China, Olympics '08, Everest, and Tibet

The countdown for the Olympics begins in China today - it's one year from the opening of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. This brings forth the bittersweet reality that is China. A country that is bursting at the seams with industry, growth, and opportunity but at the same time is controlled by a heavy fist under Communist rule. The fact that the Olympics are being held in one of the most oppressive countries in the world is disturbing. On top of the lack of rights that China's own people endure there is also the case with its neighboring country of Tibet. China invaded Tibet in 1949 and has flooded the country with Chinese in an effort to drive out the Tibetan people and destroy their culture. The persecution of the Tibetan people has been and continues to be nothing less than ruthless. A once independent and peaceful nation now disappearing - it's leader in exile in India. China's argument? That Tibet is, and always has been, an integral part of China. But history proves otherwise.

Because China does not recognize Tibet as a sovereign nation they will not allow their team in the Olympics. A campaign has been setup up to protest the IOC for the inclusion of Tibet in the 2008 Olympic games. For details you can check out this website. http://www.supportteamtibet.org/

As a further slap in the face against Tibet and a sign of power, China has decided to march the Olympic torch through Tibet and to the top of Everest. To clarify, Everest is in Tibet - not China. I, for one, will not support such an action and believe that it goes against what is morally right, what is right in the spirit of the Olympics, and what is right in the spirit of Everest, and what is right in climbing. This is a political ploy by China to further show that it owns Tibet - not a sign of Olympic greatness.

Undoubtedly, China will continue to mask their human rights issues under the veil of the Olympics. A Chinese spokesperson said today that China wants the world to set politics aside in honor of the unity of the Olympic games. My question would be, how can you ask for the world to turn a blind eye to politics and human decency while at the same time it is politics that governs what China is doing and influences the inclusion of another country in the Olympic games?

Will the world buy in to China's Olympics? That remains to be seen.

For more details you can visit the following sites:
http://www.tibet.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibet
http://www.savetibet.org/
http://www.freetibet.org/
http://www.tibet.net/en/index.html