In the spirit…
The international community has been bending over backwards for China so the Olympics wouldn’t be distracted and people can focus on the games and yet in my mind the Olympics is already tarnished for this round.
All this year has done is shine a huge light on all that is wrong with this country’s government: environmental issues (air pollution - although American is no stellar performer on that front), human rights abuses, internet censorship, and now rounding up anyone who may give the country some grief while everyone is watching. Which is what the theory was behind having the Olympics in China, to shine that light and then they will have to change under international pressure. What? International pressure. What pressure? A debt collector has more pressure than the international community.
I’m not entirely sure where this entry is going I’m just disgusted by international politics. Does anyone seem to understand that you don’t get people/governments to chance by rewarding them and giving them a free pass? What’s going on with this world? Appeasement seems to be the dominant political tool in the tool box these days.
Maybe I’m old school but there are some things that are just wrong and killing your own people to maintain power is one of them; whether you’re a communist country or a democratic one. Although the “masses” are often rather dim so perhaps the power shouldn’t be given to them either. But you shouldn’t kill them to maintain it period. If stupid people make a stupid decision and vote in the wrong people, bad things will happen but the country hopefully will survive enough to see the next election and get a better choice. Although you’d expect any person of power (ie president, vice president, Congressmen/women, Senator, Attorney General) in a democractic country that clearly does things outside the rules of law and basically runs amuck over that country’s constitution and people’s rights to be put in check by the congress. But that’s assuming the people in the congress have any backbone to speak of all and aren’t in it just for themselves.
Back on topic - China is doing nothing worthy of holding the Olympics and this generous opportunity to shine the light of the world on them in hopes that they will change their ways out of embrassment doesn’t seem to be working. It seems that China has simply swept dirt under the rug, pushed everything else into the closet, straightened the bed and proudly proclaimed, “See our room is clean.”
I’m not looking for war with China or boycotting its products (although I have to say it’s getting harder and harder to find products not made in China. I’ve been looking.) but does no one else see the status the Olympics has given this country and its government? The legitimacy and by extension approval of its policies and human rights stance shown to this country by allowing it to maintain the Olympics has basicaly given the government a free pass. All in the name of putting on a good show. (For the Olympics that is, not of the country. China could care less what people think of its government. Just keep buying its products, there’s nothing harmful in our manufacturing policies.)
I think the Olympic Committee allowed the internet censorship because they were now too far into it. (I imagine the day after the announcement that China would host the Olympic games, a few members of that board had an “Oh shit.” moment.) What are they gonna say “No Olympics this year. China is blocking the internet for journalist.”? Hardly. They already sold their rights and everything is in motion. No turning back. It’s for the athletes is a common mantra. Reminds me of when politicians use the phrase, “For the children.” When actually they mean, “It’s politically correct for me to push this position and my lobbist say it’ll make their companies a lot of money and by extension that means more money for my campaign to keep me in office.”
As a political tool the Olympics are a disaster. Here’s why:
When you read about all the abuses and practices China is engaging in to keep its people “nice” for the visitors and not to stir any pots what do you do? What do your elected officials do? Go ahead I’ll give you a moment to write them all down. What? You’re done already. Oh yeah. Me too.
That’s what I’m saying. Pressure.
UPDATE( Someone sent me this. I read this entire article. This was very well done. I didn’t know they did this. I’ve never been a “fan” of the olympics and less so every year. It’s become a money making scheme and corrupt from the inside. It has clearly lost its way. At least to my mind it has.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/03/opinion/03boylan.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5070&en=45b81b31f8cd5704&ex=1218427200&emc=eta1 )