NPR reported yesterday that 34 million viewers tuned in to the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics. It was the largest opening night viewing audience ever.
Leah and I did not watch. We’ve decided to just say no to viewing any of these Olympic Games, an inconsequential, spit-into-the-wind gesture on our part, a two-person boycott--actually three, in that our son Abell is also taking part--against Big Media, Big Money, Big-China, Big Whatever.
When Leah and I traveled in Nepal last fall, our route at one point took us within just a few miles of the border with Tibet. We visited a number of villages where Tibetan traders and refugees had come into Nepal and were living in makeshift tents that were really just flimsy pieces of cloth held up by a few sticks and some rope. We entered monasteries where there was a palpable sense of peace, perhaps at least in part because refugee Tibetan Buddhists could openly practice their traditions in a way they’re afraid to do in their Chinese government-occupied homeland.
The Tibetans are a beautiful people and their culture is rich. The Chinese government is erasing Tibet from the world map, bringing the Tibetan people into the smog-choked fold that is modern China.
If you are watching the games (and statistics say you probably are) I want to make it clear that, honestly, I don’t fault your viewing choice. Even the Dalai Lama, the spiritual and cultural leader of Tibet, is not in favor of Olympics protests and boycotts.
NBC paid nearly $ 900-million for rights to broadcast the games. I suspect the network will spend most of its expensive airtime telling the world about wins and losses in the swimming pool or on the running track, with relatively minor mention of the loss of a culture.
