British Athletes' Free Speech Banned For China
What in the hell is going on in the UK? First, the Archbishop of Canterbury advocates elements of Sharia law. Now the British Olympic Association is forcing British Olympic athletes to sign a 32-PAGE CONTRACT that binds them to not talk about any "political sensitive issues" regarding China -- while they're still in the UK. [UPDATE 7:15 AM 2/11/2008] - AFP reports that "widespread anger" has forced the British Olympic Association to "have another look at the wording of the controversial clause."
10:30 AM * PERMALINK * 5 comments
Comments:
This is an interesting debate. On one hand free speech is the foundation of western nations and the bane of totalitarian dictatorships. But on the other hand the Olympics should not turn into a political pulpit - whether it's voicing the plight of the Chinese farmer, protesting Iraq, or lamenting the loss of religion in the world's school systems. A more appropriate question is whether the Olympic Committee should allow China to compete let alone host until they fix their human rights issues. Or whether our athletes should attend in China or withdraw out of protest.
***** The Olympics should not turn into a political pulpit *****
The question isn't whether the Olympics should or should not be turned into a political pulpit, but who gets to decide whether or not the Olympics is turn into a political pulpit.
In a free country like Britain, the right of each individual to decide for themselves should never be compromised for the political convenience of the government or for any other reason.
Let's have another look at what's happening here. Free men and women are being censored by their own government for the comfort of a repressive, authoritarian ruling class in a communist-controlled country.
The opposite should be happening. The Beijing government promised to guarantee freedom of expression for the games. Why instead are countries who are supposed to have guarantees of free speech violating this human right on behalf of the communists in Beijing?
This is super disgusting.
Mike Elgan
I think Mike said it best.
I sure won't be watching the games this year.
I think it is important that people realize that nobody wants to hear athletes voice their opinion about anything of substance. I just want to know what they eat, who they sleep with, and how they became Olympians. I look forward to the day when the West (Europe and The Americas) imposes a gag rule on all athletes. That way we never have to worry about hurting China's feelings. I like going to the dollar store here in Maryland and getting napkins made from virgin rain-forests and toothpaste laced with deadly chemicals for only a buck, and those cheap prices are worth the gagging of athletes. Don't you all agree?
What are the atheletes saying about this? What are their friends and family saying about this? I think the Athelets should be discourage by ALL from gonig to China. More importantly though, the Government of a democratic country should support freedom of speech for its people. China should not have been allowed to host the olypics.
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