The Great Wall of Debate
So now that we've taken off our ties, stowed away our angry eyes, and put away the pathos, what do you really think we, as Americans, as Christians, should do concerning the 2008 Beijing Olympics? Consider the risks and the morality of the issue.
posted by el Zinga at
9:59 PM
19 Comments:
yes
Our participation, I suppose, won't make a hill of beans on what the chinese will do. I don't think that the Chinese will change their practices whether we attend or not. Plus, just refusing to go kind of does sound just like pouting. So, I suppose I'm a fence sitter. Since, as it stands, I'm not actually going the Olympics as either a competitor or a spectator, I say "Fine if we do, fine if we don't". Sorry if I seem indifferent, I just see both sides of the issue.
We go. Not going doesn't say much...going and having all of our people win gold after gold makes MUCH more of a statement ^_^
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I'm absolutely sure we should not go. Playing in stadiums that are built on homes of 300,000 evicted Chinese is no way to confront the problem. I'm not saying we should completely isolate, but instead of playing games that support the communist gov't, let's go into the country and support the actual people who are suffering by ministering to them. I'm going to try not watching the Olympics on t.v. next year, maybe I'll write Michael Phelps a letter.
yes
No offense, but why is it an either or? Why can we not allow our atheletes to go and compete, after all, we lose nothing if they do not go, they lose what they have been trying to achieve for much of their lives, it is unfair to say "It is unjust to go to such games where the government is unfair to it's people" and then turn around and be unfair to ours...albeit not in as bad of a level. And so I ask, why not go and minister while the competition is going? Get the message out without unfairly depriving those who have worked so hard, of their honor. Am I saying china is in anyway in the right? No, and I hope I am not accused of such. My point is simple, let those who want to preach and help do so, they are not hindered by the presence of our atheletes in the olympics. Would it be more sensational if we pulled out? Of course, but which message would people hear "U.S. makes stand against Chinese wrongs." or" U.S. deprives atheletes of chance at honor."? The second, of course, and that would undermine faith in us and hinder our chances at spreading the message.
I'll probably post more, kinda miss debating, but I'm tired and need more time to think.
Night all.
Jay- if your solution to the problem is for americans to minister to the 300,000 homeless people, consider this:
If we don't go, it is common sense to think that China will not roll over and cry uncle. They will become defensive about their communism and become stricter, thus causing the poor homeless people to suffer more. Also, our not going will make it even more difficult for americans to get into the country and minister to the impoverished people.
So in fact by not going we will be hurting the poor that we want to help. The best solution is to go and keep our lines of influence open with the chinese.
yes
While initially I would sympathize with the athletes, I don't know how we can be against what China is doing and support the games at the same time. As to a boycott making the situation worse, for starters, that is no reason to go along with something that is wrong because things get tougher. Second, I tend to think that Christianity thrives under adversity, compare the Early Church before Constantine and to the comfortable American Christianity that is predominant today.
Personally I believe that the Olympics is not even the place to deal with China. A false dichotomy is being created, that we either do something at the Olympics or do nothing. The way I look at it, 300,000 houses have already been demolished not going won't rebuild the homes, it's already been done. Secondly us going wouldn't have any directly positive good effects on China. The Olympics is simply a half hearted and petty place to confront China, the only way we can change them is to threaten (Which is kinda stupid). Or propose trade sanctions or trade cutoff. This is an important debate, and yes we should go to the Olympics, because it isn't a good tool for reform. We should wait and use effective means to change China, not the Olympics.
first of all, who's posting random 'yes'es? second, i would have to whole heartedly agree with Jaybo.
tyler- yes, maybe the media will say we're being unfair to our atheletes, but i think that would be a pretty shallow story. who would be satisfied with a story that says "the US is boycotting the china olympics because they want to deprive their potentially gold-winning athletes of a chance of a lifetime. that's just so mean." if that's all journalists could come up with, then i'm sure there will be alot of them getting fired. if there are any good reporters then i believe there would be some sort of search for the real reason behind the US pulling out, because it's obviously not for the latter. I would hope and pray that the injustices of China would come to light and that this would be a step to wake up americans from their slumber to embraces morality.
Evan- i think this is a wonderful opportunity and step toward those larger moves you proposed (cutting off trade and the like). Almost every manufactured thing we own is made in china, how do you suppose we cut of all economic ties with china? we are broadening our horizons in outsourcing labor (vietnam, singapore, indonesia, thailand...etc) but not nearly enough.
Well, Lynzy, I have to admit that the US is getting to be too much of a cheapskate nation. Yes, Chinese labor (as well as other nations) may be cheaper, but manufacturing in the US keeps money within the nation, which I think is a more dire concern.
I agree with Evander. I'm Chinese and I think what he said is most reasonable for Chinese Christians and Americans as well.
Thank you Yung for your imput. were you a chinese born in the US, or have you lived in China?
Actually that was me... Yeah, I'm bad i know. I would like to believe that the Chinese support my claims though...
No, me real china boy.
Evander is wrong
That was my brother Yee Yung, I'm Lee Yung... Brothers...
Thanks for writing this.
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