Limp Olympics

Now it seems that various heads of state are contemplating staging a so-called "mini-boycott" of the Beijing Olympics, in support of the hitherto totally-ignored plight of the Tibetan people. "This is the right time to use the Tibetans as a poster child," said one official. "Look at what it did for the Kosovars." Despite criticisms that a "mini-boycott" was going to be about as meaningful as the "eight-hour-a-day eternal flame" in "The Loved One", some politicians are offering it as an inoffensive way of communicating their mild disapproval of cultural genocide. In addition, as one commented, "We don't want to make flaming asses of ourselves like Jimmy Carter did when he made the U.S. Olympic Team stay home back in 1980."

Frankly, I think these guys are on the totally wrong track. The best way to make a statement that everyone will sit up and notice is not to boycott the games -- which few people actually watch -- or even the opening ceremony (which many people watch). The most devastating blow to the Olympic ceremonies would be to convince the gay community to boycott them, by withdrawing its support in the way of choreography, costuming, make-up, lighting, music, and performance. The Olympic ceremonies have been "informed" by the gay sensibility for so long that withdrawal of gay support would render them unrecognizable. Viewers worldwide would change channels in disgust, and the ceremonies would be more effectively "boycotted" than could be accomplished by any other single means. I highly recommend this strategy and intend to suggest it to the appropriate officials at the earliest opportunity.