Point and counter-point: Boycotting the 2008 Olympics
America can reestablish itself as a credible advocate of individual freedom with a complete boycott.
Kartik Sreepada
Issue date: 4/17/08 Section: Opinion
We were leaders once. In the past, the United States made a lot of bold, sometimes rash, decisions that didn't always turn out well. But America could keep its pride because it never compromised its moral principle.
I speak of the principle ingrained in our Constitution: true individual freedom. America's dedication to preserving individual freedom carried us behind our heroic triumphs, such as our final stand as the last free power in World War II. Our dedication also carried us behind our blunders. Few can doubt we had good intentions when we entered Somalia in 1992.
President Bush preached good intentions for invading Iraq: removing Saddam Hussein. Yet as we led the charge into Iraq, the rest of the world was now skeptical of our true motives.
Our relations with China highlight this emerging anomaly. China acts in blatant defiance of individual freedom. The country has a major hand in not one, but two of today's human rights violations: oppressing Tibetans in their own country and directly funding a modern-day holocaust in Darfur. What's more alarming is that the Chinese show no signs of remorse.
America has the perfect opportunity to stand up against China. We can completely boycott the Beijing Olympics to show the whole world that we will never tolerate such crimes against humanity. Americans can show the world that we still have a strong moral backbone.
Quite frankly, America needs to. To date, no country has mentioned a full-fledged boycott. Instead, our restrained leaders are merely fancying the idea of hurling spitballs at China with a boycott of the Opening Ceremonies.
But an Opening Ceremony boycott would be nothing more than a minor disturbance for China. The games would still continue with full competition. The medals will still go to the worthy winner. Months after the Olympics, the media will all but forget about the controversy.
On the other hand, the 62-nation boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow is still remembered. America proudly led it, out of principle, to condemn the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan. Many athletes gave up their only chance to compete in the four-year event, but the world understood that it was all for a noble cause.
I speak of the principle ingrained in our Constitution: true individual freedom. America's dedication to preserving individual freedom carried us behind our heroic triumphs, such as our final stand as the last free power in World War II. Our dedication also carried us behind our blunders. Few can doubt we had good intentions when we entered Somalia in 1992.
President Bush preached good intentions for invading Iraq: removing Saddam Hussein. Yet as we led the charge into Iraq, the rest of the world was now skeptical of our true motives.
Our relations with China highlight this emerging anomaly. China acts in blatant defiance of individual freedom. The country has a major hand in not one, but two of today's human rights violations: oppressing Tibetans in their own country and directly funding a modern-day holocaust in Darfur. What's more alarming is that the Chinese show no signs of remorse.
America has the perfect opportunity to stand up against China. We can completely boycott the Beijing Olympics to show the whole world that we will never tolerate such crimes against humanity. Americans can show the world that we still have a strong moral backbone.
Quite frankly, America needs to. To date, no country has mentioned a full-fledged boycott. Instead, our restrained leaders are merely fancying the idea of hurling spitballs at China with a boycott of the Opening Ceremonies.
But an Opening Ceremony boycott would be nothing more than a minor disturbance for China. The games would still continue with full competition. The medals will still go to the worthy winner. Months after the Olympics, the media will all but forget about the controversy.
On the other hand, the 62-nation boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow is still remembered. America proudly led it, out of principle, to condemn the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan. Many athletes gave up their only chance to compete in the four-year event, but the world understood that it was all for a noble cause.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 5
Ming Ouyang
posted 4/17/08 @ 11:02 AM PST
Why don't you mind your own business? are you treating minorities fairly? Look at the black people in the south campus. You know what American call that? ghetto and slum, this is the words used by USC students. (Continued…)
Boycott Beijing
posted 4/20/08 @ 4:57 AM PST
Since when did you become a "voice" for African-Americans, U.S. service people, the EPA, Iraqi civilians and Native Americans? When? When majority of the free world such as Western Europe, the N. (Continued…)
Minfu Ouyang
posted 4/24/08 @ 11:39 AM PST
This is really, I have to say, a totally irresponsible article.
Now, when one fifth of the global population are trying to host its first Olympic game in its history, why you would expect to ruin it? Do you really know about Chinese histroy, including Tibetan history? if you not, you'd better have some study on it, or you'd better go China and see what is really happening there. (Continued…)
Post a Comment