It's not because I don't like the Olympics -- I do. Very much. But starting on August 8, the 2008 Summer Olympics will be held in Beijing, China.
So why am I boycotting?
- Because for every one story published like this one, there are a hundred "incidents" that go unpublished. The Chinese response to protest? Beat the protesters and imprison them. So how does China get ready for the games? They expel approximately 1.5 million residents from the city -- including vagrants and the mentally ill.
- Quite simply, freedom does not exist in China. At least in the way that Americans think of freedom. I personally know people who have been beaten and/or imprisoned in China because of their religious beliefs. Is that the type of country and the type of government that we want to support?
American support of something as big as the Olympic games means one of two things: either you are ignorant of what really goes on in China, or you know what goes on in China and you don't care. If you've made it this far in my post, you now know that every day the Chinese government commits innumerable human rights violations. (China Aid Association keeps up with these pretty well. Thanks, Bob Fu.)
And so you'll have a choice this coming summer. You can buy the merchandise, watch the programming, support the Olympics, and turn a blind eye to the ongoing silent atrocities in China. That, or you can boycott the Olympics with me.
No one in their right mind would support an Olympics in the Darfur region of Sudan, Liberia, Rwanda, or any one of a dozen other places because of the unashamed ongoing human rights violations. Why then, knowing what we know about China, do so many support these Olympic games?
I'm not willing to sacrifice this one on the altar of entertainment...
3 comments:
I'm not thoroughly convinced, yet, that supporting the Olympics - which happen to be in China this year - is quite the same as supporting China. I'll have to do a bit more research into the funding of the actual Olympics, etc. If it were a Chinese custom or something other than a worldwide event, I think I could see the connection a bit more.
I think it was a poor choice that China be allowed to host them, but they won a bidding war just like every other country that has hosted the Olympics. It's definitely horrific what China has done to "make room" for the Olympics, as well. Perhaps this is an opportunity for Americans to see first-hand what has been happening in China for generations. Do I think it will make an impact on America? No. Because the war we are currently sending our boys to fight is for freedom from a similar government and we don't see that, either.
What I'm saying, in a nutshell, is that I'm not quite well enough versed in what is involved in hosting the Olympic games for a country to make an informed decision on whether or not the boycott of the Olympics would be effective at standing up against Chinese communism. I am horrified, however, by their heinous lack of respect for human life and agree that a blind eye cannot be turned.
Since the head of my household will be boycotting the Olympics this year, however, I am more than happy to say that I will defer to his conviction and knowledge and will be boycotting, too. ;-) And I'm looking forward to researching this a bit more.
Ok, a follow-up to my email that I sent Friday. I am again asking the question "How far do you take this?" but from a different angle.
85% (that's my estimate, don't hold me to it) of the oil that we use in this country comes from countries with Marxist or Islamic regimes. So, by consuming oil, we are funding Wahhabi Islam which is sending missionaries to our country to convert people to Islam. We are funding Hamas, which Iran supports. We're funding Hugo Chavez and whatever crazy idea he comes up with this week!
So...you gonna stop buying oil in order to protest again these things, which are just as pressing to people of our worldview? Not sure Roger's gonna let you tele-commute to work.
At your request...
Thought provoking post – you’ve made me consider which category I fall into (not caring or ignorant). Since I know about the situation, by your definition it means I don’t care. But, I wouldn’t say that I don’t care and it doesn’t bother me. I just never considered not watching the Olympics as a form of protest, but it makes sense. But, how far do you take it? Do you not buy any products made in China? Do you make sure your 401(k) or mutual funds have no stocks of companies from or supporting China? That’s the hard part. It’s easier to just live your life in semi-ignorance, because when you start taking a stand, how far do you take it? I’m not saying that’s always my approach, but food for thought.
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