[SamIam]

Originally Posted by Radar

I believe the Olympics is about all nations putting aside their political differences and coming together in the spirit of good sportsmanship and fair competition. I am disgusted by those protesting the Olympics in China. Their own actions are more offensive than those of China's government.

Radar, its a great thought in theory, but the reality is quite different. I do NOT oppose those who wish to boycott or otherwise protest the Olympics. The Olympics are being held in a communist state with an extremely poor history of human rights abuses, the failure to allow people to practice their chosen religion - Tibet being a great example - and on and on, ad nauseum. Allowing China to host the Olympics sends the message that it and its regime is welcome to take its place among nations that have high values of personal and governmental integrity. Here are some snips off a Chinese Human Rights site http://www.hrw.org/englishwr2k8/docs...china17604.htm:

Despite temporary regulations in effect from January 1, 2007, to October 17, 2008, that give correspondents freedom to interview anyone who consents, foreign journalists continue to be harassed, detained, and intimidated by government and police officials. The temporary regulations do not extend to Chinese journalists or foreign correspondents’ Chinese assistants, researchers, and sources, who continue to risk reprisals for violating government directives on taboo reporting topics.

Official efforts to rid Beijing of undesirables ahead of the Olympics have accelerated the eviction of petitioners—citizens from the countryside who come to the capital seeking redress for grievances ranging from illegal land seizures to official corruption. In September-October the Beijing municipal government demolished a settlement in Fengtai district that housed up to 4,000 petitioners.

Radar, aren't you a libertarian or something? Your glib reply in this thread makes you sound more of a republican to me.

Bruce, the Cellar may indeed get its share of spammers hoping to make a fast buck. This is not what concerns the Chinese government:

China’s system of internet censorship and surveillance is the most advanced in the world. Filtering, blocking, and monitoring technologies are built into all layers of China’s internet infrastructure. Tens of thousands of police remotely monitor internet use around the clock. The elaborate system of censorship is aided by extensive corporate and private sector cooperation—including by some of the world’s major international technology and internet companies such as Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft. Writers, editors, bloggers, webmasters, writers, and journalists risk punishments ranging from immediate dismissal to prosecution and lengthy jail terms for sending news outside China or posting articles critical of the political system. For example, Zhang Jianhong, former editor-in-chief of the Aegean Sea website, was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment on March 19 for “inciting subversion.”