Olympic (political) Games

Steven Spielberg, famous for directing the movies Jaws and Schindler's List, among many others, recently ended his association with the Beijing Olympics production group. He is vexed and concerned that Chinese leaders will not use their influence in Africa to help curb the genocide in Darfur. (Yes, Ballista used the "G" word). China has vast economic interests in Africa, mostly related to natural resource extraction. Spielberg has lobbied Beijing for months to pay more than lip service to the crisis. (Incidently, most every other nation, the US and EU states included, aren't doing much more than yapping on Darfur.)

Anyway, China's Foreign Ministry has responded by stating that ol' Steven "isn't in-line with the spirit of the Olympics."

Translation: "Shut up, Mr. Director-man! Don't you know that you are supposed to put everything else aside and ignore gross injustices here in China, and Africa, but especially here in China during the world games? That's what the ancient Greeks did, and that's what everyone did in 1936."

Alright, the Chinese wouldn't bring up the Berlin games to Spielberg. Be that as it may, some think that participating in the 2008 Games, turning a blind eye to the repression by the Communist autocrats in China, will pressure Beijing to reform. Ballista thinks that Beijing will just disappear the "problem makers" during the lead up to the Olympics, but once the last medal is given out, the Communists will be back to their usual tricks. So kudos to Mr. Spielberg for having the clarity and moral courage to tell Beijing to shove it.

Oh, and the biggest difference between 2008 and 1936... today there isn't a Jesse Owens, a gold medal around his neck, to show up Hitler. Unless, of course, the Dalai Lama secretly runs a hell of a decathlon.

If you are now completely depressed, just enjoy this bit of Beijing Olympics propaganda publicity.