The China issue
Over the past several days, some groups have tried to pressure President George Bush not to attend the opening ceremonies of the Olympics in China. They’re late to the issue.
If only these people had exerted themselves when the IOC was deciding whether to award China the Olympics in the first place. Where were they when some of us were asking how China got the Olympics?
They have been guilty of human rights violations and abuses, and religious persecutions, for so long now it’s amazing they were even considered.
Boycotting the opening ceremonies will not accomplish anything with the Chinese government and will hurt the world’s athletes who have worked so hard for so long to compete in the Games.
Not going might satisfy one’s conscience or even anger, but it will not change the human rights situation in China or Tibet by one iota. Before, during and after the Games, Beijing will not start respecting the population, those who want to talk about democracy, those who want to speak out against the wide-spread corruption in which Communist Party members indulge, or those who want to live their faith, freely and without controls.
The spotlight will be on that country’s government and people.
That violation of human rights and religious freedom has continued for decades under the radar of the western world. Now that the spotlight is on China, let it show all the violence against human dignity.
That, together with efforts by the world’s governments to apply pressure to the communist regime - like new ethical standards for doing business with it going forward - will do more for advancing a real revolution than sitting out a ceremony a month away.
