To boycott back or not?

This week in my classes I brought a work paper entitled 'turn the other cheek'.
This in itself caused comment, for a mainly non-religious population, this phrase from the New Testament was virtually unfamiliar. Opening discussions began with the source of the phrase and the meaning of it.

Now why did I bring this particular piece? All the newspapers and news last week was full of the 'atrocious' behaviour of the westerners. As the Olympic flame made its way to England and France, it was received with rioting and
jeers, a complete opposite of the symbol for which it stands!

Some years ago, when our now President of Israel, Mr Shimon Peres, failed to be elected the first time for the post of Presidency, I was ashamed that day to call myself an Israeli, for I personally felt that it was a position that he more than deserved. So, when last year he was elected, it was a proud moment for Israel.

Last week, when I opened the news and newspaper and saw the pandemonium
that was taking place, I was ashamed that day to be a westerner. The Chinese people are not fully informed of the ceremonial events that take place during the Olympics and many a person has asked me why China could not keep the torch here in Beijing, why did it need to be paraded around the antagonistic world?
After explaining to them that this was a normal course of events, that it was the symbol of hope, peace and unity, their next question was inevitably, 'so why was
it attacked?', following with the words of comprehension, 'oh! we now understand, this was an attack against China!'

The whole week there was an uncomfortable atmosphere surrounding Beijing, as foreigners felt that their hospitable hosts were becoming antagonistic towards them following the reports on the news. During one class, messages were being received over the cellular phones, talking of boycotting purchasing goods in French establishments. Can you blame them? I certainly could not.

During this trying week, I tried, I hope successfully, to bring a little less 'touchiness' into their attitude and remove the embedded 'chip on their shoulders', as I kept trying to explain, if China has chosen to take this brave and
unprecedented step in opening the window to the world, whether it be a small
one or a large one, they have to allow themselves to be open to criticism!

For if at the end of the day, the games are boycotted for any reason trumped up or real and then China retaliates in kind, the only losers at the end of the day
are the athletes who have spent the past number of years preparing for this
event. We have known in the past of games that have had countries missing from the opening ceremonies and games, but it would seem a shame to do so here. When you are living in the country, as every politician that succeeeds to office knows, 'the view on the other side looks different!'.

If the world cares so much for justice and peace, the award of basic human rights and protection of each individual, surely we should help by giving our
support for such an event and be 'proving by example' how things are set aside
and done 'for the good of the people, by the people!'.