By Colin Benjamin
The China Olympics have begun, but amid the revelry of competition between the world's best athletes, will any of these superstars "seize the time" and speak out against China's repression of Tibet or their support for the genocidal Sudan
government?
Don't expect the NBA/Team U.S.A players to say anything. "We're coming to play basketball," LeBron James said. Said Kobe Bryant: "Our focus is to play basketball, that's what we are here for, that's what we do best. We're not politicians or government officials."
He also seemed to issue a warning to other players saying "Don't say anything stupid." Dwayne Wade said, "it's not about
us making a stand or taking a position. It's about us playing our position." Wade added this: "It's not our home...This is a business trip for us. We'll let the politics take care of itself. There might be some people that get into it,
but that's not my focus."
Supposedly, NBA Commissioner David Stern has encouraged those players whose conscience urges them to speak to do so. Somehow, I find that hard to believe.
"I say be your own person," Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball managing director said. "One might say, 'well I am just here to play basketball and the Olympics are about sport. The Olympics are about bringing countries together.' But if your heart is telling you something...then be your own person. We're not muzzling anyone"
Team USA Coach Mike Krzyzewski stated "Our country allows you to do that (speak out.") However, he also said "We look at the Olympics as sport, not a political forum. But that doesn't mean our guys don't have the right to speak out on any issue." For some it's never the right time to speak for justice. If the Olympics aren't a political forum why do nations like China clamor to host them? And how vain are these people who can't seem to comprehend the futility of a world where
people care more about superficiality than the cries of the suffering masses?
Unfortunately, these days most Black superstar athletes seem totally devoid of any civic responsibility. They are disgraceful benefactors of the legacy of real sports heroes like Muhammad Ali, Tommie Smith and John Carlos. First, the man: Muhammad Ali.
Has there ever been another American athlete with more righteous courage than Ali? At the height of his career, Ali sacrificed millions, his championship belt and freedom because his conscience wouldn't allow him to sign on to the slaughter of the Vietnamese. Ali could've easily signed on to the carnage, and as a celebrity he would never have faced combat. But he never wavered and used his celebrity status to oppose the Vietnam War.
In the face of these cowardly comments made by these pampered, self-absorbed Black athletes let's examine something that happened in the 1968 Summer Olympics, in Mexico City. On October 16, of that year two Black athletes, John
Carlos (born in Harlem) and Tommie Smith, took a dramatic stand for justice.
Smith and Carlos, track and field stars, placed first and third respectively in the 200 metre race; after accepted their medals, they proceeded to raised their fists wearing Black gloves and socks to show their solidarity with the masses of poor Blacks. Needless to say, these two men were excoriated. First, they were expelled from the Games. Back "home," in America, they were
pilloried in newspapers and in magazines; like Time which ran a piece entitled "Angrier, Nastier, Uglier. Sportscaster, Brent Musburger spewed venom calling the pair "Black-skinned storm troopers." Moreover, they were subjected to death
threats by some in white America.
Unfortunately, the brave legacy these Black men bequeathed means little to today's Black basketball superstars. But, as these neutered Negroes reject any responsibility to speak up against China's repression and partnership with the
genocidal Sudanese government this isn't the case with Joey Cheek. Cheek, a former Olympic speed-skating champion, co-founded a group named Team Darfur. Team Darfur is an international organization of athletes dedicated to raising awareness on the Darfur crisis. Cheek was to have attended this year's games. But a few hours before his flight, the Chinese government revoked his visa. They refused to give a reason for their actions.
Interestingly enough, while Britain's Prince Charles and German Chancellor Angela Merkel decided to forgo the opening Olympic festivities, in protest of China treatment of the people of Tibet among other things, President Bush attended. When asked why he was attending Mr. Bush claimed he didn't want to offend the Chinese people. Question: would he feel that way if the Olympics were being held in Cuba? Facing mounting pressure, Mr. Bush issued a statement supposedly to prod China to clean up its human rights abuses. But given the scandalously criminal behavior of his administration, what kind of moral force
do his words carry?
It's not hard to see what going on here. In 1980, America boycotted the Moscow Olympics and in 1984 Russia returned the favor in Los Angeles. During those Cold War days Americans were brainwashed with the "Red Scare" and Cuba then an ally
of Russia broke the ultimate rule by defying the hegemonic Monroe Doctrine which declared Latin America and the Caribbean the backyard of America.
For decades, Americans have been told that communism is evil. So, why is America so buddy-buddy with China? Could it be the profits American corporations make, due to the cheap labor that China's government extracts from its people?
Nike also makes a killing from sweat-shop labor. Is this why these NBA players are united in their shameful silence?
