politicizing.

i've been thinking about the beijing olympics PR problems, as reported in the wires and ST. actually ST gets the info from the wires anyway, but that's beside the point.

the whole idea of numerous people politicizing a sporting event has been met with enthusiasm and disapproval from all over. this idea of pressurizing the chinese government to step up efforts to end the genocide in sudan and threatening to boycott the olympic games - i'm still on the fence as to whether to be for or against.

no doubt activists are getting desperate and it's only a morally/ethically/logically right thing for beijing to try and use their relations with sudan to negotiate a way to end the immense suffering of the sudanese people. i mean, really, if you could do something about it, wouldn't you?

but the activists are actively persuading top officials and olympic athletes to boycott the games altogether when the games begin in august. like the recent exit of steven spielberg as creative advisor for the opening and closing ceremonies and that open letter from nobel laureates and top leaders of countries urging china to take action. that really bugs me. the games is an international sporting event, where top athletes from all around the world come together and compete in a friendly manner, just like ms. universe, really.

so it begs the question - is it okay to politicize the biggest international sporting event, the most expensive, the most watched, the most prominent and recognized event? and use the event as a bargaining chip to end a genocide in an African country?

and i begin to wonder if it wasn't china hosting the olympics but another country, for eg. a european country. would there be such a similar proposition? and i also wonder why china had a media blackout for 2 days, where no one in china knew about the PR woes of the olympics while the rest of the world knew. and the subsequent outrage of the chinese about the media blackout and about the exit of spielberg.

i know the chinese are very proud of the games and their preparation so far. and they have been preparing for the games for a long time and i, as a chinese, rejoiced when they won the bid. but i also worry that they may not be ready as yet, having travelled to major china cities many times.

but as a major trading partner and economy in the world right now, china has the power to influence and shape global events and perhaps, end the darfur crisis. and i hope they do. not because they are afraid no one will turn up at the olympic games, but because it's the right thing to do. and i also wish that activists and politicians would stop politicizing non-political events. if there has to be influencing going on, it should be the US president and china president talking about it.

just leave the politics out of it.

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speaking of politics, it's just everywhere around me nowadays in the office. actually not all around me. but it's uncanny that i was just talking to pastor mitch about the rigors of working life after evening worship yesterday and we got to talking about politics for awhile.

and today i was witnessed an exchange between 2 people that i believe was brought on by stress and irritation and just pure annoyance. i didn't think it was personal and it was attributed to the clashing of the 2 personalities. politics is just everywhere where people interact. and these 2 both have strong personalities and with that comes friction. i innocently stared at my laptop and pretended not to hear anything since i had my headphones on.

"He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor,
But a man of understanding holds his peace. "
- Proverbs 11:12

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i think it's such a joy to read Proverbs, because it's just filled with so much wise words. some of which bring comfort and peace to my stirring heart. (:

"He who trusts in his riches will fall,
But the righteous will flourish like foliage.
He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind,
And the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
And he who wins souls is wise. "
- Proverbs 11:28-30

and i absolutely love the lessons pastor teaches at ypg3. there are many challenges that come our way, and many difficult passages from the scriptures to understand in order to learn how to defend our faith. and as i seek to be a disciple of the Lord this year i really want to learn that and learn to speak of the Lord and His love for everyone of us.

on a completely different note,
"they're completely myth-ing the point!"
- pastor charlie, 16/02/08

(: