Should American Athletes Boycott the 2008 Olympics in Beijing China?

Is Refusing to Participate in the Opening Ceremony Enough?

Hillary Clinton has asked President George W. Bush to boycott the 2008 Olympics opening ceremony and while that is a noble thought I have to ask myself if that in itself is doing enough.

As representatives of the United States of America, should our athletes participate in the 2008 Olympics? How can we as a country justify being a part of something that will add money to the pockets of the very people who treat human rights as nothing other than a passing fancy? 

Every nickel and dime from tourists and corporate sponsors will go directly to a government that represses its people and executes them in public for no other reason than it is an annual event.

China has failed to follow through on its promise to improve human rights. They were given the 2008 Olympics in good faith that they would keep their promise and instead they launched war against a spiritual movement.

Since 2002, over 6,000 people have been evicted from their homes to make way for construction of the new Olympic Stadium in Beijing. Many of them violently forced against their will to leave their homes. Included evictees were elderly, handicapped and children.

And yet American athletes says nothing.

How can we in good conscious invade Iraq, free the people from the tyranny of Sudam Hussein and then turn a blind eye to the obvious abuse and violation of human rights in China?

The Chinese government represses its people with strictest of censorship. Currently with journalists and reporters detained, China delivers democracy a blasphemous slap to the face.

And yet America says nothing.

Reminiscent of Hilter's reign the Chinese government is attempting to fool the world into believing they are making strides towards a better way of life for their people and cleaning up their act.

In 1934 The world became outraged when it was revealed that Adolf Hitler refused to allow German Jewish athletes the opportunity to compete in the 1936 Olympics. An international boycott was called for. A boycott America supported.