February 12, 2008
EVEN JIMMY CARTER WASN'T THIS CRAVEN:
Juggling free speech for Beijing Olympics: As Britain shifts position, U.S. Olympians learn they can say what they want -- in certain areas (Philip Hersh, February 12, 2008, LA Times)
A member of the U.S. Olympic team would face no official rebuke for wearing a T-shirt that said, "Free Tibet," while walking the streets of Beijing during the 2008 Summer Games.Wear that shirt in the Olympic Village or any sports venue, and the athlete might be on the next plane home after violating the international Olympic Charter.
U.S. athletes can criticize China's human rights record if asked about it at any time or place -- as long as it isn't at a news conference specifically organized for that purpose in an "Olympic area."
Athletes from other countries may have to be even more careful about what they say and where they say it.
Having established what we are, these are just negotiations over our price. Posted by Orrin Judd at February 12, 2008 4:14 PM
Not everything is about politics.
Posted by: Brandon at February 12, 2008 5:42 PMExcept, by definition, in a totalitarian regime. Of course, we don't live in one, so why should we care.
Posted by: oj at February 12, 2008 6:00 PMThe Olympics this summer will be highly entertaining. T-shirts will be the least of their problems.
Posted by: erp at February 12, 2008 7:13 PMHow about T-shirts with Lady Liberty on them?
Or little statuettes? With the bozing and wrestling and weight-lifting teams handing them out in the Square?
Posted by: ratbert at February 13, 2008 12:47 AM