Should the west boycott the Olympics?

Should the west boycott the 2008 olympics on account of the occupation of tibet?

  • Yes the olympics should be boycotted

    Votes: 19 30.6%

  • yes but only the opening ceremonies

    Votes: 10 16.1%

  • no (explain why)

    Votes: 22 35.5%

  • no opinion/undecided

    Votes: 11 17.7%
  • Total voters
    62
CptStern

CptStern

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I dont see why not because:

The 1980 Summer Olympics boycott of the Moscow Olympics was a part of a package of actions to protest against the December 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
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same scenario, worse yet as human rights abuses are well documented ..so why doesnt the west do the same with China


seems really really hypocritical of the west to justify the 1980 boycott on account of the soviet occupation of afghanistan and then to ignore the very same thing when it's not someone who they have an axe to grind

btw if you're thinking the olympics shouldnt be political you're worng because it's always been political ..from Jesse Ownes running in from hitler to the US boycott of the soviet hosted olympics to the polictical muders of isreali athletes in the 72 olympics. Athletes represent their respective nations ..the olympics is all about nationalism


good thing the olympics arent being held in the US ..due to iraq and all
 
Pissing off China is a really bad idea.
 
It won't really achieve anything. The Olympics isn't the place to pressure China about Tibet, the UN is.
 
They can make a formidable ally or a deadly enemy. Best to keep on their good side.
 
A boycott wouldn't make them change their mind, if anything it would probably harden their determination.
 
the protests have been very successful so far, a handful of people have thrust tibet into the spotlight

repiv said:
They can make a formidable ally or a deadly enemy. Best to keep on their good side.
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that seems unlike you: capitulating to a foreign power on precieved strength
 
CptStern said:
that seems unlike you: capitulating to a foreign power on precieved strength
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Not really - Tibet is not our concern, it doesn't serve any purpose to get involved. China is an extremely important ally.
 
but iraq was a concern? come on you cant have it both ways
 
it's the same sort of scenario: a corrupt government subjegating it's own populace, complete with human rights violations, torture murder etc ..that was one of the reasons why the US/UK went in
 
so making 1 mistake warrants another?
 
I don't know, was it right to boycott the Moscow Olympics?
As far as I know the Olympics where meant to transcend national politics, to provide an opportunity for
nations to come together in good and not so good times. And ultimately to bond people of this planet
together. I would think the Olympics are going to bring china closer to the rest of the world, and if the past
is any indication the Chinese populace is going to be better off for it.

I do however think that the attention the Olympics are getting is a good opportunity to bring the issues up
and talk about them. And I support all kinds of ways of doing that, weather it be documentaries or people
trying to steal the torch, all of it raises our consciousness.

Think of it this way, had the Olympics not gone to china would the people opposing particular Chinese
politics gotten so much attention.

But tbh I'm not adverse to boycotting it either, it's just that I'm a tad more on the side of not doing it.
 
I'm not saying it does ..all I'm saying is that you cant pick and choose and then turn a blind eye to exact same thing ..like the boycott of the 1980 olympics
 
CptStern said:
it's the same sort of scenario: a corrupt government subjegating it's own populace, complete with human rights violations, torture murder etc ..that was one of the reasons why the US/UK went in
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So? I don't support the Iraq war. In any case, countries don't commit to military action unless there's something in it for themselves.
 
repiV said:
In any case, countries don't commit to military action unless there's something in it for themselves.
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QFT. Theres nothing strategically valuable enough in Tibet that would make western nations turn against China.
 
Protesting the olympics is like spraying perfume on a pile of shit. We want to feel like we are doing something when in reality we really aren't doing jack shit. If we were serious about this we would stop buying cheap shit made in china, none of us seem to be willing to do that.
 
No Limit said:
Protesting the olympics is like spraying perfume on a pile of shit. We want to feel like we are doing something when in reality we really aren't doing jack shit. If we were serious about this we would stop buying cheap shit made in china, none of us seem to be willing to do that.
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well said. Unless we are willing to dramatically change our lives, I dont see how we could possibly assuage the situation and not be hypocrits
 
CptStern said:
the old "what's in it for me" excuse
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It would be fantastic if we could free Tibet. It really would. But in reality its not gonna work. Take Saudi Arabia for example. They are pretty much THE primary oil provider, and yet they are one of, if not THE most disgusting regimes in the world. It would be great too tell the rulers that they are pieces of shit, and that death is too good for the greedy fukkers.

But we cannot survive without oil.

It is the same here. As RepiV said, China is a powerful ally, and in 50 years time will be easily equal to America, if not more powerful. We cannot afford to be one of they're enemies.

On the other, we were already Russias enemies, so it made no difference :p

Its harsh, but reality.
 
but the least they could do is force them to adopt proper human rights policies

I mean nothing hits harder than a shot at the money belt
 
There's little we can do to China they are economically far too important to us.
 
poppycocks! the reactio to the poisoning of people over lead/pesticides/chemical sin children's toys surely created a bakclash against china's export market if not the economy outright

where there's a will there's a way
 
kinda like starting a fight with a good friend, who happens to be chinese
 
I wouldnt call communist china a good friend ..a bully on the block that you have no choice but to deal with but not a good friend ..especially if we turn a blind eye to their human rights abuse
 
well, its the kind of friend you are nice to but when he leaves you make a masturbatory gesture with your hand
 
CptStern said:
poppycocks! the reactio to the poisoning of people over lead/pesticides/chemical sin children's toys surely created a bakclash against china's export market if not the economy outright

where there's a will there's a way
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I doubt that, no one can produce the crap we buy as cheaply as China.
 
Mr Stabby said:
There's little we can do to China they are economically far too important to us.
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That's only the case because we rely on their cheap labor. If people like you and me were willing to pay a little extra for everything this wouldn't be an issue.
 
Mr Stabby said:
I doubt that, no one can produce the crap we buy as cheaply as China.
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yes but how does it get so cheap? we turn a blind eye to the fact that something has to be put by the wayside in oder for it to be so cheap ..stuff like quality control, dangerous manufacturing practices, the use of prohibited materials etc ..we are just as respnisible for creating that enviroment by demanding low prices ..in the meantime we're undercutting our own products in favour of cheap unregulated crap

like lead paint used in chidrens toys or pulp used as a filler in food products
 
No. I think the Olympics should be kept out of politics.
 
unless you want to travel back in time you cant ..politics and the olympics have always gone hand in hand ..from Jesse Owens to 1972 and Munich, it comes with the territory ..which isnt surprising because it represents nations
 
Kinda sucks for the atheletes when boycotts happen though.
 
ya but they're repesenting their country ..for better or worse
 
CptStern said:
unless you want to travel back in time you cant ..politics and the olympics have always gone hand in hand ..from Jesse Owens to 1972 and Munich, it comes with the territory ..which isnt surprising because it represents nations
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True. But just because it happens it doesn't mean that it shouldn't have happened in the first place. Just look at George Bush.
 
/scratches head

I'm not following what you're trying to say
 
Yes. I worded it badly. I mean even though the Olympics is drowned in politics I would prefer that politics be kept out of it (though that is a lost cause).
 
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