Olympics vs. Human Rights?
Mother Jones writes about the emerging debate surrounding the torch relay passing through San Francisco — and elsewhere in ‘Free Tibet’ vs. ‘Free-Speech Zones.’
Though now a symbol of global unity, the torch relay got its start during the so-called Fascist Olympics held in 1936 Berlin, when the Nazis seized upon the idea as a way to associate the Third Reich with ancient Greece.
The Olympics have often been linked with bursts of authoritarianism in host countries: Moscow banished its dissidents, Seoul shuttered its dog restaurants, and Atlanta booted its homeless out of downtown… In the wake of China’s recent military crackdown in Tibet, the imperative to expose its human rights record at the Olympics is clear, says University of Texas sports historian John Hoberman. “Human rights matter more than athletes’ rights.”
“Human rights matter more than athletes’ rights.”
And on the front page of the Globe and Mail this weekend, “How 3 Canadians Upstage Beijing” tells the story of three impressive young women. These Canadians have spent the last seven years organizing thousands of international volunteers to use the Olympics as a catalyst to “humiliate” the Chinese state in front of the world.
“We want to lessen the damage that can be done to Tibetans by shining as bright a light as possible on them, especially during the Games and this torch relay.”
“The Chinese government wants something from this; they want world acceptance. That’s why they’re taking the risk of inviting the world in for these Games. They want to be part of the club and to be liked. And our job as young activists is to deny them this, to tell them that their approach to Tibet is going to cost them something, it’ll cost them face. And loss of face is the most serious thing we can deliver.”
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3 terrorist-like professional protesters, that is. Professional protesters have no cause. They live to protest and they protest for living. They are destructive clowns and there is nothing impressive about it.
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