Spielberg finally sees the Olympics for what it is?

Film legend Steven Spielberg pulled out as the artistic advisor for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics yesterday.

From the BBC

In a statement, he accused China of not doing enough to pressure Sudan to end the "continuing human suffering" in the troubled western Darfur region….

…Mr Spielberg, who had been brought in as artistic adviser for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games, said the cause of Darfur was more important than his role.

"I find that my conscience will not allow me to continue business as usual," he said in a statement.

"At this point, my time and energy must be spent not on Olympic ceremonies, but on doing all I can to help bring an end to the unspeakable crimes against humanity that continue to be committed in Darfur."

With all due respect to you, Mr Spielberg, didn’t you know about the Darfur/China relationship BEFORE you took on your duties? At least 200,000 Sudanese have been killed and another two million have been forced from their homes since the conflict began five years ago. Even if you weren’t aware of the Sudan connection, you have to have known about what the Chinese government is doing to its own people, as well as Tibetans and Burmese people, for years.

While everyone is happy about Spielberg’s change of heart, he won’t find any sympathy from this blogger. You have to wonder Spielberg’s real motives are for stepping down. George Clooney and Mia Farrow, longtime Darfur victims’ advocates, must have threatened to not star in any future Spielberg movies if he didn’t step down from his Olympics post or sometime. Also, will Spielberg now return money he already received in payment from the Beijing organizers?

It’s said that it is better to change your mind later rather than never, but sometimes you have to wonder.