Journal pudge's Journal: Bush Should Boycott Olympics 15
Until now I didn't really care: while I have my issues with China, I am all for setting aside differences, when possible, for the Olympics.
But now China is banning American Olympians from the Olympics. And they are arresting protestors, and evicting them from their homes.
So much for the Super Awesome Smiling Beijing Traffic Police.
I dunno. Maybe Bush shouldn't actually boycott. It would be powerful to say, "yeah, I am already in China, but if you don't let our Olympians come, then I will just go home myself," but then again, that might be more harful for our relations with them in the long run. That's a decision for Bush to make. But if he doesn't boycott, he should at least say a lot against China while he's there. He's already spoken out in general terms about Chinese human rights abuses, and he should specifically address their latest violations, especially against our American Olympians. Maybe he should wear one of those black masks.
(Now, I realize it is possible that Cheek and and Zanotto were actually banned for good reason, but while China maintains that they do not have to give a reason, that should be considered unacceptable to us. China deserves no benefit of the doubt.)
China has a golden opportunity to turn things around for themselves here, at least in terms of public opinion, and they are muffing it.
Cross-posted on <pudge/*>.
I'd like to see some nuance (Score:2)
wherein he covers the gamut of the major topics,
falls short of criticizing China, but just damns them with faint praise.
E.g.:
"China's principled stance during the recent unrest in Myanmar steered well clear of exacerbating the problem."
IOW, something which, parsed sentence by sentence, is relatively innocuous, yet, taken as a whole, paints them as a collection of asshats.
You'd need a Tony Blair to deliver such, alas.
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I do not want to see that.
They banned two of our decorated Olympians from the Olympic Games for no stated reason, and probably the only actual reason was they were afraid of mild protests that would make China look bad.
This should be addressed directly.
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probably the only actual reason was
Boss, the actual reasons may not be public knowledge. Possibly your asessment correct, but the incident in question is nowhere near the head of the list of objects that have passed between the two countries.
US/China relations across the Diplomatic, Informational, Military and Economic (DIME) dimensions of national power is about as gnarly as it comes.
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Boss, the actual reasons may not be public knowledge. Possibly your asessment correct, but the incident in question is nowhere near the head of the list of objects that have passed between the two countries.
Of course, but symbolically it is going to be of great importance. They are banning our decorated Olympians. From the Olympics.
Remember, politics is about appearances as much as anything else, and this holds doubly true for international politics. For Bush to let this slide will undermine anything else he does or says, because it will make him appear weak against the backdrop of this significant offense.
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A relatively boring two weeks of rah-rah, or
some fairly heavy duty crap coming down.
Snubs like this go on frequently, sometimes for un-obvious reasons.
The complexity of the Chinese situation is such that another Tianemen Square is a very real possibility.
If China comes through with the two weeks of rah-rah, there will probably be some heavy post-event partying amongst the people who're sweating the security.
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Snubs like this go on frequently, sometimes for un-obvious reasons.
Yes, and the more high-profile it is, the more importance it necessarily has, and the more peril there is in us just letting it slide. Especially when it comes to Asian nations. It is extremely important for us to allow China to save face, but it is almost as important for us not to lose it.
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to some vague international standing we may have held at one time,
but mysteriously lost at some point through cosmic ball-fumbling which,
while tragically debilitating in the present tense,
can be miraculously cured through an uspecified sequence of hand-waves
ushering a glorious future full of maximum swellness for all.
And if you buy none of the preceding, you might be considered a racist.
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I knew there was a catch somewhere.
he should stay and speak out about it (Score:1)
Using the Olympic games as a political tool is a crime against humanity and is unnecessary.
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Yes, I think that is probably the best thing to do.
Why did he go in the first place? (Score:2)
How many Presidents actually go to the Olympics?
It is not like it is required.
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That's not possible! Bush goes it alone! He doesn't work with other nations!!!
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I guess I included the article for the general information that Presidents don't normally attend foreign Olympics and not the rest of it.
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I think he should go. It's a good thing. It's a great sign to the Chinese people. I just want him to speak out in support of our banned Olympians, and other things, while he's there.