Serve Me and Olympic Sized Dose of Hypocrisy
“The Games have always brought people together in peace to respect universal moral principles”-Olympic Games Website
Over the past week the capital of Tibet, has been locked down in what may only be termed as a brutal suppression of rights by the Chinese government through the use of violence and military force.
There is a fear that by just participating in the forthcoming Games will be seen as a sign of approval for Chinese policies when there should be condemnation by world leaders. Beijing is using the Olympics as a tool to falsely show that they are good stewards of human rights, but the IOC does not see the games being used as a tool to promote human rights.
The Olympics are about peaceful competition between nations and as one of the most recognizable global institutions, much pressure could be placed upon the Chinese Government on one of the most stages.
The IOC has stated that a boycott is unfair to athletes?
I say that without some sort of protest it is unfair to the hundreds of people being rounded up in Tibet. Unfair to the dozens of journalists that are silenced each year in China. Unfair to the detention of so called dissidents last year and the sham of trials that follow.
Several world governments are considering the boycott of the frivolous parts of the Games, such as the opening ceremonies.
But alas, if any countries actually do boycott the Summer Games, I am sure that the commentators will forgoe mentioning it as they comment on the hospitality of the Chinese government and on how happy everyone is.
These games were intended to showcase that China is improving its human rights record, but all indications in the past several months have been the opposite. Dissidents have been rounded up and imprisoned.
There are several athletes who are also refusing to participate in the Games due to the fact that Beijing air quality could be hazardous to their health.
Apparently, the only statement that the IOC wishes to make is that the Games are about bringing together and peaceful interaction between nations. I guess we can pretend that the policies of the Chinese Government are acceptable to the rest of the world and smile as we watch the athletes play games and enjoying freedoms that many of the Chinese people do not enjoy.
There is only one word I can use to describe the position of the organizers of the Games: hypocrisy.
