Voices against an Olympic boycott...

Two people I respect immensely, Fareed Zakaria and HH the Dalai Lama, on reasons NOT to boycott the Beijing Olympic games -- let me know what you think? Zakaria may be right that a boycott of the opening ceremonies, and not the Games overall, would be more effective. Others have pointed out this is unfair to the athletes, that punishing them does nothing constructive. I say Yes and No to that -- athletes are grossly over-paid, over-worshipped and over-congratulated in our society, so why do they need a multi-billion dollar celebrations of their accomplishments? It's the same way I feel about the Oscars, a bunch of overblown, self-congratulatory bullshit. There will just be more doping and corruption scandals anyways, so don't tell me it's about harmony between nations. Why don't teachers get an Olympics, people who actually help the world and deserve a parade? Sure, these world-class athletes have talent, dedication and drive, working on their craft; but so do all my friends in the arts, and for them, perfecting their craft is reward in itself. I went to one of the best universities on the planet, and none of my professors are being celebrated for their contributions to humanity. Why can't you just be an amazing long-jumper and go quietly about your business, why bring super duper ego into it?
Anyways, I am deeply contemplating what FZ and HHDL have to say, regarding my position about boycotting, so read the whole articles from the website, what do you think?

Don’t Feed China’s Nationalism
Public humiliation does not work nearly as well on the regime in Beijing as private pressure. Fareed Zakaria
“At first glance, China's recent crackdown in Tibet looks like a familiar storyline: a dictatorship represses its people. And of course that's part of the reality—as it often is in China. But on this issue, the communist regime is not in opposition to its people. The vast majority of Chinese have little sympathy for the Tibetan cause. To the extent that we can gauge public opinion in China and among its diaspora, ordinary Chinese are, if anything, critical of the Beijing government for being too easy on the Tibetans. The real struggle here is between a nationalist majority and an ethnic and religious minority looking to secure its rights.

In these circumstances, a boycott of the Olympics would have precisely the opposite effect that is intended. The regime in Beijing would become only more defensive and stubborn. The Chinese people would rally around the flag and see the West as trying to humiliate China in its first international moment of glory. (There are many suspicions that the United States cannot abide the prospect of a rising China.) For most Chinese, the Games are about the world's giving China respect, rather than bolstering the Communist Party's legitimacy…”


SEATTLE — The Dalai Lama said yesterday that he did not support a boycott of the Beijing Olympic Games.

Asked on NBC "Nightly News" whether he wanted the world to boycott the Olympics this summer, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader replied, "No." When the network asked whether he wanted the leaders of the U.S. and other nations to boycott the opening ceremony in support of Tibet and as a statement against China's recent crackdown there, the Dalai Lama replied, "That's up to them."

"It is very important to make clear, not only just the Tibet case, but in China proper" also, he said, adding that the human-rights situation in China is "poor ... very poor." Asked what his message to China was, he said: "My main point is: We are not against you. And I'm not seeking separation."