by Mark Silva
Boycotting the Olympic games?
“I’m hesitant to make the Olympics a site of political protest,’’ says Sen. Barack Obama, allowing that he is “of two minds about this.’’
With world leaders such as German Chancellor Angela Merkel calling for a boycott of the Beijing games' opening ceremony. in protest of China’s suppression of Tibet and other human-rights violations, President Bush and others say they planned to attend the ceremony.
CBS News’ Harry Smith asked Obama about it.
“I'm of two minds about this,’’ Obama said in an interview aired on CBS News’ Early Show today. “On the one hand, I think that what's happened in Tibet, China's support of the Sudanese government in Darfur, is a real problem. I'm hesitant to make the Olympics a site of political protest, because I think it's partly about bringing the world together.''
It has been 14 months since he announced his candidacy, Obama was reminded. What does he know now that he didn’t know then? “I did not know how hungry people were for a different kind of politics,’’ he replied.
He also was asked about Sen. Hillary Clinton’s April Fool’s Day challenge: A “bowl-off’’ for the nomination – “winner-take-all.’’
“You know, I am always game for a little competition,’’ said Obama, who hadn’t stepped on the lanes in decades and bowled a humbling, gutter-hugging 37 in seven frames the other day. “Now, I have to say that I think she has to be heavily favored, given my track record in bowling.''
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Comments
I disagree with Obama here.
What has happened in Tibet is completely misunderstood in the West.
China is a complex society with many ethnic groups.
The attack of one ethnic group on the local Han Chinese certainly required a response. There is no evidence that China over-reacted.
Minority ethnicities in other parts of China would certainly study how the matter was handled, and fears of separatist movements are always in the minds of China's leaders.
On the other hand, Han Chinese all over the country put pressure on the government for a firm response.
Chinese living abroad, often Cantonese-speaking, jump on every action of the government to say "I told you so!"
They in turn influence the comments of Western governments.
But no one from the United States has any business exercising judgment here.
Not from a country where the National Guard, many times and in a number of cities, shot people down in the streets by the score. Detroit 1967 was only the biggest.
Not from a country where the FBI used tanks and ended by having a group of religious kooks incinerated.
And not from a country that has created a blood-bath in Iraq.
But nothing ever stops self-righteous America from telling others how to do things.
Look at those idiots Spielberg and Farrow blaming China for what goes on in Darfur. It's like a black joke.
They are apparently unaware their own country is the biggest arms merchant in the world as well as the busiest nation on earth intervening in the affairs of other countries, toppling governments and bombing somewhere every couple of years..
Posted by: John Chuckman, Toronto, Canada | April 2, 2008 12:59 PM
Supporting the Olympics to be hosting in a dictatorial regime is to support dictatorship, to support the invasion in Tibet, East Turkistan, and Mongolia.
If the Olympic Games have found a wrong host, the Olympics Committee should at least admit it!
Instead of admitting an obvious mistake, the Olympics Committee has gone ahead to suppress the free speech of athletes!
We should not boycott athletes who are going to the Olympics! However, we should show our compassion to the Tibetans, Burmese, Darfuris, ... who have died directly or indirectly in the hands of a bloody communist regime.
Boycott the Olympics as conscientious consumers! DO not watch any bloody games! DO not buy any bloody Olympics souvenirs! Boycott the sponsors who support the EVIL regime and try to commercialize the Olympics! Send our support to our athletes through emails. Tell them to beat the EVIL regime in China.
Posted by: No Olympics | April 3, 2008 7:40 AM