Pacific Views

One Image, One Moment: On the Road to the Beijing Olympics

... by Michelle Kraus

There is a promise of hope in the Beijing Olympics if global leaders come together for the Dalai Lama and human rights. The image of the torch is not just the Olympic Torch, but rather the beacon of hope for the people of the world.

One image. One moment. A chance for peace.

Step back and take a moment and to consider the Dalai Lama carrying the torch or stepping onto the podium at the Opening Ceremony - perhaps that would be a chance for peace. Maybe what we must do is take baby steps and lobby for his presence at the Opening Ceremonies and that would be enough.

One image. One moment. A chance for peace.

A bold, online campaign launched today at www.humanitariandream.com proposing a solution to all the controversy surrounding the Beijing Olympics this summer. Amidst all the outcries for boycott and the resulting acrimony, businessman Steve Varon proposes a plausible solution.

"With controversy and strife surrounding the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay over the past few months, this proposal is the first publicly announced solution to the dilemma. Imagine the Dalai Lama carrying the Olympic torch along the torch relay route, past the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet - or anywhere else on the relay route. It has the potential to quell the violent protests and return the focus of the torch relay to a celebration of peace through sport, inspiring hope for all people around the world. Corporate, civic and government leaders globally have been encouraged to support this opportunity. The idea has been warmly embraced publicly and privately."

See the video and hear the words of this quiet man, a businessman, who has committed himself to this one moment of light.

Sign the petition online and form the human link to this one moment.

All the political and global forces are wrong for this to have a prayer of success. The Chinese own a substantial amount of the US debt at a time in which the economy is teetering on recession. Human rights activists have lost their spokesperson in the late Congressman Tom Lantos. A United States boycott of the games is impossible, and not the answer.

One image. One moment. A chance for peace.

Sports should be about freedom, not politics. So let's have the games and abide by this Call to Action. Sign the petition and consider the solution is of finding a way to unify the Dali Lama and the Chinese government on this one day.

"If constructive dialogue with China could result in the world seeing the Dalai Lama carrying the torch" said Varon "it would send a powerful message about the Olympics as a force of good, and truly symbolize the 'One World, One Dream' slogan of this year's Games."

One image, One moment, One World, One Dream - On the Road to Beijing.

[Michelle Kraus is a friend of the Commonweal Institute and frequent poster at The Huffington Post. We are pleased to help her spread the word on this campaign. This post was originally published at The Huffington Post. ]

Posted by PV Guest at April 19, 2008 02:19 PM | Guest Writings | Technorati links |