Should American Athletes Boycott the 2008 Olympics in Beijing China?
Is Refusing to Participate in the Opening Ceremony Enough?
As representatives of the United States of America, should our athletes participate in the 2008 Olympics? How can we as a country justify being a part of something that will add money to the pockets of the very people who treat human rights as nothing other than a passing fancy?
Every nickel and dime from tourists and corporate sponsors will go directly to a government that represses its people and executes them in public for no other reason than it is an annual event.
China has failed to follow through on its promise to improve human rights. They were given the 2008 Olympics in good faith that they would keep their promise and instead they launched war against a spiritual movement.
Since 2002, over 6,000 people have been evicted from their homes to make way for construction of the new Olympic Stadium in Beijing. Many of them violently forced against their will to leave their homes. Included evictees were elderly, handicapped and children.
And yet American athletes says nothing.
How can we in good conscious invade Iraq, free the people from the tyranny of Sudam Hussein and then turn a blind eye to the obvious abuse and violation of human rights in China?
The Chinese government represses its people with strictest of censorship. Currently with journalists and reporters detained, China delivers democracy a blasphemous slap to the face.
And yet America says nothing.
Reminiscent of Hilter's reign the Chinese government is attempting to fool the world into believing they are making strides towards a better way of life for their people and cleaning up their act.
In 1934 The world became outraged when it was revealed that Adolf Hitler refused to allow German Jewish athletes the opportunity to compete in the 1936 Olympics. An international boycott was called for. A boycott America supported.
To win the favor of America Hitler invited Avery Brundage the head of the American Olympic Committee to Germany to see the world class training centers he had supposedly set up for German Jewish atheletes.
The city of Berlin was cleaned up and citizen were warned to make tourists feel welcomed. Jews Not Welcome signs were hidden during the games and Nazi guards were ordered to refrain from action and Olympic flags were hung from the city's buildings.. All evidence of the horrific conditions the people were living under was erased. The world bought his act, hook, line and sinker.
In Sept. of 1934 America officially announced it would participate in the Olympics. Germany invaded Poland in 1939. Hitler was dead in 1945.
Will we buy the act once again? Will President Bush see the façade that is Beijing China?
To glibly participate in games as an athlete - and let's make no mistake here; these are games and nothing more - knowing full well that outside the stadium people are living without freedom, is in direct opposition of what America stands for.
Perhaps it is time to get back to our roots with a good old fashioned boycott. Maybe the right thing to do would be for American Athletes to refuse to participate in the games.
Could be that the people of the United States should turn off their televisions and not watch the 2008 Olympics.
To boycott the opening ceremony follow the link:
http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=26412
To sign a petition to boycott the 2008 Olympics follow the link:
http://boycott2008olympics.org/
Published by Kelly Spies
I'm just a chick with a lot to say about different things. I've been writing for most of my life and aspire to someday be a published novelist as well as content writer. View profile
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20 Comments
Post a CommentAmericans are all talk like president bush. Spending money on war and no care for your own people as well. No one's perfect. We're all so quick to state our own opinions. People are bored. I love my life and enjoy traveling arond the world. Live a little, travel around the world, you'll open up and learn to love people, and not full bashing.
OMFG! don't you know us americans are well hated around the world? why? read...educate yourself...
Such a good thing that the US is a great exaple of how its supposed to be done: Guantanamo Bay, Iraq, Koyoto agreement. Hell, youre the best! But keep pointing that finger and God forbid you spot a flaw in your own system... And remember. youre alwas right... As long as you´re doing out of patriotism... Boycotting, its a silly idea. Lets be honest. Its a bit late to do that at this point, whereas chinese politics and suppression is getting a lot less the last decades. Im not saying they are holy, but I notice more selfreflection from China than from the US. Lets be honest, its not really democratic when you only have 2 parties to vote for, and when the system is actually a capitalistic Police-state. And it is mighty arrogant to boycot this ancient heritage because of narowminded and dogmatic views on how its supposed to be. Espacially when the USA has been at war (for the most foggy reasons) with many nations over the last 60 years. Iff you want to change the world, start with you
Worth thinking about, great well written read!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comparing German to Chinese at any era is like comparing that Kelly has a nose, a mouth, two eyes and two ears just like a donkey. So, Kelly is a donkey. China has claimed and colonized Tibet for more than 700 years ago. The British divided them and doped them but when they were free they reclaim their territories back. American never did like what the Chinese did right? Not even close to it? We have superior nation that never do any wrongdoing right? Remember the suffering of Native American tribes like Navajo, Cherokees and all the rest? Remember the Trail of Tears? We claimed the Native American land for a lot less years than the years they have claimed Tibet. Also, why we never protested against many other countries malice. If we protest Australia because the current government ancestors have taken the aborigines land by force, it will sound so ridiculous. I think we will sound so ridiculous, biased and idiotic to those who know the history of asian nations. Regarding the
Shit, does it really matter? American corporations will still send OUR jobs over there and borrow money from them to support this war, so a fat lotta good it'll do to boycott the games! Yep, they will still have most favored trading nation status with the US, no matter how much tainted food or children's toys coated in date-rape drug they send our way! Nope, any boycott will be but a slap on their little wristies!
FABLETOO: how do you know how many Americans are "too dumb to see it?" Where did you get your count? The statement seems to me a bit of an over-generalization.
I think it's appalling that the US is even thinking about boycotting the Olympics. This is a celebration and an honor for the CHINESE PEOPLE not their government, but so many Americans are too dumb to see it. Also, there are Chinese descendants all over the world and the US stands the chance of pissing of those people too. I live in Thailand where 15% of Thais are of Chinese descent and they are the ones with the money in Thailand. Already many of my Chinese-Thai friends are refusing to buy American products because of this. You think a boycott is only going to affect China? And pushing China will only make the human rights worse, not better. Geez, America has a LOT to learn about the Asian mentality and what works and what doesn't.
I did want to note that whether people agree with a boycott or not, the issue has become so emotional for many that the torch ceremony was disrupted here already. Clearly, emotions are strong for many.
Kelly - I'm glad you tackled this topic. I've been thinking about it recently. I saw your article earlier but spent some time rereading it and pondering the issues. Thanks again for getting me to think deeply about this.