Protests and demonstrations are overshadowing the Olympic preparations in China. Read about it here in the Times Online, here on CNN and here on China View. Was it a mistake to hold the Olympics in Beijing given the predictable outburst of protests about a host of human rights issues that, many argue, have been simmering for years? Or, might the world stand to gain from this historic first? Does it affect whether or not you will watch the games?
I think it is too bad that whenever there is any focus on a country for any reason, we choose to ally that focus with human rights complaints, so that the entire opportunity becomes ruined.
The Olympics should stand alone, pristine, as an athletic contest. One of the greatest international lessons of all time was dished out in 1936 when the Nazis hosted the Olympics. America’s Jesse Owens showed them a winner and Germany was powerless to repudiate him. Both the U.S. and the Olympics were empowered by this great black man’s win. We didn’t need to teach them a lesson as Jesse was breaking the tape. He did it for us.
We are going to be dealing with China for the rest of the 21st century for sure. We have many opportunities and places to chide them for human rights abuse. But the Olympics is not the place. They won the toss to host the games; let it be so.
The Chinese, if pushed and shoved at every turn, if ridiculed into losing face via the Olympics, will only turn combative and never join the nation’s democracies. They’ll shrink behind their borders and bide their time.
This is not the time or place to attack China for its shortcomings. That time and place stand elsewhere. We should be building up the new Chinese internationalism so they can more easily join the world. Soon enough, I feel they’ll shed the remnants of Communism and socialism and become nice little capitalists like others of us in the west. That will be preferable to turning them into furious hard-liners, militants nuclear submarine builders and aggressive enemies.
A spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down, to quote Mary Poppins.
Dorothy S - 5/5/2008 9:43 AM
Olympic athletes from China have performed well and are an important prat of the competition. The Olympics are first about the athletes and secondly about the country in which they are held. The very BEST thing that can come are games honoring this tradition. The opportunity for continued diplomatic talks on issues would be ——hopefully —an excellent outcome. If the games become one big battle zone of demonstrations, both the athletes and the chance for future diplomatic relations may “lose large” for years to come.
lin si - 5/5/2008 10:49 AM
I remembered I saw an article in the Times Online, it talked about “Olympic games is never a simple thing for a country”.
When people all around the world talk about it is whether or not a mistake to hold Olympics in Beijing, as a Chinese I hope people had better take it as a sport for the human being, not a political issue of China’s government.
Olympics means many things, such as friendship, brotherhood, peace and so on, it is for human being, not just for a country.
Holding Olympics is the dream for all the Chinese people for nearly 100 years, they are so proud of it that they want to show more things to let the world know China well.
When the torch relay finished abroad and began at home, every Chinese would like to see it in their hometown or in other cities. We know, the torch relay brings the hope and dream of human, when it appears beside us, we could feel the power of it!
Olympics is the door not only for China to prove itself, but also for the world to see what China is at present. We welcome every guest all around the world and we hope we could hold a great event for everyone who joins in it or enjoys it.
I expect the day, Aug. 8th in 2008, and I hope I have the chance to watch the basketball match in Beijing, and have a chance to see the performance of Kobe Bryant and have his signature.
Olympics is just the big party for human being. Let’s enjoy it!
Kate Bierd - 5/5/2008 9:43 AM
I will watch the games as always - the Olympics are my favorite sporting event. Sure, it might have been a mistake to hold the Olympics in China - but I’m not convinced that Americans have any right to judge human rights issues in any other country - that’s a bit like throwing stones. The world certainly stands to gain from visiting China, although I suspect we will only see what China wants us to see. Regardless, the Olympic spirit of international goodwill and athletic prowess bringing together the nations is never a bad thing.
Margo Porter - 5/5/2008 3:55 PM
Well put. The first time I saw the Olympic games they were held in Innsbruck, Austria. I was 8. Both my teachers and my parents it described as the one time when the whole world gets together to play no matter what. I have watched part of every Olympiad since. Even in my 8 eight year old mind I understood that this was really important. As I got older I came to appreciate the effort that goes into every facet of this event. I worked for a time at a company that was involved with the games and saw that the people who have been involved with the IOC (regardless of some minor corruption) see the games for what they are: A celebration of what entire an planet (of people) could be at its best.
Lastly we must remember, politically speaking the worst Olympics were probably the Berlin games. If African Americans and European immigrants could stomach competing (and excelling) while Hitler watched, if they were able to contain their fear and revulsion in order to represent the United States with pride and dignity in the face of what was a deadly and repressive dictatorship…
Then we owe the games and the athletes nothing less than our full support. As someone already posted, dialogue among nations is beneficial whenever possible. Besides right now, their biggest image os the U.S. is George Bush. Who still wants that to be our representative to the world?
A B - 5/5/2008 10:08 AM
If holding the Olympics in Beijing meant “predictable outbursts of protests”, where was the Monday morning quarterback when the “mistake” was made? Why do we have to politicize everything? The more open China is, the better. The more familiar we are with China, the better. Familiarity may breed contempt; however, far worse is ignorance, for intolerance is rooted in ignorance. Anybody see the New York Times Sunday book review? One book after another by authors from China. Let the games begin.
Mary Matthews - 5/5/2008 10:19 AM
First, I believe holding the Olympic Games in Beijing is a mistake if one believes in what the Olympics allegedly stand for — humanism, justice, peace, and individual freedom, for example. None of which is an ideal of the Chinese government. However, let us not forget that George Bush is financing his vanity war, not to mention the occupation of Afghanistan, by borrowing hundreds of billions of dollars from China and Saudi Arabia. If China were even to WHISPER that they MIGHT, SOMEDAY, not want to lend the U.S. any more money … well, the Great Depression would seem like a picnic compared to what would happen if China decided to demand payment of the hundreds of billions the U.S. owes. Bush is dodging responsibility for his reckless borrowing by saying he’ll attend the Games as an individual fan, not as leader of the free world. It stinks!
Elizabeth Flynn - 5/5/2008 11:27 AM
Mary - my thoughts exactly. we are in debt to the tune of $350+ billion to China. GW Bush will dance to whatever tune China plays. His scheming has us hamstrung in a snare with lethal potential.
Jenny Oops - 5/5/2008 9:45 PM
Bush said he was going as an individual and not as a leader of (pardon the expression) “Free world”. Lordy I did not believe that man could go any lower than he has already done — but, alas, he found another way to be wrong, wrong, wrong. Do you suppose he is thinking of paying China back with BUSH money? Now that’s a good idea! Hang on America, it’s gonna be several rough years, I think.
JMK Singer - 5/5/2008 10:23 AM
it is all about the athletes and the sport , the host country does not enter into it as far as my enjoyment of the contests.
I agree with AB, the more we learn about China the better. WIll they show only what they want us to see? You bet. But then do
show the world all our mistakes?
mary lou s - 5/5/2008 10:38 AM
chinese are more patient than americans. they are willing to wait until the dalai lama dies before installing their own phony version.
while it may seem premature to hold the olympic games there, it may be the runners’ last best chance to breathe and compete in china. let (my christian roots are showing here) the country without sin cast the first stone.
Ulla - 5/5/2008 2:32 PM
dear mary lou s … I sincerely believe that the current Dalai Lama will rather retire the tradition or find a new one than allow the Chinese government to further destroy the culture of the Tibetans … and Buddhists all over the world will no support a ‘phony version’ … it is most saddening that all the peaceful world-wide protests and efforts on behalf of the Tibetans do not seem to move the Chinese government, and only very few of the people in that so-called people’s republic … yet continuous effort/practice will prevail … namaste
Frank Peterson - 5/5/2008 11:04 AM
Didn’t the US boycott the Olympics in Russia one year> If so, we need to do it China and so should the rest of the free world.
Deni G - 5/5/2008 11:05 AM
Well, we are giving a good deal more attention to these issues, then they had before. That would not have happened, if it weren’t for the Olympics being held there.
And I am beginning to wonder where in the world they could be held. Whose hands are clean? At least the Olympic Games are shining a light in a dark corner.
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I think it is too bad that whenever there is any focus on a country for any reason, we choose to ally that focus with human rights complaints, so that the entire opportunity becomes ruined.
The Olympics should stand alone, pristine, as an athletic contest. One of the greatest international lessons of all time was dished out in 1936 when the Nazis hosted the Olympics. America’s Jesse Owens showed them a winner and Germany was powerless to repudiate him. Both the U.S. and the Olympics were empowered by this great black man’s win. We didn’t need to teach them a lesson as Jesse was breaking the tape. He did it for us.
We are going to be dealing with China for the rest of the 21st century for sure. We have many opportunities and places to chide them for human rights abuse. But the Olympics is not the place. They won the toss to host the games; let it be so.
The Chinese, if pushed and shoved at every turn, if ridiculed into losing face via the Olympics, will only turn combative and never join the nation’s democracies. They’ll shrink behind their borders and bide their time.
This is not the time or place to attack China for its shortcomings. That time and place stand elsewhere. We should be building up the new Chinese internationalism so they can more easily join the world. Soon enough, I feel they’ll shed the remnants of Communism and socialism and become nice little capitalists like others of us in the west. That will be preferable to turning them into furious hard-liners, militants nuclear submarine builders and aggressive enemies.
A spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down, to quote Mary Poppins.
Olympic athletes from China have performed well and are an important prat of the competition. The Olympics are first about the athletes and secondly about the country in which they are held. The very BEST thing that can come are games honoring this tradition. The opportunity for continued diplomatic talks on issues would be ——hopefully —an excellent outcome. If the games become one big battle zone of demonstrations, both the athletes and the chance for future diplomatic relations may “lose large” for years to come.
I remembered I saw an article in the Times Online, it talked about “Olympic games is never a simple thing for a country”.
When people all around the world talk about it is whether or not a mistake to hold Olympics in Beijing, as a Chinese I hope people had better take it as a sport for the human being, not a political issue of China’s government.
Olympics means many things, such as friendship, brotherhood, peace and so on, it is for human being, not just for a country.
Holding Olympics is the dream for all the Chinese people for nearly 100 years, they are so proud of it that they want to show more things to let the world know China well.
When the torch relay finished abroad and began at home, every Chinese would like to see it in their hometown or in other cities. We know, the torch relay brings the hope and dream of human, when it appears beside us, we could feel the power of it!
Olympics is the door not only for China to prove itself, but also for the world to see what China is at present. We welcome every guest all around the world and we hope we could hold a great event for everyone who joins in it or enjoys it.
I expect the day, Aug. 8th in 2008, and I hope I have the chance to watch the basketball match in Beijing, and have a chance to see the performance of Kobe Bryant and have his signature.
Olympics is just the big party for human being. Let’s enjoy it!
I will watch the games as always - the Olympics are my favorite sporting event. Sure, it might have been a mistake to hold the Olympics in China - but I’m not convinced that Americans have any right to judge human rights issues in any other country - that’s a bit like throwing stones. The world certainly stands to gain from visiting China, although I suspect we will only see what China wants us to see. Regardless, the Olympic spirit of international goodwill and athletic prowess bringing together the nations is never a bad thing.
Well put. The first time I saw the Olympic games they were held in Innsbruck, Austria. I was 8. Both my teachers and my parents it described as the one time when the whole world gets together to play no matter what. I have watched part of every Olympiad since. Even in my 8 eight year old mind I understood that this was really important. As I got older I came to appreciate the effort that goes into every facet of this event. I worked for a time at a company that was involved with the games and saw that the people who have been involved with the IOC (regardless of some minor corruption) see the games for what they are: A celebration of what entire an planet (of people) could be at its best.
Lastly we must remember, politically speaking the worst Olympics were probably the Berlin games. If African Americans and European immigrants could stomach competing (and excelling) while Hitler watched, if they were able to contain their fear and revulsion in order to represent the United States with pride and dignity in the face of what was a deadly and repressive dictatorship…
Then we owe the games and the athletes nothing less than our full support. As someone already posted, dialogue among nations is beneficial whenever possible. Besides right now, their biggest image os the U.S. is George Bush. Who still wants that to be our representative to the world?
If holding the Olympics in Beijing meant “predictable outbursts of protests”, where was the Monday morning quarterback when the “mistake” was made? Why do we have to politicize everything? The more open China is, the better. The more familiar we are with China, the better. Familiarity may breed contempt; however, far worse is ignorance, for intolerance is rooted in ignorance. Anybody see the New York Times Sunday book review? One book after another by authors from China. Let the games begin.
First, I believe holding the Olympic Games in Beijing is a mistake if one believes in what the Olympics allegedly stand for — humanism, justice, peace, and individual freedom, for example. None of which is an ideal of the Chinese government. However, let us not forget that George Bush is financing his vanity war, not to mention the occupation of Afghanistan, by borrowing hundreds of billions of dollars from China and Saudi Arabia. If China were even to WHISPER that they MIGHT, SOMEDAY, not want to lend the U.S. any more money … well, the Great Depression would seem like a picnic compared to what would happen if China decided to demand payment of the hundreds of billions the U.S. owes. Bush is dodging responsibility for his reckless borrowing by saying he’ll attend the Games as an individual fan, not as leader of the free world. It stinks!
Mary - my thoughts exactly. we are in debt to the tune of $350+ billion to China. GW Bush will dance to whatever tune China plays. His scheming has us hamstrung in a snare with lethal potential.
Bush said he was going as an individual and not as a leader of (pardon the expression) “Free world”. Lordy I did not believe that man could go any lower than he has already done — but, alas, he found another way to be wrong, wrong, wrong. Do you suppose he is thinking of paying China back with BUSH money? Now that’s a good idea! Hang on America, it’s gonna be several rough years, I think.
it is all about the athletes and the sport , the host country does not enter into it as far as my enjoyment of the contests.
I agree with AB, the more we learn about China the better. WIll they show only what they want us to see? You bet. But then do
show the world all our mistakes?
chinese are more patient than americans. they are willing to wait until the dalai lama dies before installing their own phony version.
while it may seem premature to hold the olympic games there, it may be the runners’ last best chance to breathe and compete in china. let (my christian roots are showing here) the country without sin cast the first stone.
dear mary lou s … I sincerely believe that the current Dalai Lama will rather retire the tradition or find a new one than allow the Chinese government to further destroy the culture of the Tibetans … and Buddhists all over the world will no support a ‘phony version’ … it is most saddening that all the peaceful world-wide protests and efforts on behalf of the Tibetans do not seem to move the Chinese government, and only very few of the people in that so-called people’s republic … yet continuous effort/practice will prevail … namaste
Didn’t the US boycott the Olympics in Russia one year> If so, we need to do it China and so should the rest of the free world.
Well, we are giving a good deal more attention to these issues, then they had before. That would not have happened, if it weren’t for the Olympics being held there.
And I am beginning to wonder where in the world they could be held. Whose hands are clean? At least the Olympic Games are shining a light in a dark corner.
Yo Deni! have a lovely day :-)