Diplomacy, Diversity, and Human Rights: Beijing 2008

In 1980, along with several other nations, the United States chose to boycott the Olympic Games in Moscow, the capital of the Soviet Union. The move, a political one by President Jimmy Carter, was due to the fact that the United States did not want to attend in a Communist nation, which they viewed as a violation of human rights, not having a democracy. With talk of boycotting the Games in Beijing, China this summer, I wanted to look at the issue from both angles.

In terms of international unity, attending the Olympic Games would be a smart move. Putting aside petty issues such as politics to enjoy and celebrate the talents of people from almost every nation is a mature thing to do. So what if certain countries want to run their nation differently? The United States cannot tell other countries to do. At recess it is called bullying, internationally it is being a relentless superpower. What is funny is that Yale nerds who become politicians were likely bullied in school...but this is not a psychology article. I'll save that for another time.

Back to Beijing though. Before I bring in the whole issue of Tibet, I'd like to point out the negatives of the Olympics in China in general. For one, the Games, like many places in the world, are not held in just one city. Due to space and terrain, there are generally several locations within driving distance of the main center. This was the case with the Winter Olympics in Turino, Italy.

In order to even have space to build large stadiums and hotels for athletes and fans to stay in, the Chinese government chose to use a policy I like to call "Habeas Corpus on Steroids" to kick people out of their homes with one days notice and then begin construction on these sites. In one situation, two million people were left homeless and displaced over a twenty-four hour period. Smaller cases in the same vein have occurred all over northeastern China. Flagrant human rights violations!

Then there's the issue with Tibet. The United States should understand well what it is like to be mistreated by another nation, and then revolt to become independent. Or so I wish. Tibet wants to be free of Chinese rule, and because of the way they are treated, countries that support Tibet will choose not to attend. As an American citizen though, I'm curious as to whether or not our athletes will be allowed to attend. There is certainly an interest and support for Tibet based on bumper stickers, and the sold out speeches by the Dalai Lama himself in places such as Ann Arbor, Michigan.

So I'm left confused. Grow up and accept diversity in government systems? Or break the silence with action in the belief of human rights violations? This all being if the recent earthquake did not level everything.