Should the U.S. Boycott the Beijing Olympics?

1. Set Focus
Frame the inquiry with this essential question: What can democratic societies do to encourage authoritarian regimes to stop assailing civil and human rights?

2. Read and Discuss
Have students read the debate and then answer the following questions:

• What is the issue being debated? How does it relate to current events? (The issue is whether the U.S. should boycott the 2022 Winter Olympics, which will take place in Beijing. There has been growing talk about whether the U.S. and other countries should boycott the Games in protest of China’s human rights abuses.)

• Evaluate why these two authors might be interested in and qualified to comment on this issue. (Mandie McKeown leads an organization that fights for human rights in Tibet, which is governed by China. Senator Mitt Romney helps shape U.S. foreign policy.)

• Analyze McKeown’s view. (McKeown argues in favor of boycotting the Winter Olympics in 2022. She says that hosting the Olympics in 1936 gave Nazi Germany a huge platform for its propaganda and helped legitimize its regime. She says that not boycotting the Beijing Olympics would similarly be seen as an endorsement of China’s authoritarian rule.)

• Analyze Romney’s view. (Romney argues against boycotting the 2022 Winter Games. He acknowledges that China deserves condemnation for its human rights abuses, but he says that boycotting the Olympics will have no effect on their behavior. Instead, U.S. athletes, with dashed dreams, will be the ones to suffer.)

4. Writing Prompt
In an essay, evaluate one of the debaters’ arguments. Assess whether the reasoning is valid and whether it’s supported with evidence. Point out biases or missing information.

5. Classroom Debate
Should the U.S. boycott the Beijing Olympics? Have students use the authors’ ideas, as well as their own, in a debate.

6. Vote
Go online to vote in Upfront’s poll—and see how students across the country voted.