I'm visiting my aunt and her family in Fremont, California for the week. And tonight we sat around the TV in the family room watching an Asian TV channel broadcasting on the presidential election in Taiwan coming up on March 22nd. A brief section on whether or not the current situation in Tibet would have much effect on the election was featured. This was followed up a few sections on whether or not world leaders should be pushing China more on promoting its human rights due to the summer Olympics coming up in Beijing. The whole world would be watching China, so it better clean up its "image" and it better do it fast. When questioned about whether or not they would boycott (or in other ways/forms denounce the use of extreme violence against protesters), I was disappointed to hear many leaders interviewed say that what's going on in Tibet and the Olympics are two separate events. "The Olympics is an international sporting event, and should not be mingled with an political event". Since when did the oppression of a unique culture and & killing of innocent people become just a "political event"?
From the official website for the Olympics - "According to the Olympic Charter, established by Pierre de Coubertin, the goal of the Olympic Movement is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practised without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play." Moreover, "The Olympic Truce is symbolised by the dove of peace with the traditional Olympic flame in the background. In a world that is plagued by wars and animosity, the peace-dove symbol represents one of the IOC's ideals to build a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal. The Olympic flame has brought warm friendship to all the people of the world through sharing and global togetherness. In the symbol, the flame is made up of colourful effervescent elements - reminiscent of festivities experienced in the celebration of the human spirit. These elements represent people of all races coming together for the observance of the Truce."
(http://www.olympic.org/uk/organisation/missions/truce/truce_uk.asp)
Just an international sporting event? In the words of my Aunt who I've been spending a lot of time with, GIVE ME A BREAK!
A few days ago I received an e-mail from a friend asking me to sign a petition calling for the restraint of violence against Tibetans by the Chinese officials, and dialogue between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama. I read it and decided to sign it. But as soon as they asked for my e-mail. I suffered a mini freak-out. Images of secret agents tracking me down and arresting me for supporting this cause flashed through my mind. Silly thoughts I know. But these thoughts were enough for me to close the browser and leave the e-mail and signing for another day.
Tonight after watching the news, I felt like I was just like one of those leaders by avoiding signing the petition out of fear and selfishness. Many things that I have been reading, and been taught, and been listening to in sermons rung loudly in my mind. How we were all created in God's image and deserve to live with dignity and decency, how the way we treat the "least of these" is how we are treating God himself, how as Christians we are to spread the love of God to those in need with our ACTIONS. We are to fight for those who have no voice because that's what Jesus commanded us to do. If we truly know how much love the Father has for us, then we ourselves radiate that same love and compassion to others because we are ALL children of God. I caught myself by surprise by having these thoughts. A year ago I would've said, "Oh well it's really bad that China is doing this to the Tibetans, but it would be so unfair to the athletes and all those others who have worked so hard to make the Olympics happen". But tonight, something within me had changed. It was as if the Spirit had touched my heart and was gently reminding me of God's command to "love others as you would love yourself."
NO NO NO, we cannot treat the Olympics and what's happening in Tibetans as separate, from different "categories". If we don't do anything to show our disapproval and still let the Olympics happen without voicing our concerns to the world about the injustice of it all, we would be indirectly saying that is it OK for the Chinese government to treat Tibetans the way they do. We ALL have the responsibility to do something! This is somebody's mother, somebody's daughter, father, son, grandfather, grandmother, cousin, aunt, uncle... this is somebody's life, dignity, humanity... These are people with personalities, passions, hopes, dreams...! What state would our world be in if we let a country utilize violence against the defenseless, and on the very same soil, adorning the world's elite and privileged with golden crowns and singing praises? It is just not right, we cannot turn away. For the loss of human rights cannot be compartmentalized as a "political" issue, but is an issue that sits at the very core of human existence.
As I write this I keep thinking about what Jesus would do if he was living today. I think he would likely have something to say to those who blindly turn from the violence against God's beloved children and focus their eyes instead on the dazzling, short-lived, adrenaline filled event fueled by human glory. By all means I am not denouncing the Olympics, or the great athletes who compete in them. But I AM saying that, promoting basic human rights is more important than any sporting competition, not matter how great and glorious they may be.
But I become discouraged. I too, am selfish. Many people would care to do something, but soon be caught up with other things in life. The big sponsors of the corporate world may care even less. After all, the world's gotta go on right? The economy needs to keep going. This is where it becomes HARD to follow Jesus. What do we do? But as Easter is approaching, I am again reminded of how this is not it. This life on earth, is not the only life we will live. If it was, then the meaning of Easter would somehow be lost. For God so loved the world he sent his only son to die for our sins. Jesus suffered on the cross for our sins. He died but he was raised up again by God himself. God defeated death itself, not only showing us that he is greater than any force of evil, but that even our own our deaths, do not mean we have come to the end of the road. In fact, our death will be just the beginning....
There are many things you can do to help the situation in Tibet. Voice our concern by signing a petition (ask me to forward it to you if you haven't already received it from me in e-mail), write to your local MP, write to the prime minister. Express your concern! You can also boycott products from companies sponsoring the 2008 Olympics. Here is a list of the sponsoring companies.
Thanks for reading!
From the official website for the Olympics - "According to the Olympic Charter, established by Pierre de Coubertin, the goal of the Olympic Movement is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practised without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play." Moreover, "The Olympic Truce is symbolised by the dove of peace with the traditional Olympic flame in the background. In a world that is plagued by wars and animosity, the peace-dove symbol represents one of the IOC's ideals to build a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal. The Olympic flame has brought warm friendship to all the people of the world through sharing and global togetherness. In the symbol, the flame is made up of colourful effervescent elements - reminiscent of festivities experienced in the celebration of the human spirit. These elements represent people of all races coming together for the observance of the Truce."
(http://www.olympic.org/uk/organisation/missions/truce/truce_uk.asp)
Just an international sporting event? In the words of my Aunt who I've been spending a lot of time with, GIVE ME A BREAK!
A few days ago I received an e-mail from a friend asking me to sign a petition calling for the restraint of violence against Tibetans by the Chinese officials, and dialogue between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama. I read it and decided to sign it. But as soon as they asked for my e-mail. I suffered a mini freak-out. Images of secret agents tracking me down and arresting me for supporting this cause flashed through my mind. Silly thoughts I know. But these thoughts were enough for me to close the browser and leave the e-mail and signing for another day.
Tonight after watching the news, I felt like I was just like one of those leaders by avoiding signing the petition out of fear and selfishness. Many things that I have been reading, and been taught, and been listening to in sermons rung loudly in my mind. How we were all created in God's image and deserve to live with dignity and decency, how the way we treat the "least of these" is how we are treating God himself, how as Christians we are to spread the love of God to those in need with our ACTIONS. We are to fight for those who have no voice because that's what Jesus commanded us to do. If we truly know how much love the Father has for us, then we ourselves radiate that same love and compassion to others because we are ALL children of God. I caught myself by surprise by having these thoughts. A year ago I would've said, "Oh well it's really bad that China is doing this to the Tibetans, but it would be so unfair to the athletes and all those others who have worked so hard to make the Olympics happen". But tonight, something within me had changed. It was as if the Spirit had touched my heart and was gently reminding me of God's command to "love others as you would love yourself."
NO NO NO, we cannot treat the Olympics and what's happening in Tibetans as separate, from different "categories". If we don't do anything to show our disapproval and still let the Olympics happen without voicing our concerns to the world about the injustice of it all, we would be indirectly saying that is it OK for the Chinese government to treat Tibetans the way they do. We ALL have the responsibility to do something! This is somebody's mother, somebody's daughter, father, son, grandfather, grandmother, cousin, aunt, uncle... this is somebody's life, dignity, humanity... These are people with personalities, passions, hopes, dreams...! What state would our world be in if we let a country utilize violence against the defenseless, and on the very same soil, adorning the world's elite and privileged with golden crowns and singing praises? It is just not right, we cannot turn away. For the loss of human rights cannot be compartmentalized as a "political" issue, but is an issue that sits at the very core of human existence.
As I write this I keep thinking about what Jesus would do if he was living today. I think he would likely have something to say to those who blindly turn from the violence against God's beloved children and focus their eyes instead on the dazzling, short-lived, adrenaline filled event fueled by human glory. By all means I am not denouncing the Olympics, or the great athletes who compete in them. But I AM saying that, promoting basic human rights is more important than any sporting competition, not matter how great and glorious they may be.
But I become discouraged. I too, am selfish. Many people would care to do something, but soon be caught up with other things in life. The big sponsors of the corporate world may care even less. After all, the world's gotta go on right? The economy needs to keep going. This is where it becomes HARD to follow Jesus. What do we do? But as Easter is approaching, I am again reminded of how this is not it. This life on earth, is not the only life we will live. If it was, then the meaning of Easter would somehow be lost. For God so loved the world he sent his only son to die for our sins. Jesus suffered on the cross for our sins. He died but he was raised up again by God himself. God defeated death itself, not only showing us that he is greater than any force of evil, but that even our own our deaths, do not mean we have come to the end of the road. In fact, our death will be just the beginning....
There are many things you can do to help the situation in Tibet. Voice our concern by signing a petition (ask me to forward it to you if you haven't already received it from me in e-mail), write to your local MP, write to the prime minister. Express your concern! You can also boycott products from companies sponsoring the 2008 Olympics. Here is a list of the sponsoring companies.
Thanks for reading!
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