Tainted food, crippling pollution, overwhelming traffic ... there's no shortage of non-sports issues for China to deal with during the run-up to the Summer Games. Looming above all of them are global concerns are complaints about the country's human rights record. Among the many concerns that people have about the host nation is their deplorable support of the Sudanese government which is carrying out genocide in Darfur. That support has been decried by organizations and activists across the globe. Those groups are doing everything they can to take some of the publicity generated by the Olympics and turn it on the unacceptable situation in Darfur. Among their targets has been the film director Steven Spielberg, who had agreed to serve as artistic adviser to the Games. But he pulled out today and cited the situation in Sudan as the reason.
"With this in mind, I find that my conscience will not allow me to continue with business as usual. At this point, my time and energy must be spent not on Olympic ceremonies, but on doing all I can to help bring an end to the unspeakable crimes against humanity that will continue to be committed in Darfur."Good for Spielberg for finally doing the right thing. His action, overdue as it is, makes the U.K. look even more ridiculous for forcing their athletes to sign a pledge promising not to criticize China during this summer's games. It also makes China's dream of a depoliticized Olympics even more of a pipe dream.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-12-2008 @ 8:54PM
Kustie the Klown said...
I just have to bow humbly before the great moral example set by Steven Spielberg. His heroic stand against China's support of the Sudanese government is both profound and unprecedented in its greatness. Spielberg is a true hero for all mankind!!!
. . . .guess it was okay to work for the dirty ChiComs when all your conscience had to wrestlw with were things like those tanks running over peaceful democracy protesters in Tiananmen Square, eh Spielberg? LOL.
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2-12-2008 @ 9:43PM
James said...
This is a prime example of why the Olympics need a one site game venue. A city-state souly devoted to the games, both a winter site and summer site, where all participating nations get a cut of the profits relative to how many qualifying athletes they send.
Sports should never be determined, nor dominated, by politics. In fact, sports are meant to bridge political differences.
Stop this crazy nonsense once and for all!
James
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2-12-2008 @ 11:00PM
Robert W. Allison said...
The march toward freedom and human rights took a nice step forward today. Thank you Mr. Spielberg for you stand. A message to the communists Chinese that will be heard around the world. Let the world know that the day of tyrants, fascists, dictators, kings and queens, is over. Humans were endowed with God given ina(lien)able rights, that socialists, communists, fascists, and tyrants can't take from us without their brutality. We are HUMANS, not the elitists' slaves. Hillary Clinton, understand this: Mao Tse-Dong was a brutal murderer who killed 60-80 million human beings.
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2-13-2008 @ 2:54PM
Angry African said...
I would like to nominate Spielberg as an honorary Angry African for the day. He did not have to do it. He wasn’t under a lot of pressure. But he did it in any case. And we applaud him for doing that.
I recently wrote in my blog - Angry African on the Loose - that Harare should be given the next Olympics - if the Olympics follow their own argument and values in the same way they argued in favour of Beijing. See my blog(http://angryafrican.wordpress.com/2008/02/09/and-the-olympics-goes-to-zimbabwe/) for more details. Steven you make us proud. You are now one of us! http://angryafrican.wordpress.com/
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2-13-2008 @ 9:31PM
ProCritq said...
I admire and appreciate Steven's movies and his contributions to the film industry. But I think his act of quitting the Olympic adviser position has nothing to do to promote human rights or freedom. At most he violated the spirit of both human rights and freedom.
First of all, he is simply using his freedom to hold Olympic hostage. His personal opinion or political interest has nothing to do with his role as an Olympic committee adviser. Such resignation is a very unprofessional act and Steven is unfair.
It is like when you try to force your boss to raise a million dollars for some homeless kid and you quit your job when you are 5 minutes from closing a deal for the company because your boss refuse to do the fundraising. Steven is irresponsible.
Besides, he is not a representative of foreign affairs department in the US. He is in no capacity to demand a country to play politics in certain way.
By the same token, why didn't he approach the US government instead? Why didn't he shoot a movie in Sudan then hold the Sudan government hostage by telling them to do what he think is right, otherwise, he'll cancel the movie and fire all local actors/crew if the government refuse? Steven is unreasonable.
Steven is blatantly unfair, irresponsible and unreasonable.
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2-14-2008 @ 9:31AM
sharon jacobs said...
OUTRAGEOUS. I’m an American, and feel Spielberg should - as any famous person in the US - STAY OUT OF POLITICS. Don’t we have enough problems in the world without his adding to our relations problems with other countries? And don’t the Olympic athletes who train for years for these games deserve his respect? Why punish them? I agree with the Chinese people on this one — absolutely disgusting.
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2-15-2008 @ 5:16PM
Nan Wang said...
Africa was once colonized by Western countries for many many years, followed by Western influence and "aid" for many many years. What's the results and benefits the African continent get from the Western countries? People can arrive at their own conclusions if you know the facts.
You have to ask yourself what kind of help and influence the Chinese bring to Africa? How much do you know about it? Have you given a chance to the Chinese? As compared with the activity of the Western countries in Africa for so many years, did the Chinese bring harm or benefits to Africa? Do you know the facts? Did you ask the African people about it? What's the response from African people?
Do not jump to a conclusion about something you are ignorant!
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2-23-2008 @ 2:41PM
letmay8 said...
The chinese can go eat their placenta. Why are they coming in droves to America, first the women are here to steal white husbands, boyfriends, lovers not only to improve their race (they are all ugly) but to get green card and citizenship. They are trained in China to be sex experts to get men. You can pick any Chinese (be sure from China, Taiwan or Honkong) and you will be surprised how experienced they are in assfkng.
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2-23-2008 @ 4:07PM
letmay8 said...
Hooray for Steven Speilberg. It is about time he shows muscle about things important or close to his convictions. Look at color purple black woman by the name of Oprah, without Steven, she is nothing! By the way, that Nan Wang posting about Africa. Shut up commie! You Chinese you go to countries with an agenda America to spy and steal white men to improve your race, third world countries, you gloat buddha happy to bribe corrupt politicians then take over and control the economy and send all your money to China, you do not even assimmilate with the locals, you spit on them behind their backs. You can all go to hell and eat your placentas, rats, cockroaches, snakes, worms, and shit, because that is what all of you are. This is not ignorance, THIS IS FACTS!
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