Games just a way of showing off for authoritarian regime
Christopher Busby
For those of you who read this paper over the summer, you have seen scathing commentaries on the actions of the Chinese government and its gross violations of human rights. There is little positive effect from the Beijing Olympics. There are few valued results that come from demeaning a third grade girl by telling her she’s too homely to perform, newly homeless people due to construction and the reminder of the lack of liberty within the country.
If anything, the Beijing Olympics reinforce to the world that China is still a country where it is illegal to vocally oppose the ruling party. It is illegal to protest genocide and even the demolition of one’s own home. It is a country where the government reigns supreme over the people who inhabit it. While it is true that conditions have improved since the death of Mao, it is false to say things are as good as they should be. Halfway is not enough. The Chinese government must renounce all acts of violence, intolerance and injustice. It must as well drop the support for any other regime that does so, such as the Sudanese government.
The lovely fireworks and the beautiful ceremonies at the Olympics distract some. Must we be reminded that Adolf Hitler, too, put on a spectacular show at the 1936 Berlin Olympics? In fact, his display was elaborate enough to lull the Western world into a sense of denial. It threw up blinders to the cruel and evil actions of a terrible regime, and it is no different here. Don’t let a well-planned performance and great lighting cover up the acts of a power hungry and authoritarian regime.
Busby, an English sophomore, can be reached via [email protected]
Olympics unite through athletics, teamwork and temper tantrums
Alana MousaviDin
The 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing closed with many accomplishments from many countries around the world. The U.S. is ranked No. 1 in total count of medals received, but looking beyond the gold, silver and bronze, this year’s Olympic Games accomplished more than medals. It taught lessons in banishment, temper-tantrum consequences and most importantly, graciousness.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) initially banned Iraq from participating this year. The reasons were reportedly that the Iraqi government had suspended its nation’s Olympic committee and formed a temporary committee to take over, all the while failing to hold meetings according to IOC guidelines, along with many other IOC regulation violations. And we all thought it was because of the war.
The wrestler who intentionally dropped his bronze medal and the martial artist that kicked a referee in the head were both banned for life because of their temper tantrums. Other athletes in various sports were banned for doping. These violations are inexcusable in the eyes of the IOC, and as far as it is concerned, if you want to play grown-up games you must follow the grown-up rules.
In all, the Beijing Olympics showed the world that regardless of who you are or where you live, we are all the same. We work hard and sweat, we show emotions, we celebrate and we smile. These things are universal.
MousaviDin, a communication senior, can be reached via [email protected]
New technology brings us into bold new era of innovation
Monica Granger
The 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China saw its most striking achievements in an unlikely place: the future.
To be sure, Jamaica’s Usain Bolt, "The World’s Fastest Man," is celebrating two new world records and Michael Phelps is basking in the glory of winning the most gold medals in one Olympics and for most career gold medals.
The most striking entrant in the 29th Olympiad, though, was international and practically immortal: technology.
Speedo’s LZR swimsuit reduces drag, improving speed so much that Nike freed its sponsored swimmers to wear it for the sake of their best competition, The Washington Post reported. Nike dominated racing footwear with its 93-gram Zoom Victory Spikes, made almost entirely from Flywire, a high-strength, low-weight thread.
The future spawning from these technologies is here, and it will quickly become more complicated as we use them to become more superhuman.
With genetic sciences offering more enhancements, who can say whether an athlete has improved himself beyond the lot nature gave and individual human effort furthered? Short term cellular-level modifications were utilized in this Olympiad via hypoxic tents that induce red blood cell production muscles.
How much farther are we willing to go for the sake of better competition? The gold-medal answers lie in scoping the ethical use of such technologies both in and out of Olympic competition. What good is knowledge without wisdom?
Granger, and economics and political science senior, can be reached via [email protected]
