Are you following the Olympics this year? Did you see the Opening Ceremony? The fireworks, drummers and floating Olympic rings? Are you excited about the Games? Did you see Stephanie Rice win gold? Did it make you feel proud to be Australian?
Or have this year’s games been tainted for you by the dissent that’s been levelled against China, because of its lack of regard for human rights?
A couple of days before the Games started, US President George Bush said in a speech in Bangkok that "America stands in firm opposition to China's detention of political dissidents, human rights advocates and religious activists.” But he also said he was in China for the sport, and not for politics.
What are this year’s Olympics about for you?
Comments (3)
My church's men's group got together the other night to watch the opening ceremony on TV. Beforehand we prayed for China's human rights situation. While we enjoyed the ceremony and the Games as a sporting event, we couldn't overlook the political issues that come with them.
Posted by Ross | August 13, 2008 11:55 AM
Posted on August 13, 2008 11:55
I don’t support a boycott, but the Games are a chance, while the world is watching, to press China for change.
Without change China will carry on executing more of its citizens than any other country in the world, it will continue censoring the media and the Internet and it will continue locking up and torturing those who try to stand up for their rights and the rights of others.
What happened to the promises China made in its bid for the Olympic Games? Who will hold them to account?
Liu Jingmin, vice-president of the Beijing Olympic Bid Committee said, in April 2001: “By allowing Beijing to host the Games you will help in the development of human rights.”
Isn’t political. To stand up for human rights is to stand up for the values enshrined in the Olympic Charter.
http://www.uncensor.com.au
Posted by kim | August 11, 2008 7:33 PM
Posted on August 11, 2008 19:33
The Olympics have never been about politics and hopefully will never be about politics. Traditionally the Olympics are about getting the best of athletes from all over the world to compete and show their amazing talents. The Olympics bring the world together while politics separate the world.
If Georgia and Russia thought the Olympics was about politics then imagine what the Olympics would become like. If everyone thought the Olympics were about politics, imagine what the spirit of the Olympics would be like.
As for China's lack of regard for human rights, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone". Australia is guilty of the deaths of countless Aboriginals. Britain takes some responsibility in the same deaths, in the deaths of huge amounts of slaves and also supplied Opium to Chinese people against the Emperor's will. America has been guilty for the deaths of how many African slaves and Native American Indians. And how many countries are willing to exploit cheap Chinese labour for small luxuries.
Maybe when we become perfect countries we can point the finger, but for now let's just be thankful that there is at least one event in the world that can bring us all together in peace every 4 years.
Jess
Posted by Jessica Erskine | August 11, 2008 11:05 AM
Posted on August 11, 2008 11:05