An Idea Whose Time Has Come

The violence in Tibet piles on yet another to boycott the Beijing Olympics (a few months ago, we noted the gag order being placed on Olympic athletes forbidding them from criticizing China and its totalitarian policies).

And there’s finally some talk of doing…well, something:

Moves to punish China over its handling of violence in Tibet gained momentum Tuesday, with a novel suggestion for a mini-boycott of the Beijing Olympics by VIPs at the opening ceremony.

Such a protest by world leaders would be a huge slap in the face for China’s Communist leadership.

France’s outspoken foreign minister, former humanitarian campaigner Bernard Kouchner, said the idea “is interesting.”

Kouchner said he wants to discuss it with other foreign ministers from the 27-nation European Union next week. His comments opened a crack in what until now had been solid opposition to a full boycott, a stance that Kouchner said remains the official government position.

The idea of skipping the Aug. 8 opening ceremony “is less negative than a general boycott,” Kouchner said. “We are considering it.”

I’m all for negative, but it’s a start.

2 thoughts on “An Idea Whose Time Has Come

  1. It’s a tough call.

    On the one hand, I feel sorry for individual athletes who train their entire lives to be the best in the world, only to be denied a chance to prove it because their government wants to make some political statement that won’t change a thing in the long run.

    On the other hand, if anybody shows up in China and spends one dollar there, it’ll be legitimizing the commie regime and ratifying all it’s done in preparation for the Games, including crushing dissent.

    Tough call. Maybe approve visas for athletes, coaches, and families, but nobody else – no tourists, no govt officials?

    .

  2. We sent athletes to compete with Hitler’s. Let ’em go to China. Just set up some satellites that broadcast freedom messages into China and North Korea, non-stop, during the Olympics. We have enough nerds now who can do technical things like that. Make it happen – stir up revolt under the guise of sporting competition.
    I was just wondering if either China or North Korea has a hockey team.

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