Protest China not the Athletes

Celebrations leading up to the Summer Olympic games have become the focal point of pent up animosity towards China. People understand that the Olympic games is a venue for the world’s greatest non-professional athletes to show off their abilities and to perhaps ‘bring home the gold’ for their respective countries. These events are eagerly anticipated by millions the world over. But the fact that so much protest is taking place this year shows the high level of disgust towards a regime that places so little regard for human rights.

The world’s citizens are fed up with people being treated as slaves to do the bidding of their nations leaders and they are taking any opportunity to voice their position. We cannot idly stand by and watch as voices are silenced because they don’t agree with national policy.

What does it say about us as a world community that the Olympic torch, a symbol of world unity and harmony, has to be protected by hundreds of police in riot gear to prevent overzealous protesters from dousing its flame? What has traditionally been a journey of celebration has been reduced to flash points of protest resulting in the arrests of those intent on showing the world their disgust towards China’s policies.

Those of us living in a civilized, relatively free world do not deny that China’s treatment of their fellow citizens is deplorable. And they should be brought to account for their actions against humanity in a world court. But, this journey of celebration is held for those athletes who have struggled and sacrificed to participate in and to achieve the greatness that their abilities deserve. To muddy the Olympic celebration and all it represents for the purposes of furthering your own agenda just denigrates their memory. Even if it is for the overall good of humanity.

Protest! Protest in any way you see fit except to extinguish this flame. These athletes deserve better than this.

That being said, I think the Olympics should be allowed to be held as scheduled but I believe the athletes should boycott them. This is a clearer and more pointed protest to both the Chinese government and the Olympic Committee for asking the world to temporarily ignore China’s record.

The protest is of course against holding any kind of celebration of human achievement within the borders of a country that denies basic human rights and freedoms to its people. The hypocrisy is just too much to accept. It is unforgivable that the Olympic Committee and China would ask a conscientious world to do this.

Denying these athletes their chance, possibly their only chance or last chance, to participate in this time honored tradition is not up to us. Allow them the right to make their own personal choice and respect their decision.

The Chinese government should bear the brunt of our protests not the athletes.