If you've seen the news recently, you've probably seen something about the 2008 Olympic Games that are happening in China. You've also probably seen some things about how the Dalai Lama is leading protests against the Chinese government and their occupation of Tibet.
The Chinese government has recently gone as far as shooting and killing monks and nuns that were protesting the governments actions. China is also synonymous with a poor human rights record, not to mention censoring the media and isolating it's people.
Now, I don't care to debate the politics of all this (the above info was just added to bring people up to speed who may not know)...my question is: How should Christians react to the 2008 Olympics in China? Do you think that's a silly question? Do you think it's none of our business? Or are you concerned with the people living under the Chinese government?
Should we boycott? Should we ignore it and not think twice about watching? Should we just not watch it but otherwise not mention it? Should we talk about it? What do you think? It's an issue I've been struggling with, since I love to watch the Olympic Games when they're on. I feel like maybe these are the issues that us Christians just ignore, seeing them as 'worldly' or 'political'...and I'm not sure that's how Jesus would see them.
Whatta ya think? What's does God call us to do in this situation?
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Boycott
I actually think that our government should boycott the games as well. I say we shouldn't participate at all...no American entrants, no corporate sponsorships, no TV coverage. Although that might seem hypocritical since we didn't say anything when it was announced that they would be held there.
As Americans, we supposedly stand for freedom and "inalienable" rights, not just for us, but for the world. At least that's what we claim and have used to justify military actions in the past. China has been a perpetrator of crimes against these ideas for decades and we've just gotten all buddy-buddy with them, pretending that these things don't exist. If we can go to war to defend "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" for all the world, we can certainly decline an invitation when a nation that seems to hate these things tries to welcome us in like it's no big deal.
As Christians, I think we also have a responsibility here. God created us to be free people, and he went to great lengths to offer us ultimate freedom after we screwed it up. As a result, we should not support any nation that murders innocents and maintains a culture of slavery.
Additionally, we know how important faith is in our lives, and how wonderful and precious the freedom to express it is. The Dalai Lama and his followers don't believe the same way we do, but they do believe and they have a right to express that, as we do. Also, we hear about the atrocities committed against the monks and nuns of these different faiths, but we should also remember that the Chinese government commits crimes against Christians as well. It is against the law to practice or evangelize in that country, and if God is not welcome there, then we as Christians can respond to that.
What an awesome opportunity to show this country and the world that the church is still relevant and in touch with the struggles we face as a larger community of HUMANS? In the 60s, members of the church marched on Washington to show the government that they would not tolerate the poor treatment of minorities any longer. What if the church today did something similar in opposition to the same tregedies happening to people on the other side of the world?
Freedom?
I think we need to be careful with the word freedom. So often this word is used in ways that points to freedom from everything, including God.
Let me try to be more descriptive... God created us to be free to love him. Yet, freedom from God means death. God didn't make us to be completely free. He made us to be in a relationship with him. Complete freedom would be in an absence from him.
Can we really be free from everything? If we are free from God we are in sin. If we are free from sin we are tied to God and stand in his grace. Freedom from one thing means being tied to another.
God did tell us to love one another. I think it would be better to focus on loving them than being about freedom. Christ said to love one another. He didn't tell us to try and free everyone. While this distinction might be subtle in many circumstances it's important for us. Let's keep the focus on Gods way and not our quest for freedom.
That said, a boycott is an idea. I doubt it will happen. Are there any other groups organizing to take action on this? I'd be interested to know what others are doing. I think we need to take some action here.
Way to focus on one word, Matt. =0P
Way to focus on one word, Matt. =0P
Just kidding. =0)
Anyways, to backtrack, I do not believe that freedom, in and of itself, is an attainable, or even ultimately desirable, goal. What I'm talking about, specifically, is the freedom to exercise faith and life in our world. I can walk out on the streets and sing praises to whomever I like here, including God. I do that in China, I'm likely to end up behind bars, or worse. That's not freedom. Maybe it's superficial when you consider the grand scheme of our relationship with God through Christ, but it's relevant to our lives, for sure.
Or look at it this way...what if a government forbade you from doing the things God told you to do? God says don't eat potatoes, yet the government mandates that potatoes will be the only food accessible to you. God says do not kill, yet the government says you must (which happened in Nazi Germany). Christ says tell others about Him, and the government makes all public mention of faith or religion punishable by death. That's a government impinging on your freedom in Christ to do the things He's asked of you, and the kind of freedom that we're ultimately talking about here.
That being said, a boycott won't happen...not on a national level at least. We're already too in-bed with China, and many of the people that really have a hold on government's strings (business) would lose out if we did it...which means it won't happen). I'm sure there are some small protest groups willing to do something, but nothing big enough to mobilize a large portion of the population with the conviction necessary to convince Americans to forego watching the latest 14-year-old gymnast flipping around for a few days in order to make a statement about human rights.
Hehe
Sometimes I go a little overboard. I just hear people take freedom too far everyday. They want complete freedom to do what they want and, yet, they go to church every day.
As for the Olympics, I started talking to my coworkers about it and was pretty disturbed at what they had to say. Most were completely unaware that China was bad in the human rights department. And, none of them cared that China was bad.
Unfortunately, that's the
Unfortunately, that's the tendency. Especially since our government and businesses have been working so hard at putting forward the idea that China is our best friend. All that other stuff is downplayed.
By the way, if anyone is interested in checking up on this, here is a good page that summarizes all of the various human rights violations commited by China in recent years from Amnesty International, THE organization monitoring human rights crimes across the world.
The big thing that relates to us as Christians is the lack of religious toleration there. I've heard accounts from missionaries to China who have to disguise Bibles to get them into the country to hand out to people. As you can read in the above AI summary, protestants and Catholics have tried to create "home churches" where believers can come together in their own homes to worship and do God's work, and officials raid these homes and arrest those they find there.
China has, it seems, started to take some steps to curb all of this, but from the looks of it, it's more to satiate the rest of the world enough to get them to invest there and continue to be friends with them. There doesn't seem to be any real change in the hearts and minds of the leaders there and certainly no official protections.
The other thing, as you mentioned, Matt, is that most people just don't care. That's the Chinese problem, not ours. And that may be true, to an extent, but we don't have to support it like we do.
Supporting China
We all support China. I bet even you two support China financially. Our stores and car lots would be near empty if all products having even a small connection to China were recalled. http://www.made-in-c...
We live in a country where we want the best deal, and let's face it, we get our deals on the backs of underpaid, poorly treated workers. Most of us couldn't afford things made solely in the US...if those products even exist.
That said, what can be done about it?
She's right.
Oh, you're absolutely right, Bridget. No doubt.
Unfortunately, this is a mess that we're already in too deep to get out anytime soon, if ever. All of this has been built on the backs of bad policies and now we're stuck with it. And most of it is just based on fear. Why is China on the UN security council? Why embargo Cuba because they're communist, yet get closer with world's only communist superpower? The summary that you'll typically get is simply this...they have a crapton of people and nuclear capability.
What can be done about it?...(Here's another biggie that will never happen)...end globalization. Either that or start doing it right.
Olympics displacing poor
Did anyone see the national news report last night about China bulldozing whole communities to make things nice for the olympics? 100's of thousands of poor are being displaced. No mention of other housing and lots of heart wrenching footage of poor and disabled and elderly crying in the streets while their homes have been destroyed.
Now of course, we need to realize that the journalists may be leaving some of those details out for the sake of a good story, like whether new homes have been provided, but I think the nugget of the story's still pretty ugly and a tragedy of human suffering. The fact that it's purpose is to make China, accused of terrible human rights problems, look good to the rest of the world makes it even worse!
That alone would be enough to make me turn away from it all in disgust.
http://www.cbsnews.c...
http://www.opendemoc...
http://www.timesonli...
So Sad
This is so sad. I'm not just talking about what's happening to these people but the response we have had in general as a people.
Our turn
I agree, Matt. At some point, standing by and saying/doing nothing brings responsibility for the outcome. So many atrocities in history happen because the "silent majority" or just those with integrity fail to speak up. I think the fact that this instance is directly connected with the olympics moves it from politics to everyone's responsibility. I now think we should boycott.
boycott?
When you say boycott, are you meaning the US participation or us watching them? One would cause great waves and one would cause little if any.
Options
I guess I was thinking personal boycott, but also figuring out which government figure I should express my concerns to. Personally, I think it's probably time for free people, including Americans, to make some waves, but in a constructive way. I think it's time for our country to make a statement about it, at least, rather than stand by and pretend it's not happening. I think our involvement makes us responsible for the outcome, if we stand by without objecting. I would like to see us limit our involvement somehow - otherwise we're actually supporting China's policies.
To me, it does make a difference that the current awful news is directly related to China's preparation to welcome the world and look good doing it. it just seems wrong to play that game with them while people continue to suffer.
I'm a hesitant activist unless I can see a constructive way to make a difference. I'm not real sure what that would be, but it's weighing on me. Any ideas?
Nothing good
I don't really have any good ideas. I will share something that husband brought up that I had not thought about. He said having large groups of US citizens boycotting by not attending and not watching will likely only hurt our athletes emotionally and financially. Sponsors will not want to pay for athletes that are not being watched.
I have a hard time knowing what to believe through the media and I don't have much time to search. I also wonder how many other Olympic sites destroyed housing. I know low income housing in Atlanta was to make way for the Olympics. Was housing destruction done in a more humane way in Atlanta versus Beijing? Maybe.
You should also check this out:
http://www.i-olympic...
Good stuff
Good stuff here bridget. I think we need to be careful to be 'fair' and that's what you're promoting here. We always need to keep this perspective on these issues.
It makes them even harder to deal with (forcing the 'grey area' rather than making it black and white) which is more often the situation in which truth can be found instead of just a 'yeah, they're EVIL' idea. Thanks for keeping it grounded.
Hard to know, BUT...
Thanks for the good thoughts Bridget. I'm with you...I'm very distrustful of media spin and feel like I need to do hours of research before I know what to believe, and most disturbing, what to act on.
I agree that we just don't know the truth in the issue of destruction of housing for Chinese poor, or even whether they were given other places to live. I don't know what we or other countries might have done on that same issue, except that in a country where there is free press, we probably would have heard and objected if it were done so cruelly here.
Having said all that, I'm still concerned about the responsibility we have as a nation and as Christians who love others, to not just shrug our shoulders and go along with something that looks so wrong.
I have to agree with Bob about a presidential boycott. While the athletes represent all countries in a general way, our president represents the will and values of the American people. officially. Maybe encouraging that would be the best route. Too, I would like to see any boycott focus on issues related to the olympics, rather than generally in criticism of many offensive differences with the Chinese government. I think that focus might be most fruitful, while still an example of the bigger problem.
As for a concern for the athletes...it would be too bad to discourage them. However, I think that is a very minor issue compared to the misery of oppressed people. I would hope that American athletes would be sympathetic to the effort, as Americans who believe in the value of human life and liberty that they enjoy.
Anyone know the best way to encourage a presidential boycott? To whom do we express our concerns and how?
The same channels as always
I would think that the easiest way to urge a presidential boycott would be the same channels we always have open to us. Contact our senators and representatives and tell them how we feel. Possibly even try to contact the White House directly. Phone calls don't always work, but maybe letter-writing.
The only other way would be to march on Washington and let him know that way.
Call for Presidential Boycott
I don't know how much merit this has...but Hillary has called for Bush to boycott the opening ceremonies at the olympics. I'm pretty sure other countries are already doing this....This could be just another headline-grabbing political ploy...but it sounds like it's not a bad idea.
read about it here
Presidential boycott isn't enough...but likely all we'll get
When I say boycott, and I speak only for myself here, I mean that the United States should not send athletes to the games or participate in any way (not send judges, etc.). Anything less would just be an empty gesture, since only that has any real weight behind it. Heads of State have boycotted the opening ceremonies before on various occasions, and it doesn't make waves at all. In most cases, the world barely even notices.
However, since the U.S. didn't say anything when Beijing was originally selected years ago, doing something extreme could come off as a publicity stunt against China, rather than a nation standing on principle.
There are some who are already doing something by protesting the torch relay. Here is a story about the protests expected to accompany the torch when it lands in San Francisco. If you haven't heard already, there were protests in Paris and London last week that even turned somewhat violent.
Also, my wife and I talked with some friends about this over the weekend, and one of them brought up the issue of the athletes. The argument is that boycotting hurts them the most and they've been training and working for this their whole lives. I have two responses. First, saying that I don't support the U.S. participation in the Olympics is one thing, and it doesn't translate to a lack of support for our athletes. That's like saying just because I oppose the war in Iraq, I hate our soldiers and our military. I feel bad that they have to be stuck in the middle of this. Second, shouldn't they be upset about this as well? I'd like to think that if someone told me that giving up one competition (albeit the biggest of them all) might give a voice and hope to thousands, even millions, of people who didn't have one, I would be willing to make that sacrifice. Now, it's not right for me to assume that everyone should make the same decision I made, and I wouldn't blame anyone for not taking that stand, but the point is still relevant, I think. They still have local, national, and international competitions to compete in, and for some, another chance in 4 years.
Also, someone said that it would be wrong to politicize the Olympics, which are nothing more than a grand athletic event, bred from the spirit of competition, etc. The Olympics has always been political...always. Whenever separate nations are involved in anything together, things are political, and the Olympics has a long track record of it.
Having made made my bold, sweeping proclamations, I will now retreat to my everyday life, knowing full well that I will likely do nothing more than not watch the Olympics on TV when they happen, just like the vast majority of Americans will, even those who do care. =0/
Just a little more
You've given us more food for thought, Brett.
It's easy for us to take the moral high ground and say the athletes should take issue with participation, but it's not our decision to make. I think it would be super cool if a big group of athletes from many countries took a stand and choose not to participate and said why. It could be a great sacrifice on their part if the Olympics go on as usual. They have great potential to send a powerful message that all people matter and that it's not ok to treat others poorly.
Sure, we could make a decision to not watch, but what difference would that make? We could watch Law & Order reruns on TNT or the Discovery channel instead or maybe even spend more time with our families. WE would benefit, the Chinese probably couldn't give a hoot, they will get their money anyway.
I am not an economist...But, what would happen if we all boycotted Chinese goods? Who would suffer? The Chinese government or the people we want to help? Could this make a bigger difference? I don't what considerations this would involve. I had a friend in high school that boycotted Proctor and Gamble due to their use of animal test subjects Do you think it made a difference? To her it did. She felt good...there it is, sometimes I think we try our hardest and only come away with us feeling better about ourselves rather than making a difference. I am not implying that little things don't matter, I completely believe that little things do matter. But, when it comes to changing an entire country a little gesture won't cut it. I guess I feel just what Carol wrote...I am all for being an activist, but where do I put my energy. I just wonder what can I (we) actually do to get the attention of the Chinese forces that think it's ok to execute thousands, use slave labor, hold political prisoners, have no regard for the environment, harvest organs...the list continues...
So, any of you five that read this have any goods ideas?
Olympic Spirit?
What about the spirit of the Olympics? The Olympics isn't really about the host country, it's about people coming together from all over the world to excel and achieve and push themselves to higher levels.
Of course I'm not saying that a blind eye should be turned to China's behavior. I'm not saying that a boycott isn't a good idea.
But I do believe in the ideal that the Olympics generally try to embody, and I think the whole point of the thing is that it's not about any of us as countries or the mistakes we make. It's about all of us as the world and finding common ground.
If we boycott China as the host country, why don't we boycott any athletic event in which they participate?
Why do we only care about China's human rights violations when the Olympics are on?
I have no answers, only more questions...
Tough Questions
The question of how far we should go is a tough one. Do we accept it all? If we did this we couldn't be vocal to a lot of garbage. Do we not take anything at all? If we did this we would have to boycott ourselves for our own sin.
For me, there is always a purpose behind it and one that is for Gods good. Would I boycott a sinful athlete? No. Would I boycott something associated with a country if I felt it might bring about some good change? Yes.
These seem to be good questions for us to ask ourselves.
Responsibility vs. International Politics
I agree that the goal of keeping international politics separate from the Olympics is a valuable one. This is a great venue for developing peaceful relationships with people around the world in ways that our politics would not allow. I do not think the Olympics is the place for us to suddenly demonstrate disapproval of China's human rights policies.
However, I think the issue becomes one of national and individual responsibility for everyone participating, when the actual preparation for hosting the Olympics rides on the back of terrible human abuse of the Chinese people, as we seem to be seeing in the case of China this year.
How can we send athletes and spectators - and even our president - to enjoy the luxury of new buildings and grounds that were created to make China's hospitality and image look wonderful, without urgently protesting the terrible cost in human suffering that was exacted to make it possible?
I do think that going on with the Olympics probably serves God's purpose in the world. I believe it's important to develop relationships with the people of China and the rest of the world, outside the barrier of our international politics.
I do NOT believe we can, with integrity, support their cruel actions directly related to the Olympics by seeming to go along with them.
I believe that doing so makes us personally and nationally responsible for the 100's of thousands of Chinese poor who are being made homeless and destitute for our enjoyment. I believe a significant and highly visible protest is required if we are to participate at all, however that is done. At this point, the president has said he will go, and obviously we are still participating. I don't know, perhaps the worldwide demonstrations have already made the point.
There's a principle here that I feel is important to apply across our lives and culture. We are personally responsible for the actions of any group we are a part of - at least to the extent we are able to make a difference through Christ-like actions. That goes for our nation, team, work group, and our church. Integrity and our changed lives as Christ followers compel us to take seriously our role as His Ambassadors, wherever He's placed us.
Not a new thing
The funny thing to me is that people keep saying that this uproar against China is just because they have the Olympics this year. While I'll agree that it's certainly gotten more attention lately, this isn't a new issue.
People have been protesting China's policies and questioning why the US maintains such a close relationship with a country that clearly stands in oppposition of its ideals for decades. Groups like Amnesty International has been reporting on the slave labor system that imprisons political dissenters, the violent tactics taken to repress democracy at all costs, and the stiff-arm policies of what is really the only communist powerhouse left from the Cold War for quite some time.
The only difference now is that the Olympics are being held there, so the average American is being made aware. And those who have been against China for so long are taking this opportunity to hopefully exert their position. There are a great deal of Americans that are "jumping on the anti-China bandwagon" now, but that's mostly because this is the first they've ever really heard of what's been going on.
Maybe the Olympics isn't the best place to draw the line in the sand. But if not, what is? What better opportunity would so many world leaders be given to take a stand and say, "enough is enough...we're not going to turn the blind eye any longer?"
Like "Schneck," I don't have any hard answers to offer, mostly because we are now so in bed with China that cutting off all connections would have potentially drastic results domestically. But I don't think that just because it's the Olympics, we should put all other things aside, especially since, in planning for the Olympics, they've done the exact same things they've been doing for years.