08' Olympics falling short to 68'

Lets being this by taking a look back in time, 40 years to be exact. The year was 1968, the U.S. was at war in Vietnam, racism was huge, and America was in one of the most interesting times it had seen in its almost 200 year history. That summer the U.S. sent hundreds of athletes to Mexico City to participate in the summer Olympics, but 2 of those athletes had the courage, no the balls to stand up in front of the entire world and without saying one word make the biggest statement during those games. Those two men were John Carlos and Tommie Smith, and that stand was with each of them holding one hand each with one black glove each. With that one statement they were ostracized by the U.S. olympic commitee and together had the nation that supported them so much just turn there backs on two men that had suffered with oppression there whole lives. These men had the platform to make a statement and they did just that.
This leads to today, right now, I just was watching sportscenter and getting caught up on all my Brett Farve news when a short segment was presented about the U.S.A. Men's basketball team. This segment examined the issue of China's involvment in Darfur and with the Tibeten people and the players of the basketball team's stance on those issues. First presenting a segment from May with LeBron "King" James which was an interview in which he was personally talking about those issues and his thoughts on them, which were against what was happening. In the interview he says its "...not about the contracts or the money. Its about the people..." But today we were shown interviews with him and teammate Kobe Bryant saying that "...the politics would take care of themselves."
With this enlightening story presented to me today it only gave me thoughts of the images and footage from 40 years ago. Did we forget where we came from and the history we have in this country of oppression of people. These athletes and role models have the largest podium in the history of the world to make a statement, wheather it's with words or with one hand held high, but they choose to sit back and say its not there position to say anything. I call bullshit on the entire team and the olympic committee for not allowing these individuals to voice there opinion. The U.S. Olympic team has said that the atheletes are free to speak there minds but i guess they choose to just let the politics "...take care of themselves." So I guess if no one will speak out maybe we need to get John Carlos and Tommie Smith back on the podium cause at least we know they have the courage to make a statement.