2008 Woodie Awards
The Greyhound Editorial: 2008 games force an American Stance
Issue date: 4/8/08 Section: Opinion
This summer, Loyola's own Phil Scholz will go to China with thousands of other American athletes for the summer Olympic games held in Beijing. This past week, Scholz won an impressive four gold medals and we congratulate him on his achievements. These 2008 Olympics come at a pivotal time. For many these games herald the host country's ascendancy onto the world stage as a rising power. For many Loyola students, the Olympic games mean a summer of competition and patriotic cheering. However, students should be aware of the injustices taking place in China. Widespread censorship of the crack down on peaceful protests in Tibet and surrounding countries, the imprisonment of journalists and monks, and the persecution of Tibetan Buddhists shows how far China still has to go in order to live up to the ideals of the Olympic games and those of the free nations participating.
The Greyhound -made up of students who enjoy inherent human rights, most especially freedom of press- believe these Games represent what is best about international competition between free and open societies. Much of the time Beijing has demonstrated it does not consider these freedoms to be necessary in the pursuit of its political goals. Accordingly some have called for the total boycott of the summer games. In response, President Bush remarked that the Olympics are not about politics but about athletics. However Beijing certainly will not ignore the political significance of these great games and is taking great measures to maintain an "acceptable" status quo.
Of course the United States is not clean of injustices. We know our history and we are coping in our present. Still, as a nation committed to human rights as a founding principle rather than a mere political convenience, we cannot simply ignore such widespread injustice for the sake of saving face.
Students should keep in mind that taking a moral stance is a free country's responsibility. Ignoring injustice should not be our country's attitude. At the same time, to fully boycott would be unnecessary and unfair to our nation's talented athletes and unfair to a China that may be open to change. Therefore the United States should at least show a sign of disapproval towards such systematic censorship and political persecution. One such way might be boycotting the games' Opening Ceremonies held on September 6. Keep in mind while the games are entertaining, the Olympics themselves stand for something larger than the sum of their parts. Gold is gold but the echoes of injustice will outlast Beijing, 2008.
The Greyhound -made up of students who enjoy inherent human rights, most especially freedom of press- believe these Games represent what is best about international competition between free and open societies. Much of the time Beijing has demonstrated it does not consider these freedoms to be necessary in the pursuit of its political goals. Accordingly some have called for the total boycott of the summer games. In response, President Bush remarked that the Olympics are not about politics but about athletics. However Beijing certainly will not ignore the political significance of these great games and is taking great measures to maintain an "acceptable" status quo.
Of course the United States is not clean of injustices. We know our history and we are coping in our present. Still, as a nation committed to human rights as a founding principle rather than a mere political convenience, we cannot simply ignore such widespread injustice for the sake of saving face.
Students should keep in mind that taking a moral stance is a free country's responsibility. Ignoring injustice should not be our country's attitude. At the same time, to fully boycott would be unnecessary and unfair to our nation's talented athletes and unfair to a China that may be open to change. Therefore the United States should at least show a sign of disapproval towards such systematic censorship and political persecution. One such way might be boycotting the games' Opening Ceremonies held on September 6. Keep in mind while the games are entertaining, the Olympics themselves stand for something larger than the sum of their parts. Gold is gold but the echoes of injustice will outlast Beijing, 2008.
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