Don't Let China Silence Protest

The New Republic: The Chinese Government Is Preventing Athletes And Activists From Making Political Statements

(The New Republic)  This column was written by The Editors.

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Even before the opening ceremonies, the Olympics got off to a bad start for the United States: The U.S. women's soccer team, ranked number one in the world, looked uninspired in an upset loss to Norway. At least the American soccer players were allowed to enter China, though. The same cannot be said of Joey Cheek, the American speed-skating gold medalist who planned on attending the Olympics as a spectator and co-founder of Team Darfur, an international coalition of athletes that promotes awareness of the Darfur genocide. The day before he was set to leave for Beijing, Cheek was notified by Chinese authorities that his visa had been revoked.

The snubbing of Cheek is part of a predictable pattern. At least three other members of Team Darfur, including 2004 synchronized swimming bronze medalist Kendra Zanotto, have also had their visas revoked. Meanwhile, two American and two British citizens were arrested and deported for unfurling a pro-Tibet banner outside the Olympic stadium.

If the Chinese government insists on preventing athletes, spectators, and activists from making political statements during the Olympics, it is incumbent upon those competing in the games to respond appropriately. We're pleased to observe that some are already distinguishing themselves in this regard. Forty Olympic athletes have signed an open letter to President Hu Jintao urging China to improve its human rights record, and German fencer Imke Duplitzer, a silver medalist four years ago, announced she would skip the opening ceremonies in protest. Also impressive was the decision by the American delegation to have runner Lopez Lomong carry the U.S. flag at the opening ceremonies. Lomong, a member of Team Darfur, is a Sudanese native who was taken from his parents by rebels at the age of six, grew up in a refugee camp in Kenya, was adopted by a family in upstate New York, and became an American citizen last July after attending Northern Arizona University.

These are the kinds of actions we envisioned when we called upon athletes to make their voices heard during the Olympics ("Gold Meddle," October 22, 2007), and we hope there will be many more -- and more vocal -- political statements made by athletes during the course of the games. It would also be nice if the International Olympic Committee and American Olympic officials could see fit to defend the free-speech rights of their athletes. "He's not part of our delegation," U.S. Olympic Committee CEO James Scherr said in response to Cheek's visa revocation, which he described as being "between the [Chinese] government and Joey as a private citizen." On the contrary, with the eyes of the world focused on Beijing, it's a matter of the utmost public significance whether the Chinese government succeeds in intimidating would-be protesters into silence.

[hober_mallow]

I''m a wuss.

I said I was going to boycott the Chinese Olympics on NBC, but instead I''ve watched the games every day.

[noloyalisti]

I am not saying the current neo con fascist regime in America is as bad as China. But should we really be the ones to preach, we who did illegal torture and rendition, terrorist invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, and locking up Americans without charges?

The GOP fascists and Wal-Mart and other corporations who are profiting along with China want us to be like them.

[hasher471]

I''m not a fan of China''s human rights recorded.
I am a fan of honoring a country''s sovreignty.
I am also a true believer the the Olypics is about sports NOT politics.
I remember how mad I was when Carter pulled our Olypics team from the Olypics for political reason.
These people train for literally years and years to get a chance to compete. They shouldn''t be used as pongs in a political game of chess.
I agree when what NOTFOOLED said. If a individual Olypian wants to make a statement...there''s plenty of time after the come home.

[bluestardad]

THERE IS NO PLACE FOR POLITICS IN SPORTS!

IF CHINA IS GOOD ENOUGH TO BANK ROLL THE NEOCON WARS IN THE MIDDLE EAST FOR BUSH AND CHENEY THEY SHOULD BE LEFT ALONE DURING THE OLYMPICS!

[dashortround]

This article really should have been about:

"Don''t let America silence protest."

Why?

"Protesters sue to get closer to GOP convention"

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-08-11-republican-convention_N.htm?csp=15

[hypnotoad72]

I disagree. China wants to hold itself up as a world leader but without excepting the responsibilty that goes along with it.

It''''d be a little like having Charles Manson hold a tea-party at your local daycare.

The leaders of China are authoritarian thugs who murder people who disagree with them - this is a perfect forum to embarass them for their behavior.

If not now, when?

Posted by notfooled
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Point taken. But then, they''ve let (how many) products filled with lead and other dangerous substances go through in our ''global marketplace''? Hardly actions of a responsible leader, I''d wholly agree. So, perhaps, what they are doing regarding clamping down on athletes'' chattering is for the wrong reason?

Dunno. In the end, I''m just glad I''m not a politician for a living.

[notfooled]

I can''''t blame them; these venues are about the sports and NOT irrelevant bickering of any topics. Seems fair, equal, and just.

Or, if they do want to make a statement (who doesn''''t?), let them win their awards or whatever, come home, then say what they want. But keep it outside the games. They aren''''t there to bicker. I may as well study chess, go to the world chess championship, then whine about the ongoing battle between Aspartame and Splenda and which one''''s better for diabetics. :rollseyes:

Leave the ersatz meandering to the Emmy awards and the celebrities who froth at the mouth over them. The tv/movie/media industry lots its dignity a long, long time ago.

Posted by hypnotoad72 at 04:17 PM : Aug 11, 2008

I disagree. China wants to hold itself up as a world leader but without excepting the responsibilty that goes along with it.

It''d be a little like having Charles Manson hold a tea-party at your local daycare.

The leaders of China are authoritarian thugs who murder people who disagree with them - this is a perfect forum to embarass them for their behavior.

If not now, when?

[hypnotoad72]

I can''t blame them; these venues are about the sports and NOT irrelevant bickering of any topics. Seems fair, equal, and just.

Or, if they do want to make a statement (who doesn''t?), let them win their awards or whatever, come home, then say what they want. But keep it outside the games. They aren''t there to bicker. I may as well study chess, go to the world chess championship, then whine about the ongoing battle between Aspartame and Splenda and which one''s better for diabetics. :rollseyes:

Leave the ersatz meandering to the Emmy awards and the celebrities who froth at the mouth over them. The tv/movie/media industry lots its dignity a long, long time ago.