Beijing Boycott?

China's increasing crackdown in Tibet has many calling for a boycott of the Olympic games hosted in Beijing this summer. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said today that President Bush should consider a boycott and French President Nicolas Sarkozy suggested a possible boycott of this summer's games last week. When viewing the terrible images of the crackdown in Tibet, it is natural to want to do something. The first thing that comes to mind is to boycott the summer games hosted by China in an attempt to send their government a message and affect social change. We also must consider if it is proper to use the Olympic games as a political weapon. The aim of the games is to promote global brotherhood and make us realize what we all have in common. This only happens every four years. We have the rest of the time to argue our many differences. Given the differences between nations that are not likely to subside in the near future, if countries boycott this year then some country is likely to the next time. Where does it end? What of the worlds athletes who have trained so hard for so long? One thing is for sure. If there is to be a boycott many nations must be together in this effort. Only then will it have any meaning or chance of making a difference.


My Grandfather's America: Tragedy In Tibet