Speaks Out
By Daily Bruin Staff
July 22, 2001 9:00 p.m.
Recently, the International Olympic Committee decided
Beijing, China, will host the 2008 Olympics. While some believe
this offers China an opportunity to become more integrated with the
international community, others disagree with the decision because
of China’s human rights record. What do you think?
Taylor Dahl First-year Undeclared “The
Olympics is something that everyone sees, and it represents the
diversity of the world. Everyone should have a chance to host it. I
don’t think China’s politics has much to do with the
sporting event itself. It’s good for the athletes to travel
around the world; whether or not we all have the same beliefs
doesn’t matter.” Chris Trinh
Second-year Electrical engineering “I don’t think
it’s a good idea because the Olympics are supposed to
represent the spirit of humanity and free-will. China basically
does not allow any of its own people the individuality they want.
All the media and global observation that the Olympics will bring
to China will not necessarily make them change their practices.
China does not really represent the ideals of the Olympics.”
James Tucker Fifth-year Mathematics and applied
sciences “I think it’s a bad idea because of the human
rights violations they’ve committed. It sets a bad example
for a sporting event that is supposed to represent the coming
together of all the nations of the world. A country that gets the
Olympics should have a good civil rights record and an overall
community spirit that supports what the Olympics stand for.”
Matt Kennedy Second-year Mathematics and physics
“As an influential country, China’s gone too long
without being awarded the chance to host the Olympics. As far as
human rights are concerned, you can turn it around. We’re
looking at it from our point of view. They probably think that
we’re terrible because of the way we pollute the air and jump
out of treaties, or the way we let murderers out of jail after a
few years. They probably think that’s a violation of human
rights.” Speaks Out compiled by Maegan Carberry, Daily Bruin
Senior Staff. Photos by Alice Lam, Daily Bruin Contributor.
