Beijing 2008: Genocide Olympics
By Miguel Alcala | Feature Editor
The government of China is a primary enabler of the Darfur Genocide, and it refuses to use its tremendous political and economic leverage to stop the genocide. Criticism of China and their human rights, or rather lack of, has been futile. Boycotts, resignations of artistic directors and of course, screaming "MURDERER!" at the guy who lost 400 pounds to run the torch through San Francisco has so far proved ineffective against a country impervious to criticism. Beijing’s foreign policy approach of "noninterference" in Sudan’s domestic affairs had made it a pinata at a birthday party of global opinion. And the attendees at that birthday party waiting in line for a whack a cast of celebrities including Mia Farrow, Steven Spielberg and George Clooney. Zeroing in on the 2008 Beijing Olympics, these celebrities have recently lashed out criticizing the Chinese government for not responding to the crisis in Darfur.
Threatening to disrupt the so-called "Genocide Olympics" will not bring peacekeepers to the troubled region. China has a multibillion dollar investment in Sudan’s petroleum industry, which is a much-needed source for its economy. No amount of criticism, even from George Clooney, could convince Beijing into choosing human rights over oil. Highlighting China’s human rights violations lets the U.S. and other countries off the hook. Beijing 2008: Genocide Olympics After all, it was the U.S. not China, not even the U.N. that invoked the label "genocide" to describe the Darfur crisis. Ending the situation in Darfur requires more than what China can offer. Boycotting will not persuade China into doing what the United States and Europe has been unwilling to do. Even if China were to step into the conflict, instead of turning a blind eye, "Hu’s"to say it would have much influence over the rebel movements? The West embraces human rights and international humanitarian law, China emphatically does not, so it would not be very good to have them as our moral compass now would it?
Pro-Tibet Independence groups have also been campaigning to boycott the Olympics in an effort to liberate the Tibetans. Freedom of speech, assembly and expression are only some of the human rights denied to its citizens, although guaranteed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The Olympics is not the right platform to protest China, protest has to be continuous, taking place long before China even campaigned to host it. Integrating politics into the Olympics destroys the spirit of the games. Protesters should continue to lobby for human rights around the globe, but to drag such a tradition into it would be dishonorable.
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Jun 01, 2008
