Boycotting the Olympic Games '08

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http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/04/09/protests-olympic.html

There are many people around the world calling for a boycott of the olympics in light of decades of human rights complaints against China.  The creation of the Olympic games was originally to bring peace and stability to the world.  Yet, in an ironic turn of events, it only seems to highlight the differences between countries in economic and political terms.  The boycott of the Olympics in china serves as one purpose to show the world that you stand up for what you believe in.  Yet it also puts pressure on a country to change its laws, which in its own is allowing a change in the way we view democracy and sovereignty. 

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/04/09/protests-olympic.html
We have seen the torch pass through a few countries in Europe, with protesters trying to side track the event.  Although there is nothing wrong with peaceful demonstration, it leads to the question of free speech; sure they are entitled to it, but so are the chinese, and those that support the Olympics.
http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/04/08/olympic-torch.html
The Olympic committee is now debating whether or not to continue the practice and tradition of running the torch due to security concerns and violent demonstrations.  The chinese ambasador calls them discusting, and clearly states "that the protests show the world 'who is upholding the peace and harmony and who is sabotaging peace and harmony.'" [http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/04/09/lu-shumin-ambassador.html

Though I am against the human rights violations that China has committed, I see no reason why we should place these allegations on the backs of our athletes, who train for years just to get the chance to go.  A boycott of the world olympics is not a way to do just commentary on the wrongdoings of the government.  It only allows openings for complaints, and bad feelings. If we really wanted to punish China for its errors, the ideal way would be through the economy, and stop buying goods from China. 

So, what do you think?

[Nines~Tempest]

  If this was announced after the previous games, why are protesters bitching now?  Why couldn't they protest the location?  Seriously...

I agree with your final paragraph, 100%.

[????]

They are 'bitching' now because we are nearing the start of the Olympics.  It  would have been folly to begin protesting when the location was announced, and to keep protesting would have allowed the motion to lose its meaning

[Nines~Tempest]

The meaning is stupid as it is, because of what you said.  I dislike protestors mostly anyway, because they hardly think of some of the "middle men," such as the athletes in this case.  It's not like China being a big asshole to the world is new...

[Cesium]

I think it's stupid. The Olympics are supposed to be a celebration of international cooperation and peaceful competition, and besides, boycotting them proves nothing. It's not going to make China chance their practices drastically in the next few months, beyond things like unblocking the English Wikipedia (the Chinese site remains blocked). I can see not wanting to go because of the pollution in Beijing, but boycotting the whole thing for political reasons accomplishes nothing.

[GracefulDave]

boycotting them proves nothing. It's not going to make China chance their practices drastically in the next few months, I can see not wanting to go because of the pollution in Beijing, but boycotting the whole thing for political reasons accomplishes nothing.

I don't think the boycotting of the Olympics is supposed to cause active change. I think it's more of a punishment. If you aren't going to abide by the rights we have set up for all of humanity, then you don't get to host the Olympics. There's no doubt having this celebration is economically benefitial. It's like getting a Christmas present even though you were a dick all year.

I find the Chinese ambassador's comments competely hypocritcal. I think those boycotting are the ones upholding peace and harmony, not destroying it. Why should a country that is NOT upholding peace and harmony get to celebrate it?

Nines, you say they are forgetting about the middle men. But let's not forget what the boycotts are about. Tibet? Hello? What about these "middle men"? Athletes are getting cheated out of competing, but an entire fucking country is being tortured into submission. So there's not going to be a new record for long jump. Big fucking deal. People are dying and allowing them to host the Olympics is trying to paint over the issue.

Now, the way they are doing it isn't the way I'd go. If they want to protest for peace they have to do it peacfully. Trying to take out the flame is just stupid. For those involved, I think it's a bit late. They really should have said something to stop them getting the bid instead of causing trouble so close to the time.

So, no, I don't think China should be able to host the Olympics, but at the rate the activists are going and by what the activists are doing, it's just ugly.

[Rosti LFC]

I think China should be able to host the Olympic games, but I also think they should accept a few things for being what they are rather than denying or ignoring them.

I watched some parts of the torch ceremony in London, and it was a complete farce. I mean, they might have well have just had the torch carried in an armoured car with blacked-out windows for all the good the ceremony was. To have someone running surrounded by a layer of Chinese security and then another layer of London Policemen to the point where you can barely even see the torch or the person carrying it is stupid.
It was hilarious to see protesters trying to take the flame and get rugby-tackled by policemen. Sure, maybe the method used in the protest wasn't the best one, but it did the job. The headlines the next day were not about a wonderful torch ceremony, but about it being disrupted by the protesters.
I'm not going to make a statement on the situation in Tibet, because I've not taken the time to do neutral research on the subject, so only really understand what the media has broadcast, which I would see as being far more likely to focus on the negative aspects, because they're far, far more headline grabbing.

[Cesium]

I don't think the boycotting of the Olympics is supposed to cause active change. I think it's more of a punishment. If you aren't going to abide by the rights we have set up for all of humanity, then you don't get to host the Olympics. There's no doubt having this celebration is economically benefitial. It's like getting a Christmas present even though you were a dick all year.

My point stands, though. The Olympics really are little to do with the political policies of the countries and more about competing in a friendly way. As long as China doesn't actively interfere in the events themselves, I feel there's no reason to bring external issues into the Games. It's like in the Berlin games of 1936, where despite the policies of Nazi Germany, the US came anyway and showed its point by having Jesse Owens who won several gold medals. Countries with bad governments have hosted before, and the the only reason now is that these "rights we have set up" are more influenced by the US than China, so obviously we're going to be angry at them for what they do. But not only are these issues separate from what the Olympics are about, but Beijing was already chosen as the site years ago, since which not a lot has changed in Chinese policy, so why shouldn't everyone abide by the Olympic committee's decision? It's already too late to "punish" China by preventing them from hosting.

[Nines~Tempest]

China doesn't give a shit about the rest of the world.  Is this Tibet issue new?  No, but jumping on the olympic bandwagon to spread your message makes you look underhanded.

Oh no, peoples are the dying?  PROTEST A SPORTING EVENT -_-.  While the protesters have a cause, this sure is a dumbass way to represent it.

[Cardinal]

So Clinton, and now Obama, are both urging the President to boycott the Opening Ceremonies.

I'm torn.
I'm not a huge fan of China's human rights history, but come on - this is not about politics, this is about bringing the world together in sports.

You guys' thoughts?

[Clyde]

So Clinton, and now Obama, are both urging the President to boycott the Opening Ceremonies.

I'm torn.
I'm not a huge fan of China's human rights history, but come on - this is not about politics, this is about bringing the world together in sports.

You guys' thoughts?

I don't really have much to add on this issue.  You pretty much summed up how I feel about this.

The Olympics is all about bringing the World together and if some countries refuse to participate, it will ruin a lot of it.  It also seems unfair to the athletes who have been training and waiting for their moment to compete.

I have to look into further exactly what is going on with Tibet seeing how I'm pretty uninformed over that whole situation.

[Cythrosi]

Just out of curiousity...
How many people even watch the Olympics anymore?

[GracefulDave]

It's still hugely popular. I watch it, at any rate. The ceremonies especially are hugely televised.

I guess I feel that, if you do nothing at let them get off their production without a hitch, you're just giving up 'cause it's not ideal. I'd rather we did something active instead of boycotting the Olympics, but when you want them to hear you, I can see why you'd choose an event like this.

[Cesium]

Yeah, but this just shows we'll go to any lengths to show we're annoyed at China. This is about the least appropriate arena for this kind of demonstration.

[Cardinal]

Just out of curiousity...
How many people even watch the Olympics anymore?

I've watched pretty much every Olympic event that I could since Salt Lake.
I'm just a sports nerd. :x
Plus, CURLING ROXX.

[Fluffy Cocaine]

Just out of curiousity...
How many people even watch the Olympics anymore?

I watch them basically the entire time they're on for as long as I can. I don't make a point to stay home to watch them, but as long as they're on and I'm home, I will.

I think this is pretty ridiculous. It undermines the entire meaning of the Olympics. Yes, people are dying in Tibet. Yes, China doesn't stand up to human rights standards. But boycotting the Olympics because of these things is just ridiculous. The Olympics are the same Olympics whether they're in Beijing or not. China won't be affected at all by this boycott. The only people that will be affected by boycotting the Olympics will be the athletes themselves.
China doesn't even need the economic boon that comes as a result of hosting the Olympics.

[Snoggums]

I've watched pretty much every Olympic event that I could since Salt Lake.
I'm just a sports nerd. :x
Plus, CURLING ROXX.

OMG! <333  SLC Olympics were dang awesome. 

Like Cardinal said though, it's not about politics at all.  China shouldn't have gotten the Olympics in the first place, IMO, but they now have it.  I thought the Olympics were about settling differences for a short while to have a nice sports competition? 

Besides, just because people boycott one of the biggest world wide events EVER doesn't mean China is going to change their ways. 

[Rosti LFC]

I don't think the "economic boom" from the Olympics is quite as large as you guys are making it out to be. London is hosting the 2012 ones, and there's a lot of debate over if the country is actually likely to make money from it.

I don't bother watching the Olympics; I find it as boring as hell. However, I do watch the Winter Olympics because they're awesome. Especially the luge, bobsled and snowboard cross.

[Nines~Tempest]

I don't think the "economic boom" from the Olympics is quite as large as you guys are making it out to be. London is hosting the 2012 ones, and there's a lot of debate over if the country is actually likely to make money from it.

I don't bother watching the Olympics; I find it as boring as hell. However, I do watch the Winter Olympics because they're awesome. Especially the luge, bobsled and snowboard cross.

I also, only watch winter olympics for Luge .

[GracefulDave]

I don't think the "economic boom" from the Olympics is quite as large as you guys are making it out to be. London is hosting the 2012 ones, and there's a lot of debate over if the country is actually likely to make money from it.

I don't bother watching the Olympics; I find it as boring as hell. However, I do watch the Winter Olympics because they're awesome. Especially the luge, bobsled and snowboard cross.

Oh yeah, I watch the winter Olympics by choice, the summer ones if I'm at home.

No offense, but what is England good at in the Olympics? I think countries with likely gold winners take it more seriously, thus selling more tickets, etc.

In any case, hosting the Olympics is still a priviledge, and I don't think they should host it at all. But they've got it...

I guess it IS distasteful. But I think their violations against humanity is more distasteful, and the Olympics is a world wide stage that should be used.

Plus, CURLING ROXX.

They're actually curling STONES.