themselves as a "modern and respectable country." Problem is...they AREN'T a respectable country, AT ALL! And even if they were, isn't the POINT of a boycott to show as much disrespect to the status quo as possible? Furthermore, shouldn't we make it a point to do it at the most disrespectful TIME possible as well? Although we may depend on them for economic reasons, we want the world to know we don't respect China's government at all.
I'd love to push this opportunity under the table like the politicians in congress will surely do, but I guess I'm too much of a bleeding heart liberal to let it go. whatev.
The Olympics will continue and we will probably end up being there. But I REALLY REALLY hope some of the athletes realize the influence they have, and show up wearing Free Tibet T-shirts. If they choose to disqualify them over "propaganda" or whatever, then so be it, it's just more negative publicity for China. We can make this a PR disaster for them, and we should. We should make it as hard as possible for them to make themselves look good, because they aren't good.
I can't imagine how pissed people will get when a candidate for a gold metal is disqualified for flaunting his free speech. Can you say...shit storm?
I can't wait.
[Love, Peace, Unity]
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