Mahatma Gandhi

“I cannot teach you violence, as I do not myself believe in it. I can only teach you not to bow your heads before any one even at the cost of your life.”
I first must apologize for not posting in a while but I’ve been having serious computer issues and finally just had to get a new one. I thought this would be an appropriate topic considering the fact that the Olympic games are to occur soon and China continues to have issues with it’s human rights record. I think the quote above says a great deal about what isactually occuring in China as it’s government continues to suppress ethnic and religious groups like the Tibetan Buddhists and Muslim Uighur as well as imprisoning Chinese people in order to make the government look better so they aren’t protesting in the streets. The quote above deffinatly describes the Tibetans as they are a non-violent people and many have given their lives to attempt to gain freedom from the oppressive Chinese government. Those that protested had not died have been tortured if they were caught yet continue to strive for the dream. The Uighur have also revolted against the Chinese in a continuous, though less known fight for independance. Though they use different methods, an example being the recent riot which killed 16 of the Chinese security forces. I think it is a very viable question to ask. Is it really appropriate to have China host the Olympic games?
In my opinion it is about as appropriate to have the games in China today as it was to have in Germany during the 3rd Reich, it’s not. China’s deplorable human rights record, dangerous pollution levels and severe treatment of their athletes, some of which are children, makes it wrong to place an event that is suppossed to be the embodiment of the human spirit. Yes, it is a competition. Yes, everybody wants to be the best. Though it is a time when the world’s nations can come together in one place and exist in relative harmony, if only for a few weeks. To allow the event to take place in a country that through it’s own behavior disregards the meaning of the games is illogical.