It’s hard to believe I’m about to say this, but…I agree with Bush.
Yep. It’s true. I think he’s right to go to the Olympics and not make a big issue of human rights. Here’s why:
1.) This is the Olympics, after all. It’s a sporting event that is supposed to bring the world together. Ideally, it should not be politicized. Yes, sometimes it is necessary and appropriate to inject politics into the Olympic Games. But let’s be honest: Beijing in 2008 is not Berlin in 1936, or even Moscow in 1980.
2.) When it comes down to it, the United States has very little leverage over the Chinese government on the human rights issue, and especially at this particular moment in time. The Chinese are hyper-focused on having the Games run smoothly. The Games are, in a sense, their coming out party, and their pride is on the line. The Chinese will deeply resent any serious political moves on the human rights front and their response will likely be more crackdowns. This is the opposite effect desired.
3.) Our protestations ring pretty hollow, given our own poor human rights record of late. I find it rather embarrassing that the American human rights community feels more compelled to pressure Bush to pressure China on human rights than it feels compelled to pressure Bush to stop torturing prisoners or to shut down Guantanamo. I suggest we focus, first and foremost, on getting our own house in order.
3 comments:
Ooo, Peter, I don't agree. The IOC only gave China the olympics because they thought it would be a good way to open the country up, and to apply international pressure for basic freedoms and human rights. In fact, my understanding is that there were certain rights-related conditions on which hosting was supposed to be contingent. But from all accounts, Beijing has simply called the IOC's bluff - the regime is cracking down on dissent harder than ever, knowing that there's nothing to be done at this late date. And they figure they can muzzle objections to it enough - and press coverage - so that it's better than the alternative. I'm not sure if Bush should go or not, but the Beijing olympics has been politicized from its inception.
Dan,
I should have mentioned this in the original post: Bush not going at all would have been fine with me. But since he is going, I think making a big issue of human rights is clearly a bad idea.
Having the IOC's bluff called, and China's poor behavior does not change the reality that any action now will just make things worse--for dissidents, for US-China relations, and for the Games.
Oh my goodness! The Chinese government is imprisoning people without due process! It's using its military to force a political solution on a country it invaded with little justification, and cracking down on protesters in that country! It's spying on internet and phone communications with foreign countries - again without any judicial oversight! Oh my god! What godless, arrogant communists! SURELY it's the duty of EVERY American citizen to stand up to such ridiculous, paternalistic, immoral and outrageous abuses . . . unless they happen in our own country.
Bush not going to China for the Olympics would be the equivalent of erecting a huge neon sign on the capitol that said, "Hello, World? We are Big Fat F$#%ing Hypocrites."
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