Tibet China Olympics
The Associated Press

Anti-China protests in Tibet have brought a harsh crackdown.

Featured Topic | Posted 36 weeks 5 days ago

Should the China Olympics be boycotted?

It was hoped that the prospect of hosting the 2008 Olympics would force China to clean up its human rights act. Instead, that country remains deeply enmeshed in the tragedy of Darfur, supports the junta in Burma and, most recently, has been cracking down on protesters in Tibet.  Now, a top-ranking French official has suggested that a boycott of the Olympics would be appropriate.

Should free nations boycott the China Olympics?

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Ben likes: An Olympic-sized deficit of will

John Hall/Investor's Business Daily

In two weeks, China's Olympic celebrations begin with the start of the torch relay. In what can only be described as macabre political theater, the flame — representing the Olympic spirit — is scheduled to be carried through Tibet. I hope all the corporate sponsors of the Beijing Olympics are feeling good about how they decided to spend their advertising dollars.

Civilized countries should boycott the Beijing Olympics. If it is politically impossible to do so at this stage, participating nations, individual athletes and media representatives have a responsibility to publicly and frequently express their concerns about China's human rights record.

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Joel likes: China's true face

Wei Jingsheng/Washington Post

If the IOC doesn't move to put pressure on Beijing consistent with its obligations, it risks this Olympics being remembered like the 1936 Games in Berlin. Already, the spirit of the Olympics in Beijing has become associated with the word "genocide," thanks to Stephen Spielberg and the Dalai Lama. Indeed, if the IOC and the rest of the world do not pressure Beijing to stop the crackdown and improve human rights now, a boycott of the Games will widely be seen as justified.

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