By Bryan Fallowfield
Sam Shelton, the creator of the Olympic torch for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, was on CNN earlier this week. Protesters demonstrating against the human rights violations involving China and Tibet were attempting to extinguish the torch. Dr. Shelton was asked to explain the process of acquiring and maintaining the sacred flame.
At the conclusion of his presentation he was asked to give his opinion concerning a statement made by Sen. Hillary Clinton. She had stated that President George W. Bush should boycott the Olympic Games. Shelton proceeded to enter into the political rhetoric that has been so rampant among the various news organizations. He asserted that the Olympic Games were not about politics, and that it would be wrong for President Bush to boycott the games.
I am tired of hearing the rhetoric put forth by political leaders and news media in this and other nations concerning the Olympics. Over the last few days I have heard numerous assertions that the Games are not about politics, and that we should all just focus on the athletes. These politicians and the minions of the media suggest that the purpose of the Games is to adore the athletes while blessing us with the privilege of being entertained. After all, that is all that we want - entertainment!
This false rhetoric and smoke screen talk is just an attempt to divert us from the true issues at hand. The atrocities of the Chinese oppressors against the Tibetans are coming to light and it is causing the ruling elites to assemble their words and resources in an effort to divert the attention of the good people of the world. The statements of our so called leaders and the various media entities concerning the Olympic Games being politically neutral are fabrications.
The arrogant politicians who believe they are superior to us and suppose that they can tell us anything and we will believe it have said that the Games are about the athletes and not about politics. This is a mockery of the history and origins of the Games in modern times.
Pierre de Coubertin's major purpose in instituting the modern Olympic Games in the late 19th century was to help alleviate the tensions that existed between nations. The Games were to provide an athletic outlet for the tendencies toward war. The resolution of peace among warring nations was a dominant purpose; a political motivation by any man's definition. Coubertin wanted the Games to be a means of establishing cooperation between participating nations. It was his hope that the Games would contribute to world peace.
The actual history of the Games leads to two questions concerning our politicians and the media. First, are our politicians and the media truly so ignorant that they do not consult the historical record before making statements to the public? And second, are they fully aware of the historical record and are intentionally fabricating their statements in order to divert our attention from the true issues at hand?
The Olympic Games are about politics - they always have been. If we choose to ignorantly believe the lies put forth by politicians and media machines, we will be complicit in the oppression and slaughter of our Tibetan brothers and sisters. We will be held accountable for the atrocities. Conversely, we can learn the truth and act accordingly.
Bryan Fallowfield is a BYU student. He is from Hamilton, New Zealand.
Copyright Brigham Young University 13 Apr 2008
