Olympic Pride

Walking through Boston a couple weeks ago I noticed a large group of people in Boston Common. They were mostly sitting on mats, and it led to this exchange between myself and my friend.

My Friend: "Are they all doing Yoga?"

Me: "I think it's a protest, but I'm not sure."

Now as we got close I realized that it was a large group of Chinese protesters that were trying to help people learn about what is happening in Tibet. For anyone that doesn't know, you can go here to get more information of exactly what is happening there.

Recently, there has been a lot of media coverage in regards to Tibet and the goings on there. This isn't a recent occurrence however, the issues there have been going on for some time now. The reason it is now getting the publicity it deserves is because of the 2008 summer Olympics in China.

As a sports media member I think it's great for sports because it shows how important sports are. Sure, they are entertainment, but they also often provide a window into more serious matters. It's not realistic to expect everyone to know about every issue in the world, but if someone watches the Olympic coverage this year they will also become aware of Tibet. That awareness will make a difference, whether it be slight or significant, and sports are what allowed that to happen.

As a regular media member I am disgusted by the fact that the Olympics is the event that finally brings Tibet to the public eye. If people like Paris Hilton and Britney Spears can get considerable news coverage on a daily basis why can't something as important as Tibet get some news coverage. It shouldn't take the Olympics to make the media bring Tibet to the public eye. Tibet should get news coverage because of the events happening there, not because of a series of protests that are affecting the carrying of the Olympic torch.

~Aaron Jackson