Eugene David<br>...The One-Minute Pundit

Posted 7:37 PM by Gene

And speaking of If It's Bad It's In Ad -- Age, a very helpful marketing expert says the GE BANCORPS and COKES and J 'N' Js can get themselves off the hook for schlepping their top execs to Beijing for three-months' paid vacation with this Gettysburg Address:

"First, we believe that a successful Olympics is a force for peace and cooperation in this world, and we want to be a part of that. The Olympics are a unique opportunity for the world to share a single stage and a unified audience. The Olympics are a competition, but they represent a set of common values. Despite our differences, we come to the Olympics to compete fairly and peacefully. In every corner of the world, citizens root for their countries, but they often learn about others. We may like globalization or dislike it, but we must certainly agree that the more we here personal stories about each other's cultures around the world, the less likely we are to demonize them.

"Second, we chose to sponsor the games because we support the world's athletes. These individuals are not politicians. They have dedicated their lives to becoming the best in the world. They are role models who illustrate the values of teamwork, discipline and a commitment to excellence. The world needs opportunities to celebrate these values. We need to show our children what is possible if we only dedicate ourselves to our dreams.

"And third, we want to encourage countries such as China to be full participants in the global community. We believe that the world gains more by engaging with China and the Chinese than we do by rejecting them. If the protesters are victorious and we boycott these games, what will they have won? In fact, the very act of making Beijing a host country has created an unparalleled forum for discussing important human-rights issues. And the Chinese themselves are taking an active role in voicing their own concerns. If we turn our backs on the Olympics now, what incentive do the Chinese have to address the concerns of the protesters?"

And the memory of Berlin, Munich, and a few noble idealistic athletes like Marion Jones and Bode Miller would really help that one move minds.