News out of Tibet has been grim. China’s brutal reaction to anti-government protests has left at least 20 dead. Thousands of army troops and police patrol the streets.
As the 2008 summer Olympic games in China approach, the calls for world leaders to boycott the opening ceremony of the games have grown louder.
We’re glad that no one is seriously talking about pulling athletes from competition, but the call for a leadership boycott of the ceremonial opening of the games makes us wonder: What will that accomplish?
Does anyone think that the absence, for instance, of Germany’s Angela Merkel from the opening ceremony is going to persuade the Chinese not to crack the heads of their citizens at the first sign of dissent?
China has an abominable record on human rights. This should come as no surprise. The International Olympic Committee certainly knew about that when it decided to award the games to China in the first place.
That decision was a mistake and the events of the last month in Tibet show exactly why.
History shows that boycotts have had little success. When the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979, President Jimmy Carter issued an ultimatum: The U.S. would boycott the 1980 games in Moscow if they didn’t get out.
The Soviets didn’t back down. The U.S. didn’t go to the games, and as payback, the Soviets boycotted the 1984 games in Los Angeles.
Sadly, the real losers in the boycotts were the athletes who had poured their hearts and souls into preparation and were denied a chance to compete.
The games are about brotherhood and competition, courage and performance. If world leaders want to take a moral stand on China’s repressive tactics, its treatment of dissidents or its detention of citizens without trial, then be forthright.
Hit them in the pocketbook. Pressure them through the United Nations.
Boycotting the opening ceremonies is certainly an easier way of expressing disapproval, but let’s not pretend it’s going to change anything.
