Paul Lewis: Government has to take a stand

In the tortured logic and emotionalism that surrounds sporting boycotts, one gem has begun to shine through the mud of the should-we-stay-or-go issue of the cricket tour of Zimbabwe.

It's the "what about?" syndrome. Those affronted at the idea of anyone calling off their cricket or rugby tour or whatever eventually fall back on the specious logic of the "what about ?" In this case, it's what about China?

They say China's human rights record is far worse than Zimbabwe's. True. They say we cannot be consistent if we stop a cricket tour to Zimbabwe, then send a team to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. True.

Their clarion call is that if we are going to stand on our moral dignity, we must also stop sporting contacts with the UK and the USA (because of Iraq) and so on and so forth down an endless list of transgressing countries and their wrongs. Those against a Zimbabwe tour, they say, are owners of a V8, fuel-injected, 2005 Double Standard, complete with revolving seats (so they can later change point of view) and double springs (for jumping on bandwagons).

It's all true and it's all bunkum.

Show me the person or country who has been entirely consistent in his, her or its life - and I'll show you a liar.

Things change. Views change. They change now faster than ever. All we can really do is trust our judgment on what is before us. World War II saw Germany and Japan as the Axis villains. Now the latter provides the majority of the world's cars and the former is one of the most liberal voices in Europe. I know a man who was a prisoner of the Japanese. He swore off all things Japanese for many years. After which, he started to drive a Japanese car.

New Zealand was among those who boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics because of the Russian invasion of Afghanistan. Twenty-odd years on, we send troops there because the US, you guessed it, invades Afghanistan. Go figure.

The world isn't run on consistency. We'd like it to be but, sadly, the history of the world seems to point in the other direction. The world also doesn't run on straight lines like: Shall we play sport with these guys because they have a dubious human rights record? We all wish it was but it isn't. There are all sorts of sporting and political deals, double-dealing and immense doses of cynicism that go into the formation of many things that shape our lives, including sports events.

All we can do, if we are to remain reasonable, is to deal with each issue as it arises and as it affects us.

The Beijing Olympics are three years away. China might be executing more people than anywhere else. They might be one of the worst examples of human rights anywhere. But let's see what's in front of us in 2008. All sorts of things could happen by then - they could invade Taiwan. There could be a popular democratic uprising. Shark fin soup could be banned.

If 80 per cent of New Zealanders are calling for a boycott of the Beijing Olympics, then that'll be a debate to knock this one into a paper hat. If we decide to boycott China on human rights grounds, then so be it. Even though Olympic boycotts generally haven't been very successful (eg Afghanistan) and even though the "what about's" will play the cynicism card and say that no China boycott will happen because of its economic and political clout.

That's as may be. Let's deal with each case on its merits. A cricket tour to Zimbabwe doesn't seem to have many - and our Government is banging off more sidesteps than Shane Williams. Robert Mugabe is the patron of cricket in Zimbabwe so a cricket tour there, no matter how we position it, can be perceived as supporting that regime.

Why are we going? Because NZ Cricket is stitched in to a contractual agreement that stands to cost it millions or which may see it isolated in world cricket. Oh, and because our Government isn't calling it off. The Government have the power. They can also cushion the financial blow for NZC.

But they won't. Zimbabwe is an unwanted issue ahead of the election. Burden the taxpayer in an election coloured by middle-class anger at lack of tax cuts? I don't think so.

But New Zealand is a country whose modern shape has been formed by our espousal of matters like human rights and race. It happened through the conduit of sport. In the last 20 years, we have gone from a majority of "sport and politics don't mix" to 80 per cent of the country wanting the Zimbabwe tour called off.

We are a country which has a growing hydro-electric generation problem and for whom nuclear power looms as a saviour but which won't even let nuclear ships park here. I mean, wow. Let's all plait our hair and play with our hippie love beads, man.

Right or wrong, we took the stand - a Government stand - because it was an issue of importance to us. Which is why the tour of Zimbabwe should be called off by the Government. They should indemnify NZC.

Anything else would be plain wrong.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY