U.S., allies should send a messages

By Jon Juliano
Collegian Staff
April 16, 2008

When I was in Beijing with the Leadership and Global Understanding class over spring break, one of the themes that kept recurring from the government down to the everyday person was that of saving face. In communication theory, face refers to the desired self-image you wish to present to others. In China it means always being polite, avoiding disagreements and humiliation and preserving honor, which have always been a part of the country and culture.

During a meeting at the end of the first day, we debriefed about what we learned. I said that the Olympics are going to expose how egregious China’s smog and air quality really are. I said they will only make the country look horrible and set back the country’s progress. China had announced temporary solutions to better its air quality, but I did not think there would be enough time to undo the damage its rising economy (powered almost entirely by coal) is doing to the environment.

Everyone said I was wrong, and one of the ambassadors we met even said we will never see a prettier Beijing than during the summer games. But none of us could foresee another reason as to why the country might look bad during the Olympics. Steven Spielberg, the Games’ artistic director, had just resigned in protest of China’s support for the murderous Sudanese government; there was a chance his protest would catch fire, but none of us predicted that Tibet would crash China’s welcome-to-the-global-stage party.

Among everything else the torch relay is supposed to falsely represent, such as world harmony, unity and sportsmanship, China was supposed to keep the torch with them as they ran through the Olympics, to a prosperous future and eventually status as a superpower.

However, with protests in London, France and San Francisco, and a call to boycott from House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) the question is: Should the United States sit out the opening ceremonies? I do not think boycotting the opening ceremonies will hurt our foreign policy with China.

The country’s rising economy will make them the next global power. I was not sure at first, but after being there I now know that China’s government knows what it is doing, and is making more moves than their version of checkers.

While emerging to this status, as they are going to need our foreign policy just as much we need theirs. Also, if England and France boycotted with us, then it becomes three major countries that China cannot afford to cut ties with. Ditching the ceremonies will send a message that although China is a country that we need business from, we do not agree with their policies and are not afraid to show it.

If this is a country that is going to surpass everyone except perhaps the United States, then our foreign policy needs to stand strong, and should set the tone here.

The Olympics are supposed to be the event that unites countries and shows what the world can get done when they come together, and the protests have done just that. Americans, Tibetans, French and Brits have come together and created a crisis for the Chinese government, and have forced China to lose so much face that it belongs on Dr. 90210 for reconstructive surgery, instead of on NBC as the backdrop for track and field events.

Maybe the government can quietly suppress the uprising in Tibet, but the damage is already done. The whole world is watching China, and this blunder will set back their progress. The only bright spot for China is that the only people that are talking about boycotting the actual games are the distance runners who won’t run if the air quality stays this harmful.

julianoj3@lasalle.edu