Sunday, February 10, 2008

UK censors athletes

The Olympics are supposed to be non-political but they wind up being such anyway. One of the most blatant (but also one of the most justified) examples was when John Carlos and Tommie Smith raised their arms in the "Black Power" salute at Mexico City 1968.

Now, the British Olympic Committee is forcing its athletes to sign a contract forbidding them from criticizing China's human rights record -- or anything else political -- during this summer's games in Beijing. It's interesting to note that Canada, the US and Australia are not putting similar restrictions on their participants. Yet.

Since China will not change before August, barring a miracle, I think all competitors should be granted diplomatic status by their countries for the duration of the games so the Commie Bastards can't do anything to them. And although I personally don't like tattoos, it'd be nice to see some participants write "Fuck the Butchers of Beijing" in Chinese characters on their arms -- then raise them during the medal ceremonies with the Black Power salute, just as Carlos and Smith did 40 years ago.

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