Should your country boycott the Olympics?

[Riesstiu IV]

Originally posted by Theben
No. Instead have the official U.S. uniforms include "Free Tibet" emblazoned across their chests.

That's actually a really good idea.

Too bad any boycott of the Olympics would do jack****. If the rest of the world really wanted to have an effect on China, they would stop buying some much useless plastic shi*t and trinkets.

[LordShiva]

Useless ****

[DarkCloud]

Originally posted by Aeson
Boycotting the Olympics will accomplish nothing except to increase hostility on both sides. (Goods will accomplish that too, as well as drive a stake through the heart of the world economy, though that would at least not be as hypocritical as boycotting the Olympics while buying the goods.)

More flies with honey...

I'd have to second this.

I think the big question with all the outrage against china is this:

1.) What goal are you trying to accomplish.
2.) How are you going to accomplish it?

Because if it's a free tibet- that's a terrible proposition for all involved- including the tibetan people. If it's increased rights for tibetan people and religions, I can certainly support that- especially seeing as how part of the problem dates back to expanding rights for tibetans pre-2003, then after the new appointees/apparatchiks got settled after the 2002 leadership reshufling, they started rescinding rights- in order to "preserve harmony." That certainly backfired- just like it did for Louis XXVI in France...

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~DC.

[Whoha]

the best move by far would be for Tibetan athletes to come in.

[Ben Kenobi]

Darkcloud, the issue for me is that China wants contact with the rest of the world on it's own terms. That's not going to happen, and they have gone so far as to say that anyone who refuses to abide by their rules can't come to the games.

That would be like Nazi Germany banning black athletes. I don't see how it is productive for athletes to participate in a Chinese Olympics, unless they are willing to allow everyone to come.

This Tibet thing is just one more example. They want to showcase themselves to the world, but not have the world bring themselves into China. It just doesn't work that way.

[Imran Siddiqui]

No.

That would be like Nazi Germany banning black athletes. I don't see how it is productive for athletes to participate in a Chinese Olympics, unless they are willing to allow everyone to come.

Which athletes are being denied entry?

[SlowwHand]

I don't think it's a matter of athletes being denied entry. I'm entitiled to my opinion, and I don't think the Chinese government represents their people. Yeah, I know. Some smartass will say the same about USA or Britain. Go live in China. Drop us a line on how you like it so much better.

This isn't at you, Imran. It's at people who don't know how good they have it by comparison.
I'll take my worst day over the average Chinese's best.

[Verto]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
This isn't at you, Imran. It's at people who don't know how good they have it by comparison.
I'll take my worst day over the average Chinese's best.

Gratitude for the rights and luxuries available in your country isn't mutually exclusive with being critical when your country errs.

[SlowwHand]

Everyone errs. You take the information available and make a decision and live with it. Hindsight doesn't count for ****.

[Verto]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
Everyone errs. You take the information available and make a decision and live with it. Hindsight doesn't count for ****.

Yes. but sometimes your government is unquestionably wrong, (and I'm not talking about relatively small potatoes like bad intel leading to the accidental bombing of a hospital, or some such)

[Koyaanisqatsi]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
Everyone errs. You take the information available and make a decision and live with it. Hindsight doesn't count for ****.

Thank you sir may I have another?

[Harovan]

Since they have been pretty much commercialized, I don't give a **** about the Olympics anymore, be they in Beijing or elsewhere. Hence I don't care if my country boycotts it or not (it won't). This translates into the Apolyton fruit.

[Unspeakable Horror]

No.

[SlowwHand]

Originally posted by Verto


Yes. but sometimes your government is unquestionably wrong, (and I'm not talking about relatively small potatoes like bad intel leading to the accidental bombing of a hospital, or some such)

My government. You really can be an ass, Verto.

[Kidlicious]

I think the Olympics should boycott my country.