Today, Stephen Harper dismissed the idea of an olympic boycott, claiming it would be ineffective and only serve to harm the athletes.
Let me make clear: I know how hard these athletes have been training for the Olympics, but all the athletes should ask themselves: what do these Olympics stand for?
China has defined these Olympics, as being a celebration of China's arrival on the world stage; definitive proof, that they are no longer a second-class economy, etc. The question we need to ask ourselves, and ask China—directly—and in no uncertain terms: do you deserve that recognition?
While China's newfound market economy has boomed, political freedom remains stagnant. The Chinese government operates systematic and pervasive censorship regimes for newsprint, television, radio, and even the internet. A search for "democracy" on Google in China, returns a message, warning the user they have searched for a forbidden word.
I don't even need to mention the injustices in Tibet, in order to make the case against "celebrating with China," their arrival on the world stage. Quite simply because, I don't welcome them on the world stage.
I welcome Chinese people on the world stage, and I welcome their continued immigration to Western countries.
I applaud Poland and the Czech Republic for their boycotts. I condemn Harper and his government for acquiescing back into a policy of appeasement. And I'm one step closer to taking my vote off the table in the next election.
When Harper said that he wasn't "going to trade Canadian values for the almighty dollar", I was very impressed. Today, we learn that was empty sentiment, just as we learned his position on the Human Rights Commission was empty sentiment.
Come to think of it, it's really strange why Liberals hate Stephen Harper so much. He's practically become Jean Chrétien without the french accent.
Update: I'm not the only one on the right who shares this sentiment; The Canadian Republic weighs in.
Also: It's not surprising that McGunity doesn't really care about human rights either.
Update2: How about this... Can we at least boycott the opening ceremonies?
I heard a news show on the radio the other day, and all the callers kept saying that the Olympics are no place for "politics".
It just reinforced my belief that our country has completely forgotten the meaning of the word sacrifice. Not only do we think that it's outrageous that we've lost 82 of our service men and women but we won't even sacrifice the pride of winning a few lousy medals in Beijing. If our country won't make a symbolic gesture to protest human rights abuses in China, how can it possibly have the fortitude to stand up for the people of Afghanistan for the long-term?
Well said.
People have to eat Mike and pay their bills and repay their debts and feed their families. You say: "I know how hard these athletes have been training for the Olympics". Do you? These athletes are career athletes and their careers are at stake. Many have been training for a long time and are at the peak of their career. They cannot wait another four years because they'll be older and past their prime. Many have devoted a lifetime to train to be able to compete on the world stage. It's not about 'medals'! Let's be real and not put down their hard work and put them down. Winning at the Olympics is hard: very hard after years of sweat and tears and the reward is not just a medal but endorsements and the right to teach when time catches up and the athlete is no longer able to compete and he now can have a decent living as payment for all that hard work. The Olympics is no place for politics. Let's not ruin the lives of our athletes for a gain which Mr. Harper has seriously weighed and concluded that a boycott will do nothing to change China's political mindset.
Hate to disagree with ya, Mike, but I don't think Olympic boycotts have proved particularly effective in the past, and athletes deserve the opportunity.
If we're going to use the Olympics as a political lever, I believe a much better application would be to permit athletes to wear a Tibetan flag patch on their shoulder if they chose. At least some would, perhaps many; this would humiliate the Chinese much more profoundly than if we just didn't bother showing up, and for the entire duration of the games.
I also disagree regarding the boycott. If the objective is to embarrass China and spoil their coming out party, then there are ways to do it without boycotting, I think.
For example, the protests surrounding the flame tour are already having that effect. I think it would be even more devastating if countries specifically boycotted the opening ceremonies. Imagine no athletes from any democracy participating, and no dignitaries from any of those countries in attendance. The event will be broadcast for the world to see, and China will not get the positive press they crave so badly.
I'm opposed to punishing the athletes who had nothing to do with the selection of the venue. Instead, lets see what we can do to change the IOC who picked China in the first place.
It's all well and good to call for boycotts when it's not you who is affected. Why should athletes be punished for a decision made by communist friendly IOC? I am against Canada pulling out of Olympics because athletes have been training for years for their one chance of glory and symbolic protests don't change a thing.
I agree that we should stand up against Chinese. Why not implement a real boycott of all the cheap tat that gets imported here from China? Hit them in the pocketbook where it actually hurts. The only thing I would worry about is poor people who rely on the cheap items from China. Maybe we could source cheap products from other countries and than stop trading with ChiComs.
Of course that means we throw our own Olympics into the toilet if we boycott....
But who cares right? We should stand on principle.
Do you not think we should at least boycott the opening ceremony?
I think a boycott of the opening ceremony would be ok but even better would be a mass protest while the world is watching. The ChiComs care a great deal about 'losing face' and they would not like it at all if the athletes were able to carry Tibet and/or Nepal flags during opening ceremony or if all the male atheltes, and women too if they so desire, shaved their heads to recognize the role of monks or any other protest that would irritate the authorities. Derbyshire in NRO on Monday linked to an article in City magazine (I think) that really looked at the appalling behaviour of the ChiComs and what they do to regular Chinese citizens. Anything that keeps the spotlight on what they are up to is ok with me.
Count me among those who don't believe an all out boycott is appropriate. It really only punishes the amateur atheletes, for many of whom this is an end of career goal.
There are other, more appropriate and as effective, ways to show our dislike for Chinese politics.
The tibetan flag option really sounds good to me. Tweak the bullies nose while playing in their own backyard.
How about requesting the Tibetan flag to be raised in place of the Canadian flag, if an athelete so desires?
"When Harper said that he wasn't "going to trade Canadian values for the almighty dollar", I was very impressed. Today, we learn that was empty sentiment."
Hate to break it to you, but we actually learned this a month ago, when Stephen Harper's government announced formally that they support the American "One China" policy, which means NO to Tibet and NO to Taiwan.
Totally boycott the opening ceremonies, do the bare minimum. As for the games themselves, a boycott would definitely get a point across! Its unfortunate that the athletes would be disappointed but what about guy who was sentenced to 5 years for a petition calling for "human rights, not olympics"? What about all the Chinese that aren't permitted to comment on (or read) blogs? I could go on.
The athletes were able to choose their career paths, and unfortunately the IOC made an extremely poor decision. The hardships that the athletes would face in missing the oplympics can compare in no way to the daily hardships of the Chinese people.
Precisely, Id. That gets to the root of the matter. It is high time that we acknowledge and correct our complicity in the accordance of international legitimacy to the Chinese communist regime.
Harpers stance is utterly, and indefensibly, hypocritical. Canada has set in place economic boycotts against countries that do far more harm to oppressed and poverty stricken people than is ever done to the dictators who rule them - yet we are supposedly worried about the harm done to a few athletes who don't get to play?
Give me a break.
Why not just boycott Chinese products instead?
And why Tibet? Look the Dalai Lama is cute and all, but they are other oppressed regions - maybe Tibet has a better PR firm....
CWTF - I agree and that was my first thought when reading this post. My family and I have talked about this on many occasions. I think an olympic boycott would be alright but Chinese products would be much more effective.
I am assuming Stageleft supported the sanctions against the regimes in South Africa, and would now support sanctions against Israel.