A word to any Tibetans with a deathwish. Wait until all of the world’s cameras are there. Wait until all of the athletes have arrived. Then have a massive protest.

Without witnesses, you’ll just be getting yourselves killed over nothing as evidenced by today’s comments from the International Olympic Committee’s President Jacques Rogge:

International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge poured cold water Saturday on calls for a boycott of the Summer Games in Beijing over China’s crackdown in Tibet, saying it would only hurt athletes.“We believe that the boycott doesn’t solve anything,” Rogge told reporters on this Caribbean island. “On the contrary, it is penalizing innocent athletes and it is stopping the organization from something that definitely is worthwhile organizing.”

After all, we’ve got to keep this in perspective. What’s more important - people living in freedom or athletes competing for shiny medals and endorsement contracts? Mr. Rogge seems to be imbued with that classically European sense of nuance that escapes us cowboy yanks.

This is, of course, fresh off the application of boot heels from ChiCom pinkertons to the necks of protesters who have yet to understand the value of good timing:

The Dalai Lama’s exiled Tibetan government in India said Chinese authorities killed at least 30 Tibetans and possibly as many as 100. The figures could not be independently verified.

[...]

Foreign tourists in Lhasa were told to leave, a hotel manager and travel guide said, with the guide adding that some were turned back at the airport.

“There are military blockades blocking off whole portions of the city, and the entire city is basically closed down,” said a 23-year-old Canadian student who arrived in Lhasa on Saturday and who was making plans to leave. “All the restaurants are closed, all the hotels are closed.”

30 to 100 people killed is simply extra work the IOC’s public relations people would rather avoid thank you very little.

Without the cameras being present, Tibetans are getting themselves killed for naught. Wait until the ceremonies so the world can see the brutality of the Chinese regime without the help of Google and Yahoo scrubbing your blood off the street for their Chicom paymasters.

Then the very important athletes in selfish pursuit of a gold, silver, and bronze will be forced to decide if eternal disgrace hangs around their necks as lightly in front of a watching world.

Do You Smell Anything? Nah. Update: The Lama wants an investigation into the murders and, as usual, the rest of the athletic, so-called “civilized” world could care less -

International criticism of the crackdown in Tibet so far has been mild, with no threats of an Olympic boycott or other sanctions. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called Sunday on China “to exercise restraint in dealing with the protests.”

Rice said she was “concerned by reports of a sharply increased police and military presence in and around Lhasa.” Her statement urged China to release those jailed for protesting.

As continually disappointed as I find myself with Secretary Rice, and based on previous history, her “concern” and $1,054.50 will get you a pair of Ferragamo’s and an orange mocha frappuccino.

If 80 people were gunned down by police in the streets of the U.S. before some international sporting event we would be excoriated by allies and despots alike.

Posted by Brian @ 10:52 pm
2 Comments and 2 Trackbacks | Permalink | Trackback URI

Comments

:: Trackbacks/Pingbacks ::

1. [...] at Six Meat Buffet has some advice for Tibetan [...]

   Pingback by   Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup — Pirate’s Cove — Sunday, March 16, 2008 9:11 am | permalink

   
   

2. Dalai Lama Calls for Tibet Probe…

   The Dalai Lama called Sunday for an international investigation into China’s crackdown against prote…

   Trackback by Unpartisan.com Political News and Blog Aggregator — Sunday, March 16, 2008 4:30 pm | permalink

   
   

:: Comments ::

1. Those damn Tibetans have a crappy sense of timing, don’t they?

   As far as an Olympic boycott goes…nah. If you are an Olympic athlete, it’s not your fault that the IOC awarded these games to China. You compete. If your social conscience gets to you, then say something while you are there (if you can without making an ass out of yourself like an Oscar winner).

   What? The Chinese are going to lock you up for speaking your mind with the entire world watching?

   I’m not for politicizing the Olympics (I mean, more than they have already been). There’s a fine line between being portrayed as a socially-conscious athlete and a boorish guest.

   comment by Nigel — Sunday, March 16, 2008 @ 8:59 am

   ---

2. You mean like the ones who said that they want to bring their own food and be allowed to wear a SARS mask?

   comment by Brian — Sunday, March 16, 2008 @ 10:17 am

   ---

Leave a Comment

Sorry, comments are closed at this time.