Leave Beijing Alone

As an informed citizen, I would be a bad one if I did not acknowledge the fact that some horrible things have happened in the past and are still happening in China. Its government, using the guise of reform and technological advancement, has blinded the world to most of its atrocities committed against its citizenry. They should be held responsible for the things they have done, and should learn to treat others humanly.

That said, LET THE ATHLETES COMPETE!!! Our politicians and other activists are crying for a boycott of this years games, and for what? A few minutes of news time, or a couple of lines in a stump speech. Someone should ask Ryan Hall, Deena Kastor, Alan Webb, and countless other athletes how they feel about throwing away a life's work. Any one of those already qualified, or who will qualify in July, may never get another chance, thats what makes the Olympics so special, you never know what is going to happen in 4 years.

What about Ryan Shay? He died pursuing the dream of every competitive runner, to run in the Olympic Marathon. To strip away from his friends that which they achieved while their compatriot fell pursuing the same one, would be a horrible injustice.

These runners have given everything they have. Relationships, eating habits, and social lives. They go to compete against other athletes, not to make statements, in this case, to make statements on behalf of their governments. It is easy for a politician who eats cheeseburgers and could not run around the block, to say, "Well we do not like the government, so all of you, good job, but sorry, not Olympics, now about why you should elect me..."

I look forward to this August. Not because of the splendor that is China, but for the Olympic Spirit, the one time when Arabs and Israelis compete not with guns, but on the field of play, in the pool, and on the track. It is where we see Muslim women get to compete despite their religious constraints. It is where men hobble across the finish line, not because they want to, but because their country sent them to finish a race, and not quit along the course. It is where an African swimmer can come and compete for his country despite the fact he will finish minutes behind the winner with his legs dragging in the pool. It is when the unachievable can be achieved. Let us not keep our country, and our athletes from being a part of that.