Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Sports Is LeBron ready to step up on Darfur?
Posted by Joe Tone on Wed, May 21, 2008 at 12:41 PM
“To be sure, China's record on human rights issues was, and remains, a sensitive topic, especially for James' employer, the NBA, which has had its eyes on China for more than 20 years. And then add the pressure of James' $90 million contract with Nike, which has its own designs on the vast Chinese market. James is so wildly popular there that he already has two China-only marketed shoes and his own museum in Shanghai, filled with artifacts from his life, including a copy of his birth certificate. And right now, China estimates it has 300 million basketball fans -- the same amount as the entire population in the United States.”In the same article, Charles Barkley weighs in: “These guys got a great opportunity to learn. They should know about China and Darfur and the Sudan. Of course they should. But I'm pretty sure they got issues in Los Angeles. And I've been to Cleveland. LeBron's got his hands full with Cleveland.” Which, much like of what comes out of Barkley’s mouth, is pretty ignorant. Yeah, it can be a real shit-hole around here, Chuck, but genocide’s got us trumped, believe it or not. Plus, the problems of urban Anerica have plenty of voices fighting for them already ( whether anyone’s listening is another question). In the Sudan, however, athletes like LeBron have a unique opportunity to push the issue, especially as representatives of the NBA and Nike, and especially on a stage like the Olympics in China. The question is whether they think it’s merely an opportunity, or an obligation. – Vince the Polack
Comments (3)
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Yeah, go fuck yourself. Trying to make him look like a douche because he might have more obligations to work for the prosperity of Cleveland refugees than Darfur refugees is a dick move. Granted I don't know if that is the reason he didn't come and and try and be some soap box on the issue. Especially when it comes to pressuring a communist governement on foreign policy. Just because he has some pull with the people, doesn't mean that he should signing some letter and piss on his employers over something frivolous. Why create a headache that will amount to nothing more than more junk maail. No matter how much pressure LeBron puts on China they are never going to enfore sanctions on Darfur. And no matter how many sanctions China could put on Darfur, you are never going to stop civil war and genocide created out of chaos and economic poverty until one side is totally crushed, or both sides agree. Both of which are unlikely.
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Its sad to me that you seem so hopeless for a better world. With big names giving a voice to the voiceless, we can make a difference. Regardless of what happens with China- there are people out there working for a change. The people of Darfur deserve a better life- and the fact that big name athletes are speaking out to help achieve this goal... thats a great thing. Whether you want to believe that people, love and hope do make a difference... thats your deal. But the fact that all these men are stepping up says a lot for their character. If the "headache of all of this" seems pointless to you-- I would like to ask you to give up all that you have in your relatively great life... and trade with an innocent life in Darfur... then tell me you dont think its important that we do something.
Its sad to me that you seem so hopeless for a better world. With big names giving a voice to the voiceless, we can make a difference. Regardless of what happens with China- there are people out there working for a change. The people of Darfur deserve a better life- and the fact that big name athletes are speaking out to help achieve this goal... thats a great thing. Whether you want to believe that people, love and hope do make a difference... thats your deal. But the fact that all these men are stepping up says a lot for their character. If the "headache of all of this" seems pointless to you-- I would like to ask you to give up all that you have in your relatively great life... and trade with an innocent life in Darfur... then tell me you dont think its important that we do something.
