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- Summer Olympics Protesters
- Posted 3 months, 3 weeks ago by Puxel
The Olympics have always been about the best of the best on a level playing field, trying to take home the gold, and honor their country. The most respectful of all competitions. So why the protesters? Why would anyone stand against such an event? Well, as my real estate agent says; "Location, Location, Location."
I didn't know much about the Free Tibet campaigners, until this summer. At one protest journalists asked about the symbolism of raising the Tibetan flag. Anne Holmes answered “We are here today raising the Tibetan flag because raising their own flag is Tibet is illegal. Even possessing a Tibetan national flag in Tibet is an offence punishable with imprisonment.”
After reading that last line, I had to look more into this. I feel uneasy having an event like the Olympic games in a country with something like this going on. Tibet has an ancient history dating back more than 2000 years, but the story starts in the imperial age. Tibet was an independent state through this age. The website summed this up pretty well.
At what point in history, then, did Tibet cease to exist as a state to become an integral part of China? Tibet's history is not unlike that of other states. At times, Tibet extended its influence over neighbouring countries and peoples, and in other periods, came itself under the influence of powerful foreign rulers - the Mongol Khans, the Gorkas of Nepal, the Manchu emperors and the British rulers of India.
-Torture
"Right from the first time I was detained, Chinese officials used different torture instruments on me to break my spirit ... my fellow political prisoners and I were subjected to electric shocks from different types of electric batons and prods... Other nuns and I were hung in the air with our arms tied behind our backs for extended periods of time and we were frequently made to stand in the direct sun or freezing cold for extended periods of time and if we collapsed ... we were beaten ... This torture and mistreatment occurred through most of my life in prison."- Ngawang Sangdrol (13)
-Freedom of Information
According to Reporters Without Borders, China ranked 163rd out of 168 in the 2006 worldwide press freedom index. China controls the flow of information from the public media (newspapers, radio, TCV, internet, printed material), as well as monitoring private e-mails and phone exchanges.
I'm not trying to stop anyone else from watching this, but after I read all that I thought I should say something. I can't honestly support anything that happens in a country like that.
Thoughts?
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Comments
While I get the point behind boycotting the Olympic games in Beijing, I think that one should be watching them for the exact same reason.
SRC (the french CBC) has been doing extensive coverage of not only the games themselves, but also about the country's politics and history and such. This even is proabably the first when a reporter can go there and ask questions without fear of being shot. This is the first opportunity in a long while to give this country some exposure to the rest of the world, and vice-versa.
btw, I LOVE freedom fries XD
but was never a fan of liberty cabbage lol
i'm doing my part by boy-cotting the olympics...have been boy-cotting since 1982
I am really of two minds on this argument. On the one hand, I completely agree that China has a long sad history of human rights violations, environmental apathy, and a general philosophy of state control.
But at the same time, so does my own home country.
We (the US) are currently engaged in actions the world deems torture, our administration's own policies on the environment favor business growth over sustainability, and spy agencies routinely wiretap American citizens in the name of homeland security.
So it's hard for me to point an accusing finger at the Chinese while at the same time allowing the same kinds of actions to take place without protest in my own backyard.
And, at the end of the day, it's not the fault of the individual athletes that the Olympics were granted to China.
I'm watching.
I know none of this is new (the poll on the front page made me write it). I know China could save Darfur if they put a hand into it, and I know many people care about the Olympics for one reason or another. People attacking the Olympic torch with buckets of sand and water isn't very uplifting, and I don't think I could watch the games and support my country with something like this so close to them. I'm not trying to be a "rename frenchfries, freedomfries" jerk in any way.
As much as I am against the violence in China against Tibetans, I am more than piqued for this year's olympics. my mom will be there (350$ for seats at the men's basketball!), and so will my little sister. Considering I only see my family once a year, I am more than disappointed that I won't be able to afford this year's trip.
I have to say though, I am more than curious as to why the 'Summer Olympic Protesters' would now stop you from watching the Olympics. I have fought and written against student and many other unlawful detentions in Tibet since I was 17 in High school. This is not current news, it is an ongoing outrage that is difficult for the UN to act upon. You can read extensively about it on Amnesty.org
Google, several years ago, had bent to China's strict government ruling on information, a company that self-professed that it would 'do no evil'. At some point, they had a conference stating bringing any information to China would be better than bringing none. I agree. While I am less than content that my home country has one of the most controlling and intolerant governments, I know that the people are, in general, good. Remember that we are villains already to the rest of the world and foreign to the protocol of the United Nations; it is so hard to travel as an 'American', I still pretend I am a chinese citizen when I am abroad.
It is difficult for me to fully explain how these people (in China) live day to day, without you having actually experienced it. Most are strong willed, many are survivors of great tragedies. The past 50 years have been smooth-sailing historically for the US compared to the bloody political turmoil that China has faced, and had faced throughout history. The US is 1/2 a world away, a country sinking into depression but still somehow much better off than China economically.
The thing of it in worldwide politics is, 'free Tibet' is just scratching the surface. People are watching the games, supporting their country and China as a country because ideally, by shutting down or pushing them away we have done no right. These athletes are pouring in from all countries, even those still fundamentally at war, playing together and competing to the best of their ability. The games should be a time of sportsmanship, when many countries come together.. like the World Cup but on a much larger level. Besides, it is an excellent opportunity to support Tibet in its struggle for freedom. Where one person has been deported, another will be in his/her place. And what will ignoring the Olympic events do?
Besides, G.W.B. was quoted before the olympics to say, "America stands in firm opposition to China's detention of political dissidents", the day before the Olympics officially began.
What does he do about the detention camp of Guantanamo Bay, I wonder?