The connection between Darfur, The Olympics in China, Lebron, and why the US won’t get involved.
In THIS article from the Philadelphia Inquirer, David Aldridge wrote about Cleveland Cavaliers forward Ira Newbie, a relative no name who wrote an open letter for his teammates to sign that stated “China cannot be a legitimate host to the premier international event in the sporting world – the Summer Olympic Games – white it remains complicit in the terrible suffering and destruction that continues to this day”.
Excuse my ignorance, but I was not aware of the China – Sudan link until I came across this. According to the article above Dreamfordarfur.org states that China has provided 10 billion in economic aid to the Sudanese government, buying their oil, supplying weapons and complicitly supporting the slaughter. It is also noteworthy that China, one of the 5 permanent members of the UN has repeatedly blocked implementation of the passed resolution which would place 20,000+ peacekeeping forces on the ground to stop the fighting.
Also noteworthy is that Lebron James and Damon Jones refused to sign the letter. I speculate that James’ endorsement deals would be threatened, however, James himself said he wasn’t educated enough on the issue to sign it. But he apparently hasn’t made the effort to get educated on it and sign it yet. Now why would Lebron matter in all of this?
I’ll tell you why. From Bill Russel, to Jim Brown, to Kareem, to Muhammad Ali, dominate black athletes have been involved in social activism as it pertains to the upliftment of black people and actively spoken out on issues to call attention to specific problems that most people don’t want to talk about. This history was broken with Jordan who refused to PUBLICLY get involved in black social issues on a national stage. He did loads on a private, intimate level, but never publicly. Yes, it was Jordan’s right not to sign, but it is also my right to only see him as a great basketball player. Just like it is Lebron’s right not to sign, however it is my right to form an opinion about him based on his choice not to sign.
I am 100% supportive of calling out and exposing those players who are not living up to the standard that previous generations of social and political activism that black athletes have set.
I believe that if the major athletes in this country called for the US to boycott going to China based on its human right violations in particular its continuous support of the genocide in Darfur, we just may see the tide turn on this one. The US refuses to actively get involved because everyone knows we don’t want to go to blows with China, not while we’re in Iraq, and definitely not now, as they are in many ways supporting our economy. (most of the companies who operate in China are continually making the largest profits and gains in the Dow. The Wall Street Journal even suggested that it is international business that is keeping our economy afloat right now.)
So due to economics and politics, the US will not force the Darfur issue, and Lebron will remain complacent and quiet in his quest for a gold medal in China.
~C
