Angry in the Great White North

Brian Williams makes the argument we hear from many supporters of the Olympics about why there should be no boycott of the Beijing Olympics, over Tibet or anything else:

CTV's Senior Olympic Host Brian Williams said the recent protests come as no surprise. He has covered 12 Olympic Games, including Moscow in 2001 when China was named as this year's host city.

"At the time we all said this is a recipe for mass demonstrations, given the human rights record of that country," Williams told CTV's Mike Duffy Live on Monday.

"My feeling is this," Williams said. "Young men and women, whether in our country or around the world, that sacrifice so much for their one moment in the sun, they should not have the problems in China put on their shoulders only."

Well, to be clear on this, there are thousands of people who are sacrificing so much so that these athletes can have their moment in the sun.  Of course, they aren't being asked to sacrifice anything.  Instead, the Chinese government is forcing them to sacrifice their belongings, their freedoms, and even their lives.  The hope of the government is that the burden of this compulsory sacrifice will silence these people, and so not detract from the awarding of these blood-soaked medals.

Yes, so much being sacrificed for one moment in the sun.