Why Make Athletes Play Politics?

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Thinking Lateral
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Hidden in the middle of Paul Murray's column: "if we're not prepared to cut our trade ties to China and forgo the riches they have brought to WA, then we shouldn't be prepared to put the pressure of a boycott on our Olympic athletes." (The West, "Why make athletes play politics?", 29 March 2008)

From there, Murray takes the easy path: If we won't boycott trade then why should we boycott sport, so let's all go and have a good time at the China Olympics.

Do we really care about Chinese politics? Well... sort of... but not if it interferes with our access to Chinese money.

Forget about Murray and his apologia -- he may still be hoping to be an accredited journalist for the 2008 Olympics. Think -- for yourselves: Do you really care?

If you really object to China's repressive home rules, to its oppression in Tibet, to whatever it is in China that upsets you -- then do something real! Stop buying Chinese, stop selling to China, pressure others to do the same. In particular, pressure politicians to stop trade with China, pressure businesses to stop trade with China.

Do you really care enough? Enough to accept that you will lose some of your own money to the protest? Then do something real.

Murray's logic is, that business & politics will not change, so sport should not change. If we are really serious, then business & politics must change. Take the hard path -- the path that costs us money.

But forget the hypocritical apologia. If you really care -- take some real action.

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Independent Thinking
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