Blogs : Brianna Glenn

Olympic Boycott

Amen!

4:50 PM, April 15, 2008 .. Posted by ladagen

Being a post-collegiate and chasing the same dream as you are I would have to agree with you in all areas. Two things that come to mind when thinking about boycotts concerning the Olympics are 1968 and 1980 (the team that didn't get to go), that's what scares me. These athletes worked hard to make this team only to have to watch from home, some retiring and never getting the chance to showcase there skills and hard work on the biggest stage. As you stated politics shouldn't be or stand but a focus on what we are attempting and trying to do. Without us training and competing the Olympics don't exist, but let that be our choice as athletes not anyone trying to win an election or a popularity contest.

The one thing that actually keeps us safe is that the “president” has stated that he was going to the Olympics (saw on CNN) so lets get ready to go. :)


Edited by ladagen on April 15, 2008 at 6:50 PM

Complexities

5:10 PM, April 15, 2008 .. Posted by tr400

This is undoubtedly a very complex argument. I agree that boycotting these Olympics would be a tremendous injustice on many fronts. As you said athletes have worked and dreamed of fulfilling this dream, and that dream should not be taken away by mindless, selfish people and interest groups who have all year and the other 3 in between the Olympics to raise these issues. Yes, China has its hands caught in the cookie jar for the world to see, but that is not the athletes dilemma to unfurl. China is an emerging global power in all aspects, not to mention holding billions of dollars of U.S. debt during our recent economic struggles. So in that regard, we must be mindful as a country of any decisions we make to maintain a fruitful yet stern relationship with China. Yes, they should be put on blast for the horrific events in which the are apart off, however using the Olympics as the stage to do it is down right blasphemous.


Edited by tr400 on April 15, 2008 at 7:14 PM

Amen to what?

3:01 AM, April 16, 2008 .. Posted by jh

Though the Olympics are a little less than a month so it’s Though the Olympics are a little less than a month so it’s hard to do the math exactly... but about 6,000 to 10,000 people die in Darfur in a month. I would think the greatest nation and its athletes could for one day (the opening ceremonies where Chinese culture will be praised and on display worldwide”) think about something other than their sport and live in the real world. I’m not hating on your opinion, but that’s the reality.

” They used their platform as athletes on the biggest stage possible” why wouldn’t we all do this? Then why are we here if it isn’t to do some good with what we have been given? Below is how china funds those 6-10 thousand deaths.
http://savedarfur.org/page/content/china_sudan_darfur
hard to do the math exactly... but about 6,000 to 10,000 people die in Darfur in a month. I would think the greatest nation and its athletes could for one day (the opening ceremonies where Chinese culture will be praised and on display worldwide”) think about something other than their sport and live in the real world. I’m not hating on your opinion, but that’s the reality.
” They used their platform as athletes on the biggest stage possible” why wouldn’t we all do this? Then why are we here if it isn’t to do some good with what we have been given? Below is how china funds those 6-10 thousand deaths.

http://savedarfur.org/page/content/china_sudan_darfur

so its not jumbled

3:05 AM, April 16, 2008 .. Posted by Anonymous

Though the Olympics are a little less than a month so it’s hard to do the math exactly... but about 6,000 to 10,000 people die in Darfur in a month. I would think the greatest nation and its athletes could for one day (the opening ceremonies where Chinese culture will be praised and on display worldwide”) think about something other than their sport and live in the real world. I’m not hating on your opinion, but that’s the reality.

” They used their platform as athletes on the biggest stage possible” why wouldn’t we all do this? Then why are we here if it isn’t to do some good with what we have been given? Below is how china funds those 6-10 thousand deaths.
http://savedarfur.org/page/content/china_sudan_darfur

in response...

3:31 AM, April 16, 2008 .. Posted by missbri

What I resent is people who say we don't "live in the real world" because we might not see the Olympics as the platform that this should be played out on. I NEVER said that something shouldn't be done...that we all shouldn't be concerned...that each and every one of us should not be outraged and appalled.

But you talk about "the greatest nation" doing something for one day. To me, that's a joke. China was granted the Olympics something like 7 years ago. And for years and years and years our 'great nation' has gone on trading with China and being buddies and all that other "political" stuff, and everybody sits and keeps quiet. And now we have this huge, positive event that is NOT supposed to be political, and everybody wants to use it to make a statement.

So yes, I say China should never have been granted the Games in the first place. But it is what it is. I want to be educated on what is happening in Darfur and what is going on in Tibet and I will have an opinion and speak my mind. But I also want the chance to be an athlete and live out my dream...

And if you really think that after this big spotlight that has been put on China, anybody will be honestly praising their culture, I would disagree. I think people will be celebrating the Olympic spirit and what it stands for, not for China. We may be athletes, but we aren't stupid.

Untitled Comment

4:20 AM, April 16, 2008 .. Posted by Anonymous

There was a bit of sarcasm in my "greatest nation" comment...
And I'm not saying let's doing something for one day that would indeed be a joke. But to say that we can't give one day that happens to be very publicized to make a stand against genocide and other injustice would be wrong. I agree I oly's should be about sport but for years and years they haven't just been about sport. So it is what it is. So why not take advantage of what it is and work toward change instead of acting like it isn't a political event at all. That's my point.

Untitled Comment

4:26 AM, April 16, 2008 .. Posted by Anonymous

And the opening ceremonies are about highlighting the host country's culture. Which is why boycotting them would show the world we don't agree with the way we do things.

Debatable

12:12 PM, April 16, 2008 .. Posted by ladagen

This whole issue about boycotting the games, the opening ceremonies, and what ever else is always going to be debatable. The question is WHY......was this country granted the games in the first place, by a governing body that represents the world. We all can sit here and voice our "opinions" until we are blue in the face, but what it boils down to is again the same problem that the world continues to with, which is money. We as athletes didn't decide where the Olympics should be the IOC did which represents all of the countries that will be represented at the Games. So why did THEY allow this, "publicly opinionated" wrong decision to happen? Like Bri said they gave China the Olympics 6-7 years ago this stuff was going on then so why complain about it now. Technically is too late, but now we can take a stand on it, by boycotting, but at who’s expense and experience? I’m I saying that what’s going on in China is right, NO, but why complain now. This has been going on for years and it hasn’t changed and what go will a boycott do? We took a stand, but the games will still go on and the problems in China will probably still exist

Here's a real question though we continue to question what happens in other countries, but yet we still can’t take care of home. Why is that? We have just as many problems as other counties but yet we fail to address them. Homelessness, poverty, gang violence, drug violence, THE WAR IN IRAQ, which has nothing to do with us. These are problems we've had for years, but yet we still had the Olympics here right?


Edited by ladagen on April 16, 2008 at 2:13 PM

opening ceremonies.

1:15 PM, April 16, 2008 .. Posted by missbri

I do not hold the same sentiments about the opening ceremonies as I do the Games. If Boycotting the ceremonies actually has a real impact and is a real statement that people would take notice of, fine. But the thing is, first you have the leaders of countries deciding if they will boycott or not. And I feel they as politicians should definitely consider what their presence means. Then you have the athletes. And honestly, a few athletes here or there will make no difference and no impact. It would have to be all or the majority of us to actually make a statement. And without a statement being made, there really is no point. Because a few people staying home for opening ceremonies does NOTHING for the people in Darfur or Tibet, nor do the people in China realize how we feel about their country and it's policies. I don't want to confuse some passive attempt with real action. It's like going up to an elephant and sticking him with a pin needle...he's not really going to feel it.

for thought...

4:05 PM, April 16, 2008 .. Posted by

"It's like going up to an elephant and sticking him with a pin needle...he's not really going to feel it."

Well then small men with big ideas should never try right? Martin and his silly dream... (Sarcasm again)

You'd be surprised what small things can move an elephant. A mouse of all things...one of the smallest can move the largest. We shouldn’t look at how big or small what we are doing is, but instead focus our convictions toward the goal. MLK never thought about how small an impact one sit-in in a diner would have on the entire world. Because when put into perspective it is relatively small. He simply followed his belief.

small/big

9:35 PM, April 16, 2008 .. Posted by missbri

I just feel like you are missing my point. That's fine, we can have a difference of opinion, it's the whole point of discussion.

I'm all for the David and Goliath mentality. Or MLK if you wish...

People need to follow their conscience and act accordingly. Just because some people might not feel as if a "boycott" of this or that is the answer to this particular problem, does not mean they don't care about the problem or are unwilling to involve themselves in some way.

I just really don't get everyone coming out of the woodworks NOW. where were you months ago? years ago? what have YOU been doing? these problems did not just arrive. Who was making an outcry to the IOC when China was awarded the games in the first place?

I just think it will be a sad thing if come September after the Olympics are all said and done, everyone with their mouths to a megaphone goes away and things go back to business as usual.