I thought since this was my last assignment for my Introductory to Religious Studies class at St Martins University I would post it on my blog.
The name of the article on ESPN’s web site states it all. “Clinton calls for partial boycott; torch protesters scale Golden Gate Bridge” April 8, 2008. This article is about two events tied together I will be primarily dealing with the first part. With the Summer Olympics less then 100 days away, Democratic Presidential contender Hilary Clinton is calling for a boycott from the USA athletes at the opening ceremonies. Mrs. Clinton is basing this on the Chinese Government and how it is handling human rights issues in both Tibet and Darfur. In the article Hillary is also quoted “These events underscore why I believe the Bush administration has been wrong to downplay human rights in its policy towards China. At this time, and in light of recent events, I believe President Bush should not plan on attending the opening ceremonies in Beijing, absent major changes by the Chinese government”
The problem is viewed as this. Tibet has been ruled by China illegally (According to Tibet) since 1959. The ruler of Tibet the Dalai Lama has been in exile since 1959. He wants to be able to return to Tibet without the oppression of his Tibetan people by the Chinese and to be able to freely practice their religion of Tibetan Buddhism . The Lama, as Bill Murray would say, in the mean time has had three resolutions adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1959, 1961 and 1965 in support of a free Tibet. He also received degrees from two universities in Wisconsin! He received an honorary law degree from University of Wisconsin Madison. He also received an Dr. of Divinity from Carroll College, Waukesha, WI.
Wisconsin. In 1989 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
China is a super power. All other countries dialog with China care is taken in how they push such issues. China has been negotiating with Tibet in the past and had 6 meeting the last of which was in 2006 but no solutions were to come from the meetings. Now China is accusing Dalai Lama of causing the uprising to disrupt the Olympic Games.
I am still trying to understand who thought that having Hilary saying such a thing would be a good idea. That is, unless it was her idea. In either case it was done using very poor judgment. She should have stopped and ask how many more voters would she win with that statement. She lost ten times more votes then she gained. Every single athlete who has trained sacrificed, endured and dreamed of attending the Olympics and heard her say the US should boycott the Opening Ceremonies just voted against her. Boycotting the Olympics as a political move does nothing more then disrupt the whole athletic competition. I understand trying to draw attention to a cause. But The Olympics should not and can not ever again be a place to showcase that cause. The Olympic Games should not be used for any ones showcase other then their athletic ability President Bush said it best. "I don't view the Olympics as a political event," Bush said this past week. "I view it as a sporting event." Why doesn’t Hillary insist that a boycott of all major US industries that do business in China? The answer to that is simple US industries in China is a big business. Where there is big business there is too much money at stake to really rock the boat.
This issue affects me personally as I hope to attend the Olympic Games in Beijing. . I am concerned that this issue will in some affect the Olympic Games. I do not want to feel unsafe or have to place my attention on anything other then enjoying the competition. I also most certainly not to have my country boycott the games and me unable to go. I would not receive a refund on any of the event tickets I have purchased or lodging. Although I have booked my flight through Canada which I have heard worked for some US Citizens for the 1980 Moscow Olympics. I am sure also that China has come a long way since 1959 toward its human rights treatment. “The State Department no longer considers China one of the world's worst human rights violators, according to its annual human rights report released Tuesday. The human rights issue in Tibet is getting better as China is becoming more understanding. Over time it can only improve. The pace of which I am sure moves entirely to slow for some people. Hopefully a solution can be found in my lifetime that both sides can live in peace.