Bush should skip Olympics, but America should not.
May 6th 2008 04:15
President Jimmy Carter made the decision to boycott the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics to protest the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan. The boycott had no impact on Soviet policy; it merely punished the athletes who had worked hard to make the U.S. Olympic team. Boycotts usually punish the wrong people. Some are calling for America to boycott the 2008 Beijing Olympics because of China’s terrible human rights record. It was the wrong decision to boycott in 1980 and it would be the wrong decision in 2008.
The worldwide protests of the Olympic Torch run have bewildered the Chinese government. They have no understanding of expressions of opinion, and as such protests have little or no impact on their behavior. The protests have however brought increased scrutiny on Chinese policy and prior abuses. The most prominent of these abuses has been the forcible takeover of Tibet in 1950. Clearly the high profile of the Dalai Lama has helped raise this issue, but Tibet is by no means the only issue being raised. For example the report yesterday of the viral outbreak that infected 10,000 children and killed at least 95, points to the ineffectiveness of centrally planned health care. Scrutiny of this kind will increase pressure on the Chinese government…. which is a good thing.
Boycotting the Olympics would not have any affect on the Chinese Communists. In fact boycotting the Olympics might drive China inward, away from the rest of the world. Instead of boycotting the entire Olympics, President Bush and his Administration should not attend the Opening Ceremonies or any other part of the Games. Doing this would send the proper message to the Chinese government and reward our athletes.
The worldwide protests of the Olympic Torch run have bewildered the Chinese government. They have no understanding of expressions of opinion, and as such protests have little or no impact on their behavior. The protests have however brought increased scrutiny on Chinese policy and prior abuses. The most prominent of these abuses has been the forcible takeover of Tibet in 1950. Clearly the high profile of the Dalai Lama has helped raise this issue, but Tibet is by no means the only issue being raised. For example the report yesterday of the viral outbreak that infected 10,000 children and killed at least 95, points to the ineffectiveness of centrally planned health care. Scrutiny of this kind will increase pressure on the Chinese government…. which is a good thing.
Boycotting the Olympics would not have any affect on the Chinese Communists. In fact boycotting the Olympics might drive China inward, away from the rest of the world. Instead of boycotting the entire Olympics, President Bush and his Administration should not attend the Opening Ceremonies or any other part of the Games. Doing this would send the proper message to the Chinese government and reward our athletes.
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