Does an Olympic Boycott Make Sense?
As the Olympic torch makes its way around the world, amid much demonstration and protest, there has been an increasingly vocal discussion about whether the United States (and Canada…and many Western European countries) should boycott the opening ceremonies for the 2008 Beijing Olympics or even the games entirely.
The United States boycotted the Games in 1980, to protest the Soviet Union’s involvement in Afghanistan and robbed hundreds of atheletes of the chance to compete for an Olympic medal. History reminds us that few situations are as black and white as they may at first seem. (e.g. In 1980, the US was already planning its own covert operations in Afghanistan, activities which helped lead to the downfall of the Soviet Union.)
San Diego journalist, Tom Shanahan discusses the 1980 Olympic boycott in a thoughtful piece in this morning’s “Voice of San Diego.”
What do you think? Join the discussion by leaving a comment below and/or voting in our poll at right.
Tags: 1980 olympics, 2008 beijing olympics, boycottRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Beijing 2008
1 opinion for Does an Olympic Boycott Make Sense?
K L Young
Apr 16, 2008 at 4:23 am
Gov. officials don’t go but athletes may go if they choose to go. In a truly democratic society you can not order people what not to do as China used to do for thousands of years.
However, most of the world leaders would not dare not to attend the big shows because:
[1] They need China’s market, cheap products & cash deposits, a lot! &
[2] Tibet is neither Kuwait [oil anywhere in Tibet?] nor Israel [lobbyists loaded with fat checks?], what it may get this time is just lip services from our politicians and a lot of wise men of the FREE WORLD! DL knows it, so he tries hard to be pragmatic with no high hope from us except some help from his loyal friend Richard Gere.
With those hard facts in mind, let’s be practical in joining our leaders to salute in unison:
Viva Huge Market & Profits!
Viva Our Good Life!!
Viva Communists & Free World!!!
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