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A Helping of Hummus

It was supposed to be one of its greatest honors. It was meant to represent the great economic, political and social progress it had made. Instead, the 2008 Beijing Olympics have caused China to become the target and object of ridicule from Hollywood directors and Buddhist monks alike.

The protests against China began on Feb. 16, when Steven Spielberg announced that he was withdrawing himself as the artistic adviser for the opening and closing Olympic ceremonies, citing China’s uncomfortably close relationship with the Sudanese government. China has been supplying the Sudanese government with arms, and has been purchasing a vast amount of Sudanese oil, the proceeds of which fuel the government fighting machine that has been viciously attacking, torturing and murdering Sudanese civilians in what has quickly become the worst humanitarian crisis of our generation; Darfur.

Though Spielberg’s gesture was an honorable one, it passed without a great deal of media attention. It has not been until the past few weeks, with the Olympic torch beginning its travel across the world, that real attention has been given to the overwhelming dissent against China as the host for the 2008 games. Instead of only focusing on Darfur, many of these protesters have been demonstrating the Chinese government’s human rights abuses against Tibetan citizens.

Now that hating the Olympic Torch has become just as fashionable as hating George Bush, crowds have been gathering at each city along the Olympic route not with pride at seeing a great symbol of tradition, perseverance and internationalism, but rather, with fire extinguishers in hand. And they’ve succeeded. Twice.

But don’t think that this is the first time the Olympics have caused such chaos. The Olympic Charter specifically states: “No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted at Olympic sites,” and with good reason. Here’s a brief rundown of some of the most important instances of politics and the Olympics clashing:

Berlin, Germany, 1936, Summer Games

Held in Nazi Germany with Adolf Hitler in the audience, German and other foreign athletes raise their right arms in traditional Nazi fashion to salute Hitler and his Aryan, supremacist, racist regime. Much protest had erupted in the U.S. against participating in the games. Good thing we didn’t drop out though, because Hitler got a nice little surprise when African-American sprinter Jesse Owens won four Gold medals.

Mexico City, Mexico, 1968, Summer Games

Perhaps the most famous Olympic photo in history is taken when U.S. sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos raise their fists in the air during the American national anthem at the medal ceremony for the 200 meter race. Their actions are a symbol for black power and in protest against racism in the U.S. As a result, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) suspends the athletes, sending them home. Smith and Carlos immediately become symbols of free speech, and this photo now adorns many a college dormitory.

Montreal, Canada, 1976, Summer Games

25 African nations decide to boycott the games because the IOC refuses to ban New Zealand, whose rugby team played against apartheid South Africa, from participating in the games. (South Africa had been banned from the Olympics since 1964 because they refused to undo apartheid.) Taiwan also boycotts the games after the Canadian government refuses to use the name “the Republic of China.”

Moscow, USSR, 1980, Summer Games

US President Jimmy Carter decides to forgo the Olympics in protest against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. 64 other nations follow suit. (However, for the US seems to be attempting to leave the politics out of the 2008 games: American athletes are required to attend a two-day seminar on what it means to be an Ambassador for the US, and have been instructed that they are not allowed to wear t-shirts with political slogans, such as “Free Tibet.”)

Los Angeles, United States, 1984, Summer Games

Payback is sweet, as the USSR finds out when they decided to return the favor to the US and boycott the LA Games. 13 other Soviet allies are pressured into skipping the games as well.

Since Spielberg quit the Olympics in February, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown have all opted out of the Games’ opening ceremonies, while both French President Nicolas Sarkozy and George Bush are still debating on whether or not to attend.

I am all for fighting for and protecting human rights, but boycotting the Olympic Games’ opening ceremony is a far cry from stopping the genocide in Sudan or ensuring the protection of Tibetans’ human rights. I can’t help but wonder, is it fair to boycott the Olympic Games — the pride of athletes all over the world — in the name of human rights, when we continue to trade and do business with those very same nations? Can we really stand up to China when we are friends with so many other governments that show little respect for basic civil rights? Is this nothing more than an empty gesture, made by politicians to make it seem like they care, and how much of an inconvenience is it to have to watch the opening ceremonies at home instead of in the Beijing National Stadium?

Finally, will these acts of defiance merely cause the athletes to suffer, and in turn do nothing to ameliorate the suffering of those in Darfur and Tibet? Let’s see in the coming months if these politicians can put their money where their mouths are, or in this case, where they won’t be: in Beijing in 2008.

Nora Choueiri is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences. She can be contacted at nchoueiri@cornellsun.com. A Helping of Hummus appears alternate Mondays.

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