Olympic Torch(er)

As we approach the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China has been thrust into the global spotlight. Their iron-fisted policy's in regards to Tibet and the manner in which the recent protests and the riots that followed have drawn much criticism world-wide. Many politicians are calling for a boycott of the Olympic Games opening ceremony's, in hopes that it will achieve a resolution to the current situation.

I have to agree that something needs to happen to change the situation in Tibet and China in general. So what would a boycott of the opening ceremony's really accomplish?

My thoughts on this are that right now world governments, human rights groups and activists must seize (and have) the moment to send a message to the Chinese government. Currently all eyes and cameras are on China and to me it looks as if the Chinese government is uncomfortable with that. For so long the power brokers of the world have looked away as China has gone on to crackdown on it's own citizens by limiting freedom of the press and outlawing democratic movements. Because we have looked away for so long they are now finally being exposed for the things that they have always done but now are uneasy about the exposure and criticism that they are being subject to.

It is interesting because the Olympics traditionally has been a time when humanity can at least for a moment put politics aside and celebrate different cultures through the commonality of athletics. Well now we have all seen in the media that the host country, the very country that was chosen to be the platform for this celebration goes against the very principals of the Olympics, by cracking down in Tibet. Right now China is threatening Tibetan culture.

At the end of March Buddhist monks took to the streets of Lhasa to mark the anniversary of the 1959 uprising against Chinese rule. When they did this the Chinese government sent in soldiers and an outbreak of violence occurred. At first the government denied this but later it was reveled that the Chinese soldiers killed eighty to one hundred Tibetan marchers.

All of this should not be surprising as many voices around the world questioned the original idea of awarding China the Olympics in the first place. Now we hear that athletes, journalists and attendees have all be warned not to make any sort of political statement(s) during the games.

To me, if this is the case I say boycott the opening ceremony's, it will be one more message that the world can send to the Chinese government and one more reason for them to be uncomfortable.

About time I say.