Staying Away from South Africa's World Cup

Last week, the government of South Africa, bowing to pressure from the Chinese Communist Party, barred the Dalai Lama from entering its country to attend a peace conference, and announced that he would not be allowed to visit South Africa until the 2010 World Cup was over.

Many South Africans were outraged by this decision. Archbishop Desmond Tutu said he was "ashamed," and even a member of the South African cabinet, Health Minister Barbara Hogan, called on the government "to apologize to the citizens of this country, because it is in your name that this great man...has been denied access."

I attended the last four World Cups: in the United States, in France, in Japan and in Germany. I was looking forward to going to South Africa for next year's World Cup, particularly as it would have been my first visit to the country. I have been warned repeatedly that many of South Africa's major cities have serious crime problems, but everyone I have ever known who has visited South Africa has spoken highly of the South African people. I was about to join the ticket lottery online when I learned of the South African government's decision. Now I have decided to stay home and watch the matches on television.

As an American, it made me gag when Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, on February 21, told reporters that the Obama administration would not let the issue of Chinese human rights abuses "interfere with the global economic crisis, the global climate change crisis and the security crisis." But at least no U.S. government has banned the Dalai Lama from entering the United States. In fact, President George W. Bush even personally and publicly presented the Dalai Lama with the Congressional Gold Medal.

I would never call for an athletes' boycott of the World Cup; but for spectators, that's another story. If the president of South Africa, Kgalema Motlanthe, wants to grovel at the feet of Hu Jintao and the leaders of the Chinese Communist Party, that's his choice. But if the Dalai Lama has to wait until the World Cup is over before he visits South Africa, I guess I can wait until then too.

AllGov.com

Comments

[wereeverywhere]

As far as I know there's been no organized call to boycott the World Cup yet. Almost immediately, after many attendees expressed outrage over the visa ban, the Peace Conference itself was scuttled. I'm glad that Wellechinsky is getting the word out on the ANC hypocrisy, but I don't think a boycott is really an answer here.

[FairTalk]

The spotlight for the World Cup should be on the athletes not on the Dalai Lama. The story should be about football, not Tibet. SA has mad the right decision, and I expect there will be more "wake up" calls from other countries, soon.

[shotei]

I mean Imperialist. China has criticized the West so legitimately about its imperialist greed just to do the same thing a few decades later.

[eddiegeorge]

I am South African, and I am ashamed of and angry at some of the stupid things the government does. Recent AIDS policy perhaps is the best example.

But I'll cut you this deal. If you stay out of South Africa on account of the treatment of the Dalai Lama, I expect you to advocate the rest of the world stay away from America when it next hosts a major sporting event (Olympics, Chicago 2016?).

You see, South Africa no longer imprisons people without trial. Neither do we torture. Gay couples have equal rights. Amongst other things. So unless America sorts out its fundamental human rights issues, I expect you to show some equivalent moral outrage when the opportunity arises.

The alternative of course is for you to go to SA next year. Go see for yourself how political dissent is alive and well, and the dry-humping of Hu Jintao is being roundly criticized. Don't forget this is the country where dock-workers refused last year to unload a shipment of Chinese arms destined for Zimbabwe. We aren't a nation of patsies. And we love soccer. And if you don't believe me, 2010 is the perfect opportunity for you to prove me wrong.

[AhnAmuru]

I see your point, but note that it's only the writer saying he will boycott S.A. - supposedly because of S.A.'s treatment of the Dalai Lama.

Notice my postings below, in summary; whilst the writer says that he won't do S.A. 2010 - because of the treatment of D.L., he reported on the 2008 Olympics from Beijing, China!

Perhaps he forgot ?

Or perhaps he HAD to go to China because he had a financial interest - he's writing a book published by Barnes & Noble called, The complete book of the Olympics; 2008.

[EgyptianMysterySchool]

You'd think, after their history, that they would have enough of colonialism.

How quickly they sell-out and forget the oppressed.

[winningticket]

Leave politics out of sports.

[wereeverywhere]

Historically, the ANC would disagree with leaving sports out of politics. It was one way to put pressure on a repressive government. Now part of the ANC is using sports to relieve pressure on a repressive government. The hypocrisy is not lost in SA and the ANC is being called on it.
One example of old ANC delving IN sports:
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1012326.html

[AhnAmuru]

The writer will not visit South Africa for the WorldCup 2010, but reported on the 2008 Olympics from Beijing, China.

[AhnAmuru]

In SportsIllustrated July, 2004 David Wallenchinski wrote; "I don't think that the Olympics should be boycotted or moved from China.It is imperative that people and press from democratic nations go to the games..."

Now check out this link of him reporting from Beijing China.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-wallechinsky/report-from-the-beijing-o_b_120854.html

Conclusion?

[FairTalk]

Thanks for pointing this out. There are those journalist wanna-bees who build their career by feeding the anti_Chinese frenzy. If this is hard to believe, just try to sell a positive piece about Chinba to the MSM in the US. See? It can't be done!

[AhnAmuru]

I could not help but notice that the writer attended the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

[FairTalk]

Great point!

[FairTalk]

The Dalai Lama may be the darling of the "west," but many who live in Tibet prefer to admire him from afar. He never supported modernization for Tibetan people, and those who do not want to be human exibits in romantic nation of ShangriLa do not seek a return to theocracy.

In addition, the Dalai Lama carries a lot of baggage, including his allowing himself to be recruited by the CIA. After the Olymipics in China, we see that when the Dalai lama shows up, so does the whole kit and caboodle of "Free Tibet Movements.­" This robs others, who have earned the right to the spotlight.

[Snuffleupagus]

You're late FairTalk.
Better get busy, at only 50cents a comment you have a lot of work to do.

http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/columns/article.php/3795091/How%20Chinas%2050%20Cent%20Army%20Could%20Wreck%20Web%202.0.htm

"The CCP has hired thousands of freelance Internet propagandists whose job is to infiltrate chat rooms, message boards and comment areas on the Internet posing as ordinary users to voice support for the agenda and interest of the CCP. They praise China’s one-party system and condemn anyone who criticizes China’s policy on Tibet."

[wereeverywhere]

If he's only getting 50 cents per, that explains the level of his comments.

[klaatu barada nikto]

You know, the rest of the world wants the Chinese people to be happy and acknowledges the achievements of Chinese culture but the invasion and brutalization of Tibet is not something you can spin or down play. It is common knowledge what has gone on there, people in the West know more than your average Chinese about this. Just give it up. Working with the rest of the world doesn't mean abandoning China.

[Horst]

Many people around the world supported the South African struggle against apartheid.­...what about the Tibetans? Sadly since the departure of Mandela SA's political leadership has been les than inspiring.

[PlaceboStudman]

It's sad that the world's conflicts can't be solved by playing Football (or soccer to most Americans), The World's Game, the one sport where the USA is decades away from dominating

[Snuffleupagus]

I am big admirer of the Dali Lama, and I have been to South Africa as a tourist. Wonderful people trying to move forward despite the efforts of their corrupt government and the IMF to keep them down.

Some reaction to the South African government for barring the Dali Lama makes sense. Boycotting the World Cup may hurt local people set to earn some income from the tourism boost. I will probably still go to the World Cup, but I support the authors sentiment, if not his methods. Boycotts are risky.

Remember 1980?
The US took the unprecedented step of boycotting the Olympics in the USSR. Why?
To protest their invasion and occupation of Afghanista­n.........­.

[All in All]

The Chinese have come a long way over time, from a splintered Nation of the past to a Nation of the present that would be unified at this very time if only more People would understand that even the greatest unity can come with disagreements and in pieces that has & will always be a greater whole!

[shotei]

Wow. You sound just like a British in the 1800's.

[All in All]

I'm not that fond with that part of British History, so I'm going to ask do You mean that in a good or bad way?

Is that the part of History where the Brits try to sedate the majority of the Chinese population ?