Dalai Lama supports China Olympics

Well, I’m back on the “boycott” issue. Perhaps I just don’t understand. Perhaps it’s that I’m cold hearted. Perhaps it’s that I’m just a little level headed. I don’t know. But I’m getting a little frustrated and annoyed with some of the protesters who have been disrupting the symbolic journey of the Olympic Flame.

I watched with sadness the other day as protesters jumped out in front of a young woman who was running with the torch. The look of fear in her eyes as they tried to wrestle the torch from her, and the security who jumped in on all of them was sad to see. 

Heather’s brother ran with the torch back before the Calgary Olympics. It was before my time with their family, but I’m sure it was a very exciting moment. Too bad it was ruined for this young woman. 

I think most protesters are hypocrites. They’ve had how many years to protest the games going to China? It’s not like they just found out a few months ago that they were going to happen. Still, there they are, in an uproar.

Now, if you believe we should boycott the games because they are being held in China, I want you to do something. Look around the room you are sitting in right now. Pick up some of the objects close to you. Take a look at how many of them say, “Made in China” on the bottom. Then, if you live in Ontario, Canada, call up the Premiere’s office and ask why he is heading to China with a large contingent of businesses. 

You see, the point I’m making is that it’s far too easy to demand a boycott of something that really doesn’t affect your life directly. Personally, I don’t get all that hung up over the Olympics. It’s easy for me to boycott them. But, wow, it sure will affect all the athletes who have trained for their entire lives. THEY pay the price for your boycott, not you. 

You want to make a statement? Boycott your purchasing of Chinese products. Stop eating Chinese food. Speak out against businesses that help China’s economy flourish. But don’t pick on the athletes.

I think it’s ironic that the protesters are expressing outrage over China’s treatment of Tibet. Now, don’t get me wrong. I think we should be outraged over this. I think something needs to be done. I’m not suggesting for one minute that China should be applauded for their behaviour. 

However, the spiritual leader of Tibet, the Dalai Lama, speaks out and says he supports China’s hosting of the Olympics. What? He doesn’t believe we should boycott the Olympics? Here’s a quote from a CBC article, “I support Chinese host of famous world game because China is the most populated nation, an ancient nation, therefore, it is really deserved for the Chinese people to make host of Olympic Games. Until today, in spite of recent unfortunate events in Tibet, my position [is] not changed.”

I wonder how many of the protesters have faced the wrath of China over Tibet more than the Dalai Lama. I wonder if they have felt the same pain as he has from the nation that they are so outraged with. 

So, what should our response be as Christ followers? I believe we should stand for injustice. I believe we should demand that China be held accountable for its actions. I believe we should be peace makers in a situation that has been void of peace for far too many years. 

I don’t believe we should take it out on the athletes. Let the games go on, and let’s pray for both Tibet and China. 

We are the people in your neighbourhood …

I was going to write on something totally different, and may still put down my original thoughts in another post, but I was struck by something I read this morning. You see, my morning ritual includes the following: read the morning paper while having my first cup of coffee. Say goodbye to Heather and Christina. Drink a second cup of coffee while reading my overnight emails and a variety of blogs I have sent directly into my mail program. Write this blog while finishing up my second cup of coffee. Contemplate a third cup of coffee. (Of course, all of that gets messed up when I have a breakfast meeting with someone – ministry is so wonderful except when you have to deal with people!! [joking ... maybe]).

Anyway, back to what happened this morning. I’m reading my blogs. I have about six blogs that I read every time a new post is added. A couple are technology related (yes, I’m a Mac Geek). One is hockey related (always will be a Sens fan). A few are spiritual (pastors, missional, emergent).

There is one other blog I have subscribed to. It’s Carrie’s Blog. You can click on the link is this article (after you’re finished reading it of course), or find a link in my blog roll on the right side column. 

To be honest, it’s my favourite blog. Why? It’s real. It’s honest. Some days I cringe when I read what she writes – after all, this is a public domain and these words never truly disappear. Some days she brings me close to tears. Some days I just laugh at her outlook on life. 

I loved what she wrote today. I would copy and paste it here for you, but I’d rather you go to her blog and read it for yourself. It’s under the heading “Comparisons”. And to me, it reveals a spiritual maturity that is lacking in so many people who call themselves Christians today. Perhaps that why I continue to prefer the term Christ Follower to Christian. Too many immature Christians (but, I digress).

Carrie is, to me, a typical example of the people who attend Bikers’ Church. They are people who are real about their faith. They don’t fit into a box called “Christianity”. They don’t fit into any religious ideology. They are simply people recognize that “He’s God, I’m not” and are attempting to live their life according to that concept. They are people who are discovering what it means to “follow Jesus.” They are bikers, parents, professionals, welders, construction workers, secretaries, tattooists, and even a few Mac Geeks. They are people just like you – and just like the people you live near.

But to me, they are family. My family. 

If you don’t blog, I encourage you to consider doing it. Share your thoughts. You may never have an audience of thousands, but who cares? To me, people like Carrie make all the difference in how my day begins. Why not be a part of that?