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Uh-oh, she's doing that thinking thing again....
Tuesday, April 1st, 2008 10:26 pmI know there are a lot of people calling for the United States and other countries to boycott the Beijing Olympics, thanks to their idiocy in the latest Trouble With Tibet. And I can understand that.
However...
I don't think we should. Yeah, yeah, yeah, you can argue lost revenue, and losing face, and all that. Yes, hit them with the big ol' giant pocketbook, that'll larn 'em! And normally, I'm all for that. But not this time.
Why?
Well, let's take a look at what the Olympics are, aside from a massive sporting event. Yes, it brings in lots of tourism dollars. Yes, it brings a great deal of prestige to the countries who host it. But, on the other side, to a country that is basically a closed society that has an iron fist to control its press, and any information that goes out (or at least it tries to), the Olympics are a PR nightmare.
Think about it. I'm sure the Chinese government has assured themselves over and over again that they have covered every single possibility and eventuality. But there is going to be press from every single country on this planet there. More than there would usually be at an Olympics, in fact, because this is China, and because of how badly they've "handled" the protests in Tibet. Mrs. Grundy will be there in full force, and if there is one truism for all societies, gossip and bad news travel faster than the speed of light. You won't be able to take a step in China without tripping over foreign press. With satellite linked cameras. And microphones. They are going to be under the biggest, most intensive microscope known to mankind for two weeks. Two weeks, people. This could be the best thing to happen to Tibet since the Dalai Lama, and y'all want to waste it on a boycott??
Besides, Olympic boycotts tend to smack more of kids sitting off to the side, arms folded over their chests as they grumpily huff, "I'm not playing with you any more!" Did our 1980 boycott force Russia out of Afghanistan? No. All it really achieved was making them so sore at us that they boycotted the 1984 Olympics, which made us basically shrug and say, "Oh well. MORE GOLD FOR US!!!!"
No, no, no. Go to the Beijing Olympics. Spend lots and lots of money there. Lots. And ask a lot of nosy, uncomfortable questions. Be sure to wear your "Free Tibet" shirts, or anything orange. Poke into corners, and open doors, pausing to look innocently at irate guards and say, "What? I thought this was a restroom!" Take lots of pictures. Lots and lots, and post them to the internet. Post videos to the internet. Show them that they opened Pandora's Box, and now must pay the consequences. They who dance must pay the fiddler. So Beijing will discover that to host the Olympics means opening doors they would much rather keep shut.
Oh, yes, let us DO go to Beijing, and show our support of Tibet, by shoving that door WIDE open!
I'm just sayin'...
However...
I don't think we should. Yeah, yeah, yeah, you can argue lost revenue, and losing face, and all that. Yes, hit them with the big ol' giant pocketbook, that'll larn 'em! And normally, I'm all for that. But not this time.
Why?
Well, let's take a look at what the Olympics are, aside from a massive sporting event. Yes, it brings in lots of tourism dollars. Yes, it brings a great deal of prestige to the countries who host it. But, on the other side, to a country that is basically a closed society that has an iron fist to control its press, and any information that goes out (or at least it tries to), the Olympics are a PR nightmare.
Think about it. I'm sure the Chinese government has assured themselves over and over again that they have covered every single possibility and eventuality. But there is going to be press from every single country on this planet there. More than there would usually be at an Olympics, in fact, because this is China, and because of how badly they've "handled" the protests in Tibet. Mrs. Grundy will be there in full force, and if there is one truism for all societies, gossip and bad news travel faster than the speed of light. You won't be able to take a step in China without tripping over foreign press. With satellite linked cameras. And microphones. They are going to be under the biggest, most intensive microscope known to mankind for two weeks. Two weeks, people. This could be the best thing to happen to Tibet since the Dalai Lama, and y'all want to waste it on a boycott??
Besides, Olympic boycotts tend to smack more of kids sitting off to the side, arms folded over their chests as they grumpily huff, "I'm not playing with you any more!" Did our 1980 boycott force Russia out of Afghanistan? No. All it really achieved was making them so sore at us that they boycotted the 1984 Olympics, which made us basically shrug and say, "Oh well. MORE GOLD FOR US!!!!"
No, no, no. Go to the Beijing Olympics. Spend lots and lots of money there. Lots. And ask a lot of nosy, uncomfortable questions. Be sure to wear your "Free Tibet" shirts, or anything orange. Poke into corners, and open doors, pausing to look innocently at irate guards and say, "What? I thought this was a restroom!" Take lots of pictures. Lots and lots, and post them to the internet. Post videos to the internet. Show them that they opened Pandora's Box, and now must pay the consequences. They who dance must pay the fiddler. So Beijing will discover that to host the Olympics means opening doors they would much rather keep shut.
Oh, yes, let us DO go to Beijing, and show our support of Tibet, by shoving that door WIDE open!
I'm just sayin'...
