Time For Nations To Boycott The Olympics And China

With China’s latest crackdown on the people of Tibet, it is clear that the time has come for the world to take a stand together and hold the Chinese government to account. The Dalai Lama recently called what China is doing “cultural genocide” and I don’t think any reasonable person with eyes or ears can really dispute that.

With many nations supporting and recognizing Kosovo’s independence, will they now do nothing to support the people of Tibet when they are being brutalized by the Chinese government? I think the hypocrisy of the developed nations of the world will be seen as clearly as can be when they refuse to boycott the upcoming Olympic Games in Beijing. It is, like most everything in the sad world we have shaped, about money.

If China were suffer the embarrassment of losing the Olympic games, it would send several messages—and not just to China, but to all other nations as well. It would tell them that while they may be part of the international community, their human rights abuses and oppression will not be rewarded.

And that is what hosting the Olympic games is, it is a reward. Not just economically, but in the form of prestige. It is time the Olympics remember the intent behind their origins. It was far more than just a celebration of athletic prowess—it should not be forgotten that the winner was awarded a crown of olive leaves in ancient times, a symbol of peace and hope. Such things have been forgotten and it has become nothing more than a source of advertising revenue and political snobbery for many decades now.

China does not deserve to host the Olympics, and nations should either boycott the Beijing Olympics or request that it be moved. It would not be that hard to do, and it would show determination by the international community to say “We will not tolerate oppression and human rights abuses against the people of Tibet.”

It won’t happen though. People will say it will rob athletes of opportunities, or that contracts and broadcasting logistics make it impractical. People of little moral worth will find many reasons not to do the right thing, which is to not honor China with the Olympics—because that government is the antithesis of everything those games represent. The Chinese government has invaded and brutalized Tibet and is robbing it of its cultural heritage, of hope and the peace Tibetans seek.

How can you not be moved when people are protesting and using non-violent means to seek their independence? The world pays so much attention to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and makes much ado of the violence, yet tolerates it year after year. Tibetans protesting peacefully have been ignored, and some have taken the most drastic steps you can imagine, such as self-immolation.

[Note: You may find this video interesting, but it contains graphic footage of a Tibetan hunger striker who eventually set himself on fire during a protest. It is almost beyond comprehension, the amount of courage, desperation, and willpower it takes to do so---and to have your hands clasped together, praying and begging for freedom as you burn. Tibetan Exiles Grow Impatient In India ]

Sadly, because the international community has ignored the plight of Tibet, the people of that country are turning to more violent protests. The situation is on the verge of becoming another Kosovo, with actual genocide and needless deaths because people no longer want to be governed by a government they feel does not represent them and that does not fulfill the covenant between the governed and the government. The International Olympic Committee refuses to wade into the issue at all, and has shown itself to be completely and utterly devoid of ethics or compassion.

As a result, the situation is deteriorating and will only continue to do so. Those governments too cowardly to boycott, and the IOC will bear much of the burden of blame for the deaths that are to come in Tibet.

The games are still months away. There is time for the international community to take a stand. Sadly, I don’t expect anyone will. Stephen Spielberg shames the governments of the world. He pulled out of his involvement in the Beijing Olympics over China’s involvement in the crisis in Darfur (China’s arms sales have gone up noticeably during the crisis).

Since the games are about nothing more than money these days, I don’t expect any governments to do anything. Moral courage is elusive among the world’s governments…even when it involves nothing more than saying “no.” It was no big thing to carve Kosovo away from Serbia—China, with its vast military and economic resources is another matter altogether.

No one wants to incur the wrath of the dragon by telling it that it is acting like a monster.

Sadly, Tibet may have to endure genocide before the international community finds the will to act, but even then, that is no guarantee. Just look at Darfur. It will in the end probably require the people of Tibet to take up arms and fight for what they want. That is the sad truth of the world in which we live. Money causes governments and people to turn a blind eye until something intrudes on their life so much that they can no longer pretend to others that they were unaware of a situation and fear looking bad or to lack compassion.

Freedom is not free. But the Olympics could help lower the cost.

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Update 1, 03-18-2008: There is talk about a partial boycott of the opening ceremonies now and it appears to be gaining momentum.

Update 2, 03-18-2008: The Dalai Lama has said he may step down as the political leader in exile of Tibet as a result of the growing unrest and violence, while maintaining his spiritual leadership. He does not approve of the violent protests. It may soon become something beyond peaceful protest however. I personally think this year will be the turning point and that a Tibetan insurgency will have begun by the year’s end as younger Tibetans decide they can no longer tolerate waiting on political processes nor count on peaceful protest. If the political leaders of the world do not apply a tremendous amount of pressure on the government of China and give them cause to rethink their approach to governance and the independence of Tibet, the situation will gradually steer further away from the possibility of a peaceful resolution. If the Dalai Lama steps down, it will be just the fractious political development that will leave a leadership vacuum perfect for those with more radical views on achieving independence to step in and take advantage of the lack of a central figure in Tibetan nationalism.