An Explanatory Note from Sara and Randall Effner

The opinions expressed in this song are ours alone, and do not reflect the official position of any groups or organizations with which we are affiliated.

We have nothing but good will for the Chinese people and we sympathize with their desire to “shine upon the stage” of history through hosting the 2008 Olympics. We expressed that sentiment in the beginning of this song. But the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Chinese people are not the same thing, and we cannot in good conscience support the Beijing Olympics as long as the CCP continues to commit crimes against humanity and violate the human rights of so many people on a massive scale.

Unless and until the basic human rights of all the Chinese people are respected, we advocate a “peoples’ boycott,” whereby private citizens from all walks of life, and from countries all over the world, make a personal decision not to support these Olympic Games.

So, first of all, we certainly won’t be going to the Olympics this year. Two, we won’t buy the products of those large companies that are sponsoring the Olympics. Three, we won’t watch the games on television. Four, we will support political leaders who speak out against the human rights atrocities in China, and who themselves boycott at least the opening ceremonies of the games. Five, we will lend our wholehearted support to the Human Rights Torch Relay and other groups and individuals who are stepping forward and saying: The Olympics and Crimes Against Humanity Cannot Coexist in China.