For Every Party There's a Pooper

There are certain things I look forward to that only happen every few years. Halley's Comet (I saw it once in a cartoon, it looked cool), the Presidential Election (less than a year left to go!), Anne Heche's sexual orientation (is she straight, is she gay, is she being abducted by aliens?), and the Olympics.

Above all, I. Love. The. Olympics. I don't care if it's snowboarding, curling, table tennis, gymnastics, diving, swimming, the decathlon, I embrace it all. The Olympics to me is how most people feel about the NCAA; I don't miss a second of the action. Bob Costas and I become fast friends for two short weeks as he acts as my lifeline to the Olympics, keeping me updated on all the days events and the medal totals. (And then Costa's leaves me for two whole years, what a fair weather friend, I don't know what keeps me coming back.) But I do know what keeps me tuning in every two years, I love sports, I love America, I love world domination, so therefore, I love the Olympics.

But of course, like most things in the world, someone ALWAYS has to be raining on my parade. This year the Olympics have faced several problems in the form of protesters who are appealing to countries to boycott the Olympic Games. This is no joke. Germany is considering boycotting the opening ceremony, their have been cries to Congress to boycott the games entirely (luckily Nancy Pelosi has struck down down that idea, smart woman), and just this week in Paris, police had to extinguish the torch twice as it made it' way down the street because of violent protesters in the streets.

So why are there such strong protests against the Beijing Games? Human rights which, even I have to admit, is a good reason to protest. People are passionate against the Chinese rule in Tibet and I support any peaceful stand against a cruel government that is putting their people in danger.

Protests in Paris


But boycott the games? Come on people leave the Olympics out of this! Continue to protest, use the spotlight that the Olympic Games places on Beijing as a platform for your cause but, leave the games itself out of this. Athletes spend years preparing for these games, it's not their fault the games are being played in Beijing and they are not threatening human rights, Michael Phelps just wants to swim, people!

The Olympic games are an opportunity for the world to unite for two short weeks in healthy competition. Stars are born, cinderella stories unfold, it's more drama than an ABC soap and I love it. I love the Olympics, don't take that away from me. So, let's remember this, violating human rights = bad. Olympic games = good. Chinese government = eh pretty bad. Beijing games = very good. Ian Thorpe in a swimsuit = muy bueno.

So leave my games alone. Let me snuggle up with Bob Costas, watch my games at unheard of hours, loose sleep, gain an unhealthy amount of American patriotism, and enjoy my games in peace. Protest human rights all you want but don't protest the games.

Michael Phelps


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