One of the most critical elements of activism is the ability to protest in an effective and meaningful manner. A current example is the controversy regarding this upcoming summer's Olympics in Beijing, China. The Olympics, which are meant to be a symbol of hope and peace, are being tarnished by China's political actions. Unrest in Tibet as a result of Beijing's rule and violence by the Chinese government has sparked much controversy. This, coupled with China's funding of the Darfur genocide, has certainly left a sour taste in many mouths.
With potential human rights violations being charged to them, China has been met with protest from a variety of groups worldwide. Tibet's Dalai Lama has expressed support for the Olympic Games in Beijing, but also called for a halt to the Chinese attacks in the region and a re-routing of the Olympic Torch route. The Olympic Torch route has become the focus of political tension, as various countries jockey for what they feel is appropriate. For example, Japan has stated that it will not permit China's torch protection unit members, who have served as guards for the torch and its relay members, to travel with the torch in Japan when it arrives in Nagano later this month.
However, while I am not surprised to see the protests that have occurred around the world, I am somewhat surprised at the lack of protest towards another aspect of this hallowed ceremony. After researching the origins of the Olympic Torch relay tradition, I made a startling discovery. What is now viewed as a symbol of peace and harmony was originated by a group of men who symbolize just the opposite.
The torch tradition was introduced by Dr. Carl Diem - a popular figure during the Nazi regime - just prior to the Berlin Olympics in 1936. It was Adolf Hitler himself who gave his seal of approval for the custom because of its support of Nazi ideology. Since 1936, the tradition of carrying the torch from Athens, Greece, to the site of the games has become a marketing staple. Today, however, many view the torch as a symbol of peace, despite its origins. Despite the torch's origins relating to an evil regime, I believe this process has evolved into a symbol of all that is right about the Olympic Games.
We have seen the impact the Olympics can have on a nation. Our own Winter Games in Lake Placid, N.Y., in 1980 yielded one of the most triumphant and shocking victories in sports history, as the American men's hockey team defeated the heavily favored Soviet Union team. For a moment in upstate New York, the United States was given hope in a time of difficulty. Between political strife due to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and domestic economic issues, the country was in need of a morale boost. The Olympic Games, in this case, were certainly able to provide this.
In many ways, the 2008 Olympics in Beijing are an opportunity to achieve peace and prosperity. The fact that China has seemingly failed to embrace this opportunity is incredibly disappointing. There is not enough room in this piece to comment on the atrocities in Darfur, nor the injustices in Tibet. The recent protests in San Francisco, which required the re-routing of the Torch Relay route, are valuable sources of opposition to these injustices. As a society we are faced with a serious conundrum: Is it possible to praise the institution of the Olympic Games because of their positive aspects - despite the host country's unjust actions?
My initial feeling upon hearing of the heavy protesting in San Francisco was, in hindsight, quite ignorant. I simply wrote the protesters off as overzealous and inappropriate, believing they were agitating "just for the sake of it." As an athlete, I think it is important to be respectful of the Olympics and what they symbolize. I am willing to accept the tradition of the Torch Relay because of what it currently symbolizes. Despite its roots in a hateful ideology, it has evolved over the years into something much more powerful than any hate-group could ever produce. The Olympics themselves, and their five-ring logo - meant to symbolize the unity of five continents - have also grown into something much larger. They are not simply an athletic competition anymore. As the protests show, they symbolizes much more for many more people.
Yet I have trouble with some of the recent protests. In most cases, I agree with the cause for which these people are fighting. I do not, however, support a boycott as it relates to the Games themselves. Why are we protesting participation in an event which attempts to formulate peace? Many prominent politicians, including Democratic and Republican Presidential hopefuls, have implored George W. Bush to boycott the opening ceremonies of the games. While this would certainly make a profound worldwide statement, it remains to be seen how effective it would be in obstructing the current injustices in China.
If we look back into history, we can view the Olympics themselves as a stage for protest. As Adolf Hitler crafted the 1936 Berlin Games into a vehicle for his hate-filled political movement, he sought to prove the superiority of the Aryan race. Jesse Owens, however, an African-American track athlete, won four gold medals for the United States in track and field in those same Olympics. In the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, American athletes John Carlos and Tommie Smith raised their fists on the medal podium in support of black power, creating one of the most controversial and timeless images in history.
While current Olympic rules prevent athletes from making political, racial or religious demonstrations during or after competition, the rule is in place to prevent outside agendas from affecting the integrity of the Games. There has been some mention that boycotting the Games as a whole would send a worldwide message that human rights violations will not be tolerated. I find it troublesome to think that boycotting the Olympics is what people might resort to in order to protest the world's injustices.
If you want to protest, attack the issue at its roots. Don't attack the Olympic Games, because the games themselves are not what you oppose. And if you're an athlete or politician, do not show your disgust through your absence. Show your disapproval by showing up and representing what the Olympics is all about: the celebration of the human potential for cooperation and peaceful competition.
That will be the ultimate protest.
David Antonelli is a sophomore majoring in English.
