Olympic boycott

By Published by The Editorial Board

Published: August 8, 2008

I am going to boycott the Olympic games and I won’t be drinking Coke any longer.
I have always enjoyed watching Olympic completion on television. This year, for the first time ever, I won’t watch any of the Olympic games, and here’s why.
China has failed to live up to their commitments to the International Olympic Committee.
Their record on human rights has not improved.
The Chinese Government is executing condemned prisoners and harvesting internal organs to sell on the transplant market. They have a fleet of Execution Vans that go from town to town to carry out the act. Then they harvest the organs just after the condemned had died. Many of these executed prisoners were tortured into making false confessions.
Their abuse of the environment is still continuing.
They continue to build coal-fired power plants that produce abundant amounts of smog and greenhouse gases. Have you seen a video of Beijing on the news lately? Smog so thick you could cut it with a butter knife.
They are using electronic measured to spy on visitors.
Yes it’s true; they are listening in on all communications made by visitors. They said they wouldn’t it.
Our president will be there. He has been asked time and time again to stay home, he refuses. I agree with others who say that his presence there shows support for the Chinese government. I think it also show his lack of support for our working families.
The United States boycotted the 1980 Olympic games because the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. China is invading this country each and every day and reaching into each of our homes.
The products that were made here are now only made in China. The reality is that the large advertisers/sponsors and retailers in our country have helped them take our jobs away.
Made in the U.S.A. by legal U.S. citizens is something we really, really need to support. As for me, I will refuse to watch the games, I will refuse to spend money with advertiser that sponsors the games (Coca-Cola), and I will refuse to let them beat me.
I will do as I have done for years, I will continue to look for those products that say made in the U.S.A. I will also continue to shop with local merchants when ever possible. Making it local and buying local is the best way to improve our economy.
Join me, if you will. We might just start a trend.

Ed Gambill
King