Genocide Olympics?
The Wall Street Journal published an op-ed piece today that I found intriguing. Unfortunately, it is available on-line only to subscribers; but the gist is here:
The ‘Genocide Olympics’
By Ronan Farrow and Mia Farrow
“One World, One Dream” is China’s slogan for its 2008 Olympics. But there is one nightmare that China shouldn’t be allowed to sweep under the rug. That nightmare is Darfur, where more than 400,000 people have been killed and more than two-and-a-half million driven from flaming villages by the Chinese-backed government of Sudan.
That so many corporate sponsors want the world to look away from that atrocity during the games is bad enough. But equally disappointing is the decision of artists like director Steven Spielberg — who quietly visited China this month as he prepares to help stage the Olympic ceremonies — to sanatize Beijing’s image.
The authors go so far as to evoke the memory of Leni Riefenstahl’s notorious filming of the 1936 Olympics.
I would be interested in reactions from dotCommers.
on March 28th, 2007 at 8:42 pm
Few can credibly deny that there has been ongoing genocide in Darfur.
China is Sudan’s main trading partner. It consumes 2/3’s of the oil Sudan produces, which accounts for about 5% of China’s oil needs. China sells weapons to the Sudanese government, and China’s economic involvement has undoubtedly propped up a very repressive regime. The growing condemnation of China’s support for the Sudanese government may be starting to register on the Chinese government’s radar. China’s leader recently visited Khartoum, and though he defended China’s support for the Sudanese government, he also encouraged a larger UN peacekeeping and humanitarian role in the country. Not much, perhaps, but the fact that he visited Sudan may herald that China is finally paying attention to the growing calls that countries boycott the Beijing Olympics–China’s tightly-orchestrated spectacle and announcement to the world that the country has arrived as a world power and will be a major player in the 21st century. Chinese leaders don’t want their show spoiled in the least, and perhaps this is an Achilles heel that can be capitalized upon. That is why some commentators are urging that the focus should be on working to shame China, by publicizing and criticizing its role in Sudan before the Olympics take place, instead of actually boycotting the event.
For myself, I also wouldn’t mind more publicity and concerted criticism about China’s forced assimilation of the people of Tibet and the destruction of their culture.
on March 28th, 2007 at 9:45 pm
This seems strange. The inaction over Darfur is a scandal, but pinning this on China seems a stretch. To borrow some Catholic lingo, the cooperation in evil seems on the remote side. The more promixate cooperation with evil comes from China’s treatment of its own people, including Catholics, And of course, we can never forget the massacre at the “Heavenly Peace Gate” square.
on March 29th, 2007 at 11:11 am
I don’t agree that it is that much of a stretch. If China were not so interested in the oil that Sudan provides, they might be willing to allow U.N. action. And, as the WSJ piece points out, Chinese money is also helping the Sudam regime to finance the genocide in Darfur. So that’s too simple? I don’t see why. Any pressure that can be brought on China through the Olympics to right any wrong seems like a good idea to me.
How can anyone say that “the cooperation in evil seems on the remote side”. What is remote about about blocking U.N. action?
on March 29th, 2007 at 12:31 pm
Joe is right on the nail!
I think Morning’s Minion should spend some time in africa with Mr. Kristoff.
The recent Chinese tour of Africa was so much bound up with increasing trade and power there and so unconcerned with the horrors taking place that our lack of reaction is indeed a scandal!
on March 29th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
Father Imbelli, what is it that the Farrows want us to do about this? I can’t tell from the snip what kind of action they’re trying to provoke.
on March 29th, 2007 at 3:19 pm
Jean,
As it happens we subscribe. The Farrows want to urge certain large corporations and certain influential persons who are very much involved with the 2008 Olympics that if they do not bring it home to the Chinese government that it is inviting criticism by its policies in support of Sudan, they themselves may be open to criticism as supporters of and collaborators with a government in China that is complcit in genocide in Africa. Among corporations that they mention are Johnson & Johnson, Coca-Cola, General Electric and McDonalds. They also challenge Steven Spielberg to open his eyes to the irony of his work on behalf of the Olympics in view of his having started the Shoah Foundation to record the testimony of holocaust survivors.
on March 29th, 2007 at 3:44 pm
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on March 29th, 2007 at 3:44 pm
From: Terrence
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Beverly Hills, California
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Blog sites can get one of 365, $1,000,000 money, not stock, money-Awards at settlement. A major boycott is the most powerful social instrument known to history.
American adults can get $1,000 to $1 million in free, Founders stock in Federal Beneficial Automatic-IRA SportsBOND Commission, when issued.
Free, no fees, period. Intrinsic $ billion-a-day turnover can get Wall Street’s highest valuation. The largest public stock issue ever, i-Boycott-required.
Here’s the reason:
GODZILLA rampages: Dumbest mistakes by Big Media - Silence about (1) Iran’s Action Plan for Holocaust II, (2) anti-Semitic violence in Europe, and (3) genocide of over 3,000,000 Black Christians in south Sudan.
KING KONG roars: The GREAT SPORTS FANS REVOLT.
Advertiser-boycott required: All NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL home games must be broadcast. NFL: 4 nights a week. NFL 20-game season, no pre-season.
(A) GET YOUR FREE SHARE: American adults can get some billions of dollars in National Honor Awards. It’s Remorse-Apology money to you. Boycott target is a fast-food, TV advertiser that, in national crisis-scandal above, invites the 100 largest TV advertisers to meet = a pleased nation. First target: GE/NBC.
(B) YOU CAN GET FOUNDERS STOCK + MONEY simply as a genocide Abolitionist. Reserve potential $1,100.00-a-day for you, in 2-minutes-a-day. Any day, every day. For example, 100, free, fun, Count-me-in emails from pals = potential $110,000.00 to you.
Pals can do the same. You: a total hero or heroine to your friends.
Free. No fees to anyone ever.
(C) 100 people times 100 people X 100 people = exponential 100,000,000 Americans in weeks = top of the news for months = your wealth achieved. APOLOGIES if this money-power comment is off topic. Get the free wealth: Adobe.pdf titled WALL STREET
at The Street’s Big Blog: http://biggorilla.typepad.com
on March 30th, 2007 at 10:25 am
Is it just me who is confused by the substance and meaning of comments posted from Beverly Hills?
I know it can sometimes be difficult to articulate ideas, but, surely, Mr. McCloy can do better.
on March 30th, 2007 at 1:33 pm
Spam, perhaps?
on March 30th, 2007 at 2:18 pm
You mean it’s not true that I can get “FOUNDERS STOCK + MONEY simply as a genocide Abolitionist.”
You’ve ruined my day, Joseph. ;)
on March 30th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
Maybe it’s time to forget about the Olympics altogether - or at least stop treating them as some sort of inspirational international unity event. They are more like the Super Bowl - only not as interesting and way too long.
on March 30th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
I agree with you, Sean. Though there are still individual instances of pure sportsmanship and inspiration, IMO they’ve been drowned out by the almost entirely commercialized and greatly jingoistic nature of today’s Olympics. Pampered millionaires (a/k/a US Men’s Basketball Team) living in luxury hotels far from the Olympic Village…Rampant doping and steroid use…Embarassing nationalistic displays (e.g., the now ubiquitous victory lap by the winner while he/she is wrapped in the flag of the winner’s country)…Brand name advertising everywhere…Many big name athletes flying in to compete, then quickly flying away when their events are over. It’s not like “Chariots of Fire” anymore (if it ever was). ;)
on March 30th, 2007 at 9:08 pm
I agree that the Olympics is simply another product placement opportunity, and there isn’t much of that underdog drama like the Jamaican luge team or whatever it was.
I think boycotting goods made in China makes more sense than boycotting Olympic sponsors, though, not only because of it’s domestic policies and involvement in Sudan, but because of the growing trade deficit.
on March 30th, 2007 at 9:27 pm
A related development:
Mia Farrow was in Boston yesterday to support a bill aimed at withdrawing State pension fund monies from companies doing business in Sudan.
Here’s part of the Globe’s story: http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/03/30/patrick_to_push_sudan_sanction/
While Sudan has drawn worldwide condemnation, numerous foreign firms, many of them Chinese and European oil companies, have aggressively pursued business there. The bill would pull about $103 million from these firms, according to state estimates.
Farrow, an actress who has served as an UNICEF goodwill ambassador, showed lawmakers a slideshow of photos she took on four recent trips to the region and told them of her talks with displaced villagers.
“Even above the plea for water, even above the plea for food, was the plea for protection,” she said.