Boycott The Olympics?

April 8, 2008

It’s becoming a fad to jump in and give your two-cents about the summer Olympics. The tragedy in Tibet and the ruthlessness of the Chinese in handling the situation has a lot of Holly wood stars up in arms. But not to be left out are the ambitious politicians who are looking for fifteen minutes of fame (can you say exposure?). Would you believe 5 minutes? Could someone give them ONE? Can we boycott the Olympics please? The opening ceremony at least?

Many leaders and politicians are now coming out to boycott the opening ceremony. Now, I’m sure that will have a major impact, don’t you? But the most exciting thing to watch is the attempt at getting the torch to China. There have been all kinds of problems even at this early stage.

The torch barely made it out of England and France is proving even more difficult.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has threatened to boycott the Olympic Games’ opening ceremony unless China releases political prisoners and opens a dialogue with the Dalai Lama. And organizers canceled the final leg of the Olympic run through Paris after chaotic protests Monday, snuffing out the torch and putting it aboard a bus in a humiliating concession to protesters decrying China’s human rights record. We have a torch on a bus?

Where’s the OSHA regulations when you need them?

Meanwhile, not to be left out and needing some minutes of fame, Hillary Clinton took her stand today. Hillary is calling on Bush to boycott the Olympics opening ceremony. Leaders led by German chancellor Angela Merkel have made plans to boycott the opening ceremony to press China for its crackdown in Tibet. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has also suggested boycotting the August 8 opening ceremony.

The Tibet crackdown is good political fodder.

The violent clashes in Tibet and the failure of the Chinese government to use its full leverage with Sudan to stop the genocide in Darfur are opportunities for Presidential leadership. So where’s McCain and Obama on this? I am sure they’ll be heard from. Won’t everybody get on this band wagon?