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The Olympics are the perfect place for a protest. - By Anne Applebaum - Slate Magazine
Published on March 25, 2008 By foreverserenity In Current Events

I've been thinking about this recently.  Especially with what has occurred with situation in Tibet.  Once again its the bigger country wanting to take over the little one, especially when there's a sense of entitlement to it.  But then hasn't China been wanting Tibet for years now?   First Tibet, then Taiwan and the other independent nations close to it?  Where do they stop? 

 

The little knowledge I have of Tibet is of it being a peaceful place and very spiritual, ran by monks under the Dalai Lama's leadership.  At least they were peaceful until China try to forcibly take over so many years ago that put the Dalai Lama in hiding for many years.

 

Today, the Tibetans are doing well, living their lives under their own rules, and not under China's influence but that might change if China gets its way!  Already there are so many protesters and Monks who have died because they dare to speak out against their country being taken over by China.

 

China does what it does best, blames the United States and every other Western country for what is happening with Tibet!  They also say that boycotting the Olympics is bad business, and so do the Olympic Committee!  Those sorry S.O. B.s!

 

I tend to agree with Anne Applebaum that boycotting the Olympics is a good thing to do, especially because it will direct the attention of the world exactly where it needs to be, in China's front yard!

 


Comments (Page 1)
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on Mar 25, 2008
No. It hurts the innocents because of Politics. It did not work in 80, or 84.
on Mar 25, 2008
That's true. China will take it out on the Tibetans if the Olympics are disrupted.
on Mar 25, 2008

That's true. China will take it out on the Tibetans if the Olympics are disrupted.

 

No. It hurts the innocents because of Politics. It did not work in 80, or 84.

I know they will. And they have been doing it anyway, nothing is stopping them?  How long will they be allowed to keep on doing what they do?  When will it end?  They must be brought out into the light so that the world can really see what we have on the other side of the world.  Most of us already know, but too many times things get feathered over and forgotten!

on Mar 26, 2008

China thinks our human rights are no better than theirs.  They say our record is "tattered and shocking".  That is the fallout of all those who think its okay to have secret prisons, torture prisoners and hold prisoners for years without trial.  We lose the moral high ground.

It just all makes me sad.  I remember how upset I was about Tianamen Square and it looks like nothing has changed in that time.  Maybe we should try to boycott Chinese made products.  It would be hard since it seems like everything is made there but I think that would be more effective. 

on Mar 26, 2008

While I completely sympathise with the Free Tibet movement, I don't think boycotts would work, particularly boycotts of the Olympic Games.  It would simply give China more impetus to do what they want in Tibet. 

Product boycotts might work but you'd be surprised at how many products we use in our daily lives are made in China.  Short term, it would hurt China's hip pocket, but we'd end up hurting in the long run.

I don't think there is any easy solution to this problem.

on Mar 26, 2008
nothing is stopping them? How long will they be allowed to keep on doing what they do? When will it end?


Who is going to? A country of 1.2 billion? The only way to stop them is to nuke them.

How long? This has been going on for 50 years. Why would a few athletes make a difference now?

When will it end? When China decides it will end. The world has already shown that there is no such thing as a bad totalitarian nation. Just bad nations that butt in. So why should anyone try?
on Mar 26, 2008
This just goes to show how, on one hand, some expect the US to be the ones to do something about a bad situation only to, on the other hand, criticize us for doing something about it.

This country's culture is so selfish the name United States seems almost hypocritical.
on Mar 26, 2008
Boycotting will do more harm than good, but then we live in a society where fighting an enemy means using the least lethal weapon possible and then nursing him back to life and rebuild their lives after we spent so much time trying to destroy it. God forbid the needs of the many outweighed the needs of the few.
on Mar 26, 2008

It just all makes me sad. I remember how upset I was about Tianamen Square and it looks like nothing has changed in that time.

Not much as.  But as long as we all continue to voice our opinions and to call for change, they must listen.

China thinks our human rights are no better than theirs. They say our record is "tattered and shocking". That is the fallout of all those who think its okay to have secret prisons, torture prisoners and hold prisoners for years without trial. We lose the moral high ground.

Probably, but this shouldn't stop us!  Sometimes we have to do what we have to do and I'm sure they look at it that way too. 

Here's an excerpt from an article I read written by Madelein Lynn last year:

While the world community applauds China's achievements, it must also continue to lobby for improved human rights inside China, where political and religious freedom is still severely restricted. It should criticize its relationship not only with Sudan, but also with Burma, one of the most repressive regimes in the world.

In 1989, my friends in China told me that the best way to help China was to continue to bring in outside influences, not to walk away. This is how the world can help—not from a position of superiority but in a constructive spirit of friendship. Until the day comes when Chinese people can speak freely for themselves, those of us who care deeply about China have a moral responsibility not to remain silent.

To read the entire article go here http://www.cceia.org/resources/ethics_online/0010.html

 

Product boycotts might work but you'd be surprised at how many products we use in our daily lives are made in China. Short term, it would hurt China's hip pocket, but we'd end up hurting in the long run.

You're absolutely right of course!  I wonder how did our nations get this way?  How did China become such a super power when it comes to products that are made their. Every country do import products from their!  Here's one idea how, CHEAPER LABOR, LESS BUSINESS TAXES and MANUFACTURING COSTS!  They, the Chinese government definitely knew what they were doing!

While I completely sympathise with the Free Tibet movement, I don't think boycotts would work, particularly boycotts of the Olympic Games. It would simply give China more impetus to do what they want in Tibet.

This is what everyone else thinks too.  But they (the Chinese government) need to be held accountable, all it takes is for all of us to show our disapproval.  If the entire world shines their 'light' on them, wouldn't they be forced to stop?  I love the Olympics and all that it stands for and does, unifying nations (at least I hope it still does, even though it's friendly competitiveness).  But in light of what that government does to its' people, we should not let them think they have our approval and it's business as usual!

When will it end? When China decides it will end. The world has already shown that there is no such thing as a bad totalitarian nation. Just bad nations that butt in. So why should anyone try?

See, this is where we are all having the wrong attitude in thinking this way!  It's about damn time that all the inhumane acts, and other atrocities that are done to others stop.  We are no longer in the dark ages!  I realise that our country can't save the entire world and I wouldn't want us to, even though we usually end up doing something (most of the times anyway - (Rwanda and Dafur being too little too late) but it's time the entire Western world wakes up to voicing their dissapproval of some of the atrocities that so many helpless people in these other countries experience.  It might sound like I'm living in a bubble but if we all make an effort, they would be forced to stop!

How long? This has been going on for 50 years. Why would a few athletes make a difference now?

It's not just the athletes it should be everyone!

 

Who is going to? A country of 1.2 billion? The only way to stop them is to nuke them.

Hmmmm - twirls imaginary mouthstache....!  Seriously though, it's really hard not to want to just do that! But then that is so inhumane, I know!

This just goes to show how, on one hand, some expect the US to be the ones to do something about a bad situation only to, on the other hand, criticize us for doing something about it.

I know!  Damned if we do and damned if we don't!  I for one am tired though of all the G7 nations that leave it up to us to step in and then they might lend support and agree after! 

 

we live in a society where fighting an enemy means using the least lethal weapon possible and then nursing him back to life and rebuild their lives after we spent so much time trying to destroy it.

Doing it this way gets us no where.  Because somehow the infrastructure that remains is usually hopelessly unable to carry on on their own.

 

 

 

 

on Mar 26, 2008

Oy...my spelling is atrocious in some of those replies! I plea momentary incapable grammar mania!

on Mar 26, 2008
Since the U.S. owes China over a trillion dollars, we're probably not going to do anything.
on Mar 26, 2008
Let's just not pay them back. Countries do it to us all the time!

The one who owes the money is in the driver's seat here, I think.
on Mar 26, 2008
See, this is where we are all having the wrong attitude in thinking this way! It's about damn time that all the inhumane acts, and other atrocities that are done to others stop. We are no longer in the dark ages! I realise that our country can't save the entire world and I wouldn't want us to, even though we usually end up doing something (most of the times anyway - (Rwanda and Dafur being too little too late) but it's time the entire Western world wakes up to voicing their dissapproval of some of the atrocities that so many helpless people in these other countries experience. It might sound like I'm living in a bubble but if we all make an effort, they would be forced to stop!


Remember that the next time someone yells "Blood for Oil" and states why Bush is the worst thing since hitler for deposing Saddam Hussein.
on Mar 26, 2008

Yes, I think it should be boycotted.  It's China.  We can't have relations with them.

on Mar 27, 2008
We can't have relations with them.


Well, maybe with the women, once in a while.
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