Is it really such a great thing to be proud of? My integral intuition tells me that there is something wrong about the Olympic games being organised in a country which is absolutely controversial in terms of human rights. The big business craze about bodies reaching for and performing highest sport achievements... I really have to think of the bodies of the persecuted members of Falun Gong etc...Boycott The Olympics!

Tommorow Eric Reeves will receive his honorary doctorate at Smith College where he has been teaching for most of his carreer. While at Smith he also launched the first salvo in this country against the onging genocide in Darfur, and is credited by his peers as the author of the concept of linking the Olympics with the horrow in Darfur. A careful reading of his blog and those of his supporters will yield no suggestion of boycotting the games. The intention is to have a worldwide presence of atheletes against China's support of the Sudanese government, enabling them to express their views of protest up close and personally to the people of China before and after the games. The bad press that has already been created over this issue is damaging China's hopes of presenting themselves to the world stage as responsible member of the human commuity. Recently they have agreed to resume talks in Washington on the issue of human rights abuses in their country and beyond. Commerce can not be allowed to trump compassion in China, in Sudan or in this country as well. The U.S. is fast losing its credibility in preaching to the abuses in other countries due to the abuses we have committed here at home, and abroad in the name of freedom and democracy. We need to protest, yes, but we also need to clean up the mess in our own back yard regarding the way we treat our citizens and those we interact with worldwide. As was expressed in the movie "Amazing Grace", we have much work to do!

Yes, congratulations Mark in having your hardword and talent recognized by China. My hope is that you too will now have an opportunity to express your views on the dignity and value of each individual on this planet. The heresy of our times is the illusion that we are all separate. Who knows the eventual concequences you might set in motion, even with a casual mention of Humankind's unity to some unknown friend selling his wares on a forgotten street in China. You never know, so may the voice your heart's desire for lovingkindness to all be expressed in your way, in your time and in that space. May it be so. Metta to all. Rick

In order to change the world you must engage to world.

... let's be honest: these days, is China's human rights record really that much worse than our own ... (posted by Keith)
Tell it to the Tibetans who have been culturally violated and EXTERMINATED for 60 years.
Ask yourself, Mr. Artist, would you have participated in promoting the 1936 Olympics in Berlin?
You will be aiding in political Propaganda for the kinder, gentler repressive Regime of these "we've cleaned up our act" phoneys.

... let's be honest: these days, is China's human rights record really that much worse than our own ... (posted by Keith)
Tell it to the Tibetans who have been culturally violated and EXTERMINATED for 60 years.
Ask yourself, Mr. Artist, would you have participated in promoting the 1936 Olympics in Berlin?
You will be aiding in political Propaganda for the kinder, gentler repressive Regime of these "we've cleaned up our act" phoneys.

Although my work is not designed to be a social or political statement, I will attend the games and may have the opportunity to make my views known through the media coverage of the event. Change comes in many forms, and through wide variety of contributions - my contribution to this effort is primarily artistic. Any person that feels as passionate as you do about Human Rights will not doubt be involved in other ways, I welcome and cheer your involvement. Regarding the 1936 Games, African-American athlete Jesse Owens won four gold medals in the 1936 Olympic games - and in his excellence in the games made a profound political statement to BOTH Nazi Germany and the United States. He achieved this coming from a country where he was excluded because of race. His contribution paved the way for integration in sports in the United States and led the way for more meaningful integrations in the America culture as a whole.

emphasize!
Ask yourself, Mr. Artist, would you have participated in promoting the 1936 Olympics in Berlin?
Or my dear college paint for Chinese authorities something like "free Tibet" or "freedom of speach". We are forgeting very quickly, one of the bigest issues of human behovior.

-forget about nonduality, pain is pain and sentient beings are feeling it, dont they?-