I will boycott the Olympics

[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.

[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.”

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by SamIam

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 human and governmental integrity.

To quote you, "its a great thought in theory, but the reality is quite different".
walmart/Wall Street, has already ushered China to a place at the table of movers & shakers.

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

What concerns the Party in China, is remaining in control by any means at their disposal... the same as every other political entity in the world. Their lack of sophistication just makes them seem more ruthless.

The party is not the most controlling government, when it comes to the internet. Check out the posts by Billy. If he was complaining about the Party, or being critical of their tactics, I'm sure they would know and probably act on it. But, as long as their citizens are using the internet for something other than an instrument of protest, or embarrassment, against the Party, they have pretty much free access.

[SamIam]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

To quote you, "its a great thought in theory, but the reality is quite different".
walmart/Wall Street, has already ushered China to a place at the table of movers & shakers.

That doesn't mean they need stay there (although, I'm putting on my tinfoil cap if I think they're leaving any time soon). One can always boycott Chinamart whever possible. One can push one's representatives' in DC to pass different laws. One can do many things. If they'll work is another question. But we need to keep trying to be the hero's of own lives, or else some MBA or politician will jump in there and you won't recognize the sleezy face that peers out of the mirror at you every the morning.

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

What concerns the Party in China, is remaining in control by any means at their disposal... the same as every other political entity in the world. Their lack of sophistication just makes them seem more ruthless.

The party is not the most controlling government, when it comes to the internet. Check out the posts by Billy. If he was complaining about the Party, or being critical of their tactics, I'm sure they would know and probably act on it. But, as long as their citizens are using the internet for something other than an instrument of protest, or embarrassment, against the Party, they have pretty much free access.

I am in agreement with you that what the party cares about is control above all things. Those spammers probably have to grease the right political hand. Wouldn't surprise me a bit.

I've lurked here alot before starting to post, so I recall some of Billy's posts. I differ with you that refraining from speaking out against one's government is being allowed "freedom." The term is more closely described as reign of terror through enforced silence.

[xoxoxoBruce]

I never claimed the Party remotely considered giving the citizens of China, what presumably you, and admittedly I, consider "freedom".
But if you wish to rail about the Party's mistreatment of Chinese citizens, don't get off on the tangent of internet censorship. While we might deem that an important point, globally, you won't garner that much support, because internet censorship is more common than not.

[HungLikeJesus]

Originally Posted by SamIam

...
The Olympics are being held in a communist state with an extremely poor history of human rights abuses
...

I strongly disagree with this statement.

I think they have a very rich history of human rights abuses.

[SamIam]

Originally Posted by HungLikeJesus

I strongly disagree with this statement.

I think they have a very rich history of human rights abuses.

My bad. I had a couple glasses of wine when I wrote that. Quite a nice little Merlot as I recall.

[Urbane Guerrilla]

Originally Posted by Radar

I am disgusted by those protesting the Olympics in China. Their own actions are more offensive than those of China's government.

That idea is so totally divorced from the reality of Communist Chinese atrocities -- by policy, because totalitarian behavior only runs the gamut of degrees of bad -- that your use of "more offensive" amounts to crazy talk. Superior intellectual attainment, dear fellow, needs not to make silly remarks of this kind.

Notice I never do.

My mind is evidently better than yours, and the evidence does nothing but pile up, Paul.

Communists' behavior has been massively bad, from the beginning all the way to the end. That's one huge, industrial-scale heap of "offensive" to outdo, Paul, and you really shouldn't be trying to miscompare these boycotters' action with the proven savagery of Communist tyranny. Above all I caution you against trying to be the apologist for leftist tyrannies -- don't turn into tw right before our eyes.

[TheMercenary]

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.

Yea, heaven help us if they should exercise a Right to Free Speech. But I guess China doesn't have the Bill of Rights so they should feel free to mow them down with machine guns and run them over with tanks.

[Sheldonrs]

I won't be watching the Olympics for the simple reason that it's boring as hell.

[Shawnee123]

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.

The issue to me is not that the individual competition and sportsmanship should be squelched, it's the PLACE. How much revenue is going to pour into China? With the history of human rights abuses, why were they awarded the venue? Award, reward, whatever...it smells fishy to me.

Sure, let the games begin. But let them begin somewhere else. Surely there are other countries which would benefit from millions of dollars pouring into their economy? Or is this set up as a partial payment of all that the US owes China?

The "think of the sportsmen" argument is quite short-sighted and really not what I'd expect from you.

[Tink]

Take a look at the CNN clip they are running today. All about how the young Chinese children are pushed from a VERY young age so they can compete, win and move on to a life that is "better for them".

Some of these kids didn't want to be pushed so hard. Walking on their hand for 3 minutes, followed by 60 crunches, followed by serious ab workouts. Shit....I couldn't do that. Even the look on their faces.

[lookout123]

happens in the US too. and Canada, and france, and just about anywhere that kids have more talent than their parents have brains.

[Cyber Wolf]

Originally Posted by Tink

Take a look at the CNN clip they are running today. All about how the young Chinese children are pushed from a VERY young age so they can compete, win and move on to a life that is "better for them".

Some of these kids didn't want to be pushed so hard. Walking on their hand for 3 minutes, followed by 60 crunches, followed by serious ab workouts. Shit....I couldn't do that. Even the look on their faces.

How is this honestly different from young girls that are pushed, squeezed, trained and made-up from ages as young as 3 to compete in beauty pageants right here in the US? Sure, some of them love to compete but you also see these same kids worried about being fat or hating how they look when not made-up and they aren't out of kindergarten yet. School takes second fiddle to dancing lessons, poise practice and exercise to lose that baby fat. 5 years olds that look damn near close to slowly-developing 16 year olds? Yeesh.

[Tink]

It's not. Stage parents living vicariously through there kids. Not all of them. Some kids do really want to do these things. It should never take the lead over school.