Boycotts have never worked because human nature in its majority has the tendency to do the forbidden. When Carter boycotted the Moscow Olympics of 1980 in response to the Russian [Soviet] Invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, the opposite ocurred. People went to the Moscow Olympics in 1980. People in the United States of America defied the boycott by crossing the border into Canada and buying souvenirs of the Moscow Olympics in 1980. Others defied the boycott by crossing the border between the United States of America and Canada and going to Russia [at that time The Union of Soviet Socialist Republic] after purchasing their tickets from authorized representatives of Intourist [which was the authorized tourist agency of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics] and Aeroflot [which was the Soviet now Russian Airline].
Since Jesus Christ once said: «He who is without sin cast the first stone», I myself disobeyed the Carter Boycott of the Moscow Olympics of 1980. I am also proud that I disobeyed the Carter boycott of 1980. I did it by writing to my family in Cuba [who I have yet to know] and asked for stamps of the Moscow Olympics in 1980. My stamps arrived in one of my letters from my Cuban relatives. I was also a listener of Shortwave Radio Stations and used to practice the hobby called DXing [sending reception reports in order to obtain post cards, stamps, pennants, and even Long Play/Extended Play/45 RPM Records]. I wrote to Radio Bucharest [now Radio Romania International], Radio Budapest, Radio Prague, Radio Polonia, and Radio Berlin International [the defunct Shortwave Radio Station of the now defunct East Germany]. I explained to these radio stations my dilemna and they sent me stamps and other souvenirs of the Moscow Olympics in 1980.
After explaining about how I circumvented a boycott, it reinforces why a boycott will never work. As long as people in authority prohibit a certain action, there will be people who will find a way to circumvent a boycott or even violate a law in order to do what is prohibited. The reason is the challenge.
El Noticiero de Alvarez Galloso 