Should The China Games Be Boycotted?
I guess this is a question the Olympic participants and officials will have to struggle with. There are protests being held in a number of different countries to Boycott the 2008 Olympic Games because it has been reported that China sold weapons to the Sudanese Government, and as such enabled the brutal killings and genocides in Sudan's Darfur Province in Africa. Congressman Payne reportedly said during a recent interview "We must keep the pressure on China. I’d like to even see, if they continue to sell illegal arms to the government, that we should have a boycott of the Olympics in Beijing in ’08. It would be the blood Olympics, and we can’t let them have it both ways.” Congressman Donald Payne is chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health.
It would be a little ironic to boycott China right now since they are pretty much keeping our economy alive by providing loans, some of which monies I am sure is being used to fund other wars. We are so wrapped up in China right now what with manufacturing and all, that it would seem a little two- faced to just boycott the games. If you are going to make a statement regarding a Government's practices and beliefs you would have to do it right across the board, wouldn't you? That means not taking their money; retracting all manufacturing contracts and so forth. And, that, I would imagine, would be rather difficult to do.
This is why it is so important to think long and hard before becoming economic partners with other countries - because of economic politics. What is this relationship going to say about your views of the countries' beliefs, ideologies and practices. Right now there is an embargo on trade with Cuba, because of this county's disagreement with the views and politics of Cuba. North Korea is another country that US has a limited or no economic relationship with. Should the same go for China? Or does money trump politics in this case?
Olympic participants have waited so long and have worked so hard to showcase their various talents. Now they are faced with this political issue. I am sure this is a struggle for many of them. Should the China Olympics be boycotted?
Comments