A thousand miles away from the glitz and glamor
For over a century, the spirit of the Olympic Games has brought people together to compete in friendly athletic competition in hopes of inspiring the world toward peace and harmony.
I've cheered on so many athletes from my home state as they pursue their dreams of Olympic gold – or even just the chance to compete with the best in their sport.
Today the Winter Olympics Games begin, and we'll be again watching fantastic accomplishments by amazing athletes. But there's another critical part of these Games that we have to talk about.
Just a thousand miles away from the glitz and glamor of the Games, millions of people – the ethnic Uyghur people – face brutal human rights abuses.
What is happening in the Xinjiang province, at the far eastern edge of China? The Uyghur people face forced labor, forced sterilizations, political indoctrination, religious repression, and punishment even for speaking their language.
And of course, the Chinese government is also engaged in a vicious stifling of democracy in Hong Kong, mass surveillance, and the imprisonment of political prisoners and journalists who dare to shine a light on government atrocities.
President Biden was right when he declared a diplomatic boycott – no American dignitaries adding to the fanfare and celebration of the Olympics.
The Chinese government wants these Olympic Games to be a propaganda coup. Instead, while the world's eyes are on Beijing we should use these Games to call out China's repression and genocide. The United States should not be alone in demanding change in China. Our fellow nations should join us. And major brands who traditionally sponsor the Games must join us as well.
The Olympic spirit demands it. Our mutual commitment to peace demands it. The people of the world must demand it.
Jeff
