Olympic Boycott

[sabreur]

Surprised none of you wannabe pundits has raised this yet:

http://www.slate.com/id/2187280/

[mrbiggs]

The logical holes in those arguments are nearly overwhelming.

The South African athlete argument seems a bit weak. First, saying that the boycotting of the Olympics caused the end of the apartheid seems a stretch at the least and at most disrespectful for the many people who created change inside South Africa as opposed to just banning a few athletes from competing. Second, during the Cold War the opposite sides boycotted each others' Olympics, which didn't accomplish anything. And I don't buy that some missing Western athletes at the Beijing Olympics will cause China to withdraw from Tibet.

Hitler did use the Olympics for propaganda, but I don't think that's the point of what the Chinese are doing. Or, at least, not in the same way. I'm sure that highlighting their country as an economic success and valuable trading partner with other nations is important to them, but they're not trying to promote the idea of a perfect race. No one who's angry about Tibet is going to change their mind just because China hosted the Olympics.

The third argument says that the Olympics are a place for demonstrations, then later says that the purpose of the Olympics is "to promote international peace by encouraging healthy competition between nations". There's no "also having demonstrations if two countries disagree politically" in there.

[Epee_Pox]

Surprised none of you wannabe pundits has raised this yet:

http://www.slate.com/id/2187280/

Why is it deserving of comment? I haven't read it, is it worth the time?

[Lemonaide]

Pundit checking in......

I approve of the boycott. I love the olympics, but I respect the boycott more. China shouldn't be most favored and I wish we wouldn't borrow money from them, I would rather borrow from Europe.

Pundit...out.

[Slim]

Surprised none of you wannabe pundits has raised this yet:

http://www.slate.com/id/2187280/

Not surprising it's gone without comment here. A boycott of the Olympics would mean that some athlete's one and only chance to compete in these games would be gone. They would miss their chance to compete in the ultimate sporting showcase, and all the name recognition that could go along with winning a medal. And if you ask most of them, they would probably say to keep sports and politics separate.

Although, I remember seeing some footage of a world cup (I think), with a group of US fencers making some comments about Darfur. If they want to use their time in the spotlight to comment on political issues, I wonder how they would feel about a boycott?

[sionnach]

Pundit checking in......

I approve of the boycott. I love the olympics, but I respect the boycott more. China shouldn't be most favored and I wish we wouldn't borrow money from them, I would rather borrow from Europe.

Pundit...out.

It's amazing how so many people in favour of boycotting the Olympics have houses full of cheap Chinese made clothes and electronics. They have no problems with denying athletes who have trained their entire lives their dreams but when it comes to spending a few extra dollars on goods from other countries all of a sudden their morals are nowhere to be found.

[keith]

It's amazing how so many people in favour of boycotting the Olympics have houses full of cheap Chinese made clothes and electronics. They have no problems with denying athletes who have trained their entire lives their dreams but when it comes to spending a few extra dollars on goods from other countries all of a sudden their morals are nowhere to be found.

Hypocrite.

[Capt. Slo-mo]

Although, I remember seeing some footage of a world cup (I think), with a group of US fencers making some comments about Darfur. If they want to use their time in the spotlight to comment on political issues, I wonder how they would feel about a boycott?

That was US Cadet epeeist Graham Wicas, at the 2006 Cadet/Junior World Championships. In the post match interview, following his World Championship win, Graham relegated his medal to second class importance behind what was then going on in Darfur.

Based on that, if Graham was on the US men's epee Olympic team, I suspect he might have some pithy comments about China.

[sionnach]

Hypocrite.

How so?

[keith]

How so?

oh about what I'm not sure but given your devotion to ethical absolutism you must be a hypocrite about something

[sionnach]

innocent until proven guilty

[Epee_Pox]

It's amazing how so many people in favour of boycotting the Olympics have houses full of cheap Chinese made clothes and electronics. They have no problems with denying athletes who have trained their entire lives their dreams but when it comes to spending a few extra dollars on goods from other countries all of a sudden their morals are nowhere to be found.

So if I buy underwear that was made in China, I therefore have no standing to criticize China for its human-rights abuses?

Interesting thought. In other words, if I myself am slightly imperfect, I shouldn't point out anyone else's wrongs, no matter how wildly disproportionate their wrongdoing may be in comparison.

So you're allowed to judge me, and call me imperfect, and deny me standing to criticize China. How come you can judge me, but I can't judge China?

[sionnach]

How come you can judge me, but I can't judge China?

Because i'm perfect.

jk I actually do support your right to criticize China while wearing inexpensive Chinese garments. I'm just fervently against people asking athletes to make the huge personal sacrifice of missing the Olympics when they make no sacrifices themselves.

[Slim]

That was US Cadet epeeist Graham Wicas, at the 2006 Cadet/Junior World Championships. In the post match interview, following his World Championship win, Graham relegated his medal to second class importance behind what was then going on in Darfur.

Based on that, if Graham was on the US men's epee Olympic team, I suspect he might have some pithy comments about China.

I didn't particularly get the impression from that brief interview that anything was being relegated. It was comment he chose to make using his time in the spotlight that addressed a political issue. But my point is that if an athlete is willing to use their platform to voice their political views then they've crossed the line between sports and politics.

[Philistine]

So if I buy underwear that was made in China, I therefore have no standing to criticize China for its human-rights abuses?

No--you have every right to criticize China, and wouldn't be hypocritical to do so. I think what is being argued is hypocritical is not making small inconveniences in your life for a purpose while criticizing those who are not making large inconveniences in their life for the same purpose.

Interesting thought. In other words, if I myself am slightly imperfect, I shouldn't point out anyone else's wrongs, no matter how wildly disproportionate their wrongdoing may be in comparison.

Probably not if the disproportion favors the other person....

--Philistine

[Lemonaide]

I think I've had a bit too much of the poor athletes 'one and only chance". Please, those people have so many trophies and so many success stories and so much support and donatations behind them they have so much trash accumulated they don't need another thing.

The right thing to do is simply right, it receives its' own medal of honor recorded in the annals of history. People do not forget the brave few who give up something for another person's dignity. There is actually no need to take to the streets, but as an athlete, I simply would refuse to go. That is what a boycott is. It just means "don't buy the product".

[sionnach]

I think I've had a bit too much of the poor athletes 'one and only chance". Please, those people have so many trophies and so many success stories and so much support and donatations behind them they have so much trash accumulated they don't need another thing.

I know! Rebecca Ward is a millionaire several times over at this stage with all the suitcases stuffed with cash that have been thrown at her! She's been on the gravy train for years now!

[Capt. Slo-mo]

Damn! I'm breaking into her house and getting me some of that gravy train largesse!

Now where would a teenager keep her suitcase full of NCAA-illegal cash?

[keith]

Now where would a teenager keep her suitcase full of NCAA-illegal cash?

Probably all gone on prepaying for the booze and drugs at college.

[Neinteen]

Boycotting the Olympics is stupid. I can't imagine why anyone would.