Some folks feel the words “Olympics” and “sports” should never share the same sentence with “politics” and “protest.” They vent their comments online, calling marchers in the streets useless and naive to think they’re making a difference, some calling foul on behalf of athletes they’ve never met, nor consulted with. Meanwhile, dozens of athletes around the world are speaking out on Tibet and Darfur. One coalition petitioned the International Olympics Committee for permission to make their statement “For A Better world.”
Other critics outright despise the protesters and the media that covers them, a sentiment inflamed by the Chinese government. They’ve recruited “strong men” to help ensure pro-Tibet protesters don’t get near the torch again; this coming after the Australian government refused China’s People’s Armed Police (PAP) access to guard the torch. Still others have taken it upon themselves to personally attack known Tibet advocates, barraging voicemails with threatening messages and filling blogs with such posts as, “you are going to hell. You go to China again and I swear we will kill you. Piece by piece.”
A more serious fall-out of the massive opposition is the cementing of nationalistic fervor inside China by the CCP, and its offshoot Xinhua news. Their coverage continually hurls ridiculous insults at the cherished leader of the very people they publicly claim to be helping and representing, all the while maintaining that most Tibetans are happy under Chinese rule. If only they would let the world have a tiny peek under the cloak that blankets the military operations across historic Tibet, we could put some of their outrageous claims to the test. Luckily, it’s the 21st century and everyone’s a journalist.
With all of the nay-sayers, haters and propaganda, it is hard to stay positive as a non-violent protester, who believes in her heart of hearts that one day Tibet Will Be Free. I have been detained twice this year for non-violent actions, as have many other Tibet supporters, not because I like confronting cops or scaring my parents (though they may beg to differ), but because I think it matters. Three days in Chinese detention last year showed me that only my American passport stood between a slap on the wrist and a life of imprisonment, all for holding up a banner. It’s hard to imagine the courage required for a Tibetan to stand up to the PAP in Lhasa; but I suppose that when people feel trapped, they will risk everything for a breath of fresh air.
In 2000, according to the Wall Street Journal, there were 178 news articles that mentioned both China and Tibetan independence, while so far this year there have been 1,979 (for all you blogheads that was 72 blogs in 2007 and 8,378 since January 1, 2008.) In my book, that’s a win for Team Tibet. Imagine if we had listened to our apathetic critics, or submitted to our fears of backlash, and stayed quiet. Think of the thousands of people who have learned about Tibet in the last month because we raised our voices. When I am feeling discouraged, I imagine the solidarity Tibetans inside Tibet might feel when a neighbor whispers, “Hey did you hear about London? Paris? San Francisco? Delhi?” We know it filters in.
~Kisten Westby, Board of Directors: Students for a Free Tibet