If it is safe to hold a race in Libya, and they wish to stage one, then so be it. Sport should not be used as a political tool by either side of the argument, and segregation of countries due to the actions of their leaders rarely has any positive effect at all. By including countries on the world stage and exposing them to western scrutiny you are more likely to have an effect on their government.Max Speed wrote:I see the point you are making, but I still say the line needs to be drawn somewhere...so is it a Libian Grand Prix next, with Martin on his gridwalk asking the colonel his thoughts on witnessing F1 for the first time?
I abhor the IRA and Hamas, for example. However through both being democratically elected they have, to an extent, been forced to take a more mainstream and grown up approach to their causes. Both still have a long way to go, and I would rather the populace of their respective countries would see them for what they are and vote differently. But equally they both have improved from where they were due to the additional responsibilities and scrutiny they have assumed due to their electoral successes.
One way to spread democracy and human rights is to invade countries and impose western values upon them. Sometimes this is the right approach. Other approaches can include hosting western sporting events in those countries bringing media attention and western morals, including them in international organisations, and giving them responsibility on the world stage.
Taking their toys away and imposing sanctions is sometimes a valid approach, but rarely leads to success.
