Western athletes boycott the Beijing Olympics?

[Wysiwyg]

Here is some footage of the Llasa riots a few weeks back.Graphic mob violence.With the media government controlled it is hard to say whether this is actually in Llasa but the faces are Asian, the destruction widespread and the physical attacks very real.

This is not the way to solve problems. http://209.85.135.104/translate_c?h...ndex.shtml&prev=/search?q=Sina.com&hl=en&sa=G

This newspaper blames the Dalai clique ...

-- Beijing March 26 (Xinhua Qiuli) March 14, the Tibet Autonomous Region in Lhasa, the capital of vandalism burned violence, in the face of "Tibet independence" elements of the worst acts of splitting the motherland, the Chinese Government has adopted a series of Festival measures are justified, and to effectively check the further expansion of the incident, and safeguarding the reunification of the motherland.

3月14日，西藏自治区首府拉萨爆发达赖集团策划的暴力事件，一些暴徒殴打和砍杀无辜群众，焚烧学校和商店，哄抢商店和银行，破坏公共设施，圣城拉萨弥漫在恐慌之中。 March 14, Lhasa, the capital of Tibet Autonomous Region plotted by the Dalai clique outbreak of violent incidents, some mob beatings and killed innocent people, burning schools, and shops, and looting of shops and banks, the destruction of public facilities, in the holy city of Lhasa diffuse fear. 面对这一暴力事件，西藏自治区的武警官兵和警察没有使用任何杀伤性武器，以血肉之躯保护群众生命财产安全，极力维护社会秩序。 The face of this violence, the police officers, the Tibet Autonomous Region and the police did not use any WMD to flesh protect safety of life and property, to maintain the social order.
A large number of image data show that mob with stones, machetes frenzied attack armed soldiers, many of the policemen and soldiers were played bloody mob. 更为疯狂的是，居然有暴徒从被石块击昏的士兵的臀部剜下碗大的肉。 More crazy is that even with stones from the mob of soldiers Jihun buttocks cutting into the meat of large bowl.
面对这样的疯狂，达赖集团和一些别有用心的西方媒体却歪曲事实，居然谴责是中国政府镇压了他们的“和平抗议”。 Faced with this kind of crazy, the Dalai clique and some people with ulterior motives of the Western media have distorted the facts, even condemned the Chinese Government's crackdown on their "peaceful protest."

 

[juw177]

Wysiwyg: Some summaries of eye witness accounts here that are hopefully less biased:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_unrest_in_Tibet

My impression from reading that is there are casualties on both sides. The Tibetians are out of control and setting a lot of things on fire amongst other violence. It does not say whether the Chinese government used excessive force against the rioters although I don't see how they are going to restore order peacefully.

 

[Superfly]

her race is irrelevant. the point is the chinese government condones blowing womens brains out in roadside ditches. this is not civilised behaviour, and it lends credence to accusations that the chinese communist party are a brutal and repressive regime that routinely allows human rights violations to occur.

p.s. we're not talking about tibet

Yes... those pictures show the real Chinese communist party...

 

[Superfly]

1. Is China in the wrong in Tibet? certainly if they are shooting protestors.

2. Should we blackball their goods? ( yeah right - clear out the shelves of all the stores for starters)

3. Should we ask the sportspeople of the country to be our conscience? and the only ones to ACT! - of course not.

4. Combining the above, would we be totally hypocritical to a) buy "Made in China", whilst at the same time b) telling our sportsmen that WE think THEY shouldn't partake in a 4-yearly SPORTING event.

The Olympics is a business above anything else.... the IOC never really wanted the Sydney games, they wanted China because of the huge marketing, but back then China still looked to dirty human rights wise to hold such an event... Australia is a mature market.. the mobile phones, soft drinks etc are all already here... but China is still somewhat of an emerging market, a marketers dream... and if the American and Australian swim teams did not show.. who would care about the pool events...ratings would be down and so on.... if these games are a flop, and the Chinese always like to be seen with winners, then its another black eye for the communist party... the President of France is talking boycott... but I'm sure our May day marching Rudd would not think of offending his socialist friends in Beijing.

Absolutely they shouldn't attend these games... if the games where in Zimbabwe would you still be saying that the athletes should go...I may be wrong but didn't the Australian cricket team boycott that tour... why turn a blind eye to human rights just because it's China...

 

[ithatheekret]

If the team is under no actual threat of harm , then the political substance should not be intertwined with the context of the games . Besides think of all those lovely gold and silver bits of mega bling . That's what it's about , awarding the worlds best for their physical acheivements .

Sports and sportsmanship are above politics , but the team members are allowed to have their own opinion in regards to participation , that is their right , well for most of them anyway . Those that don't have a right to an opinion are the ones that should be protesting IMHO .

 

[Superfly]

If the team is under no actual threat of harm , then the political substance should not be intertwined with the context of the games . Besides think of all those lovely gold and silver bits of mega bling . That's what it's about , awarding the worlds best for their physical acheivements .

It doesn't happen without money....

Those that don't have a right to an opinion are the ones that should be protesting IMHO .

What do you think is happening in Tibet right now !!!!!!!!!!!! and the result of such actions... a jail cell or bullet maybe... and Tibet is not the first ...

 

[ithatheekret]

Oh look , I said protest .

I'm sure you mean riots and violent disorder .

 

[2020hindsight]

options include :-

a) everyone boycott the olympics (tough on the olympic athletes surely)

b) athletes boycott the opening ceremony

c) the politicians boycott the opening ceremony. (as some Europeans are going to do) - hey if it's a political message we want to send, then shouldn't that come from the politicians!

d) let the athletes march in the opening ceremony, but march behind the Olympic flag, (also collect medals that way) so that for instance the Aussie flag wasn't unfurled at the Olympics (as just discussed on ABC) ..

e) etc I am sure there are others

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...over_Tibet_crackdown_/articleshow/2905822.cms

EU foreign ministers mull Olympic boycott over Tibet crackdown
28 Mar, 2008, 0756 hrs IST, AGENCIES

EU foreign ministers, meeting in Slovenia from Friday, will argue the case for boycotting the Beijing Olympics opening in protest against China's crackdown on Tibet, amid diverging views.

Several leaders of eastern European states, who entered the EU after decades under communism, have announced they will not attend the ceremony in the Chinese capital on August 8.

Czech President Vaclav Klaus and his Estonian counterpart Toomas Hendrik Ilves along with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk have all said they won't be attending.

"My evaluation is very clear: the presence of politicians at the inauguration of the Olympics seems inappropriate," Tusk said Thursday.

However British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said in London that Britain, which will host the 2012 Olympics, would definitely not be boycotting any part of the Beijing games. . etc

another option is
z) not to boycott, (but sure , give a strong message that we don't approve of the Tibetan situation) - remembering that only 5% of the population of China are members of the communist party.

 

[2020hindsight]

option f) athletes and others boycott running with the torch maybe (?)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/03/28/nhuq128.xml

Konnie Huq may boycott Olympic torch relay
By Gary Cleland
Last Updated: 1:12am GMT 29/03/2008

The former Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq has admitted she is considering pulling out of the Olympic torch relay in response to China's crackdown on Tibetan protesters.

Miss Huq said that if she did take part she would speak out against China, who will host the games this summer. The 32-year-old said she was considering wearing a 'Free Tibet' T-shirt if she ran.

g) running with the torch but wearing an Free-Tibet T-shirt .

h) running with the torch but wearing a black armband

i) athletes wear black armbands at opening ceremony maybe ? etc etc

PS we'll hear about it soon enough (next weekend GMT in fact)

 

[2020hindsight]

option j) lines of pro-Tibetan protestors along the route of the torch (as is happening in Europe apparently)

 

[noirua]

All these problems in Tibet and the Olympics. Buster, aged 101, is expecting to take part in the London Marathon. Who knows, perhaps he'll be carrying the torch.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/7275861.stm

This is the zimmers video, with no excuses, Buster gives the one finger salute (right at the end, wait for it) - was it to China?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqfFrCUrEbY&eurl=http

 

[2020hindsight]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/03/31/2203541.htm?section=justin
torch arrives in Beijing


option k)
run a heap of protest torches all over the country - diversionary tactics -
I believe I heard the Tibetans are gonna get another torch "up and running" to compete with the official one.

 

[juw177]

option L) read up on some Tibet history instead of jumping on the bandwagon because crowds of monks protesting for "freedom" looks so cool on TV.

 

[Aussie2Aussie]

option L) read up on some Tibet history instead of jumping on the bandwagon because crowds of monks protesting for "freedom" looks so cool on TV.

AT POST #25 - juw177

"I am by no means defending criticisms of China and they can definitely do a lot better to project a good image. But there are always 2 sides to a story."

So much for that shallow attempt at being impartial.

 

[juw177]

Aussie2Aussie, this is not an impartial topic to start with (the thread title is a loaded question). I know you voted yes from your post. And yes I am defending the underdog because we have people like you who just echo the media "free tibet" without DYOR.

 

[Aussie2Aussie]

Aussie2Aussie, this is not an impartial topic to start with (the thread title is a loaded question). I know you voted yes from your post. And yes I am defending the underdog because we have people like you who just echo the media "free tibet" without DYOR.

Your funny juw, defending the underdog China.

PS Who is the "we" in "we have people like you...", your not talking about those chinese that are in the homeland and are not loyal communist party members are you? (that, by the way, is a loaded question - the thread title is not).

 

[juw177]

Is there a need to reply to ignorant people that conveniently dismiss anything contradicting their views as Chinese propaganda? (that is a loaded question). And have you thought that unlike western countries, any Chinese person is well aware that their government is corrupt and censors the news... anyone looking for outside information will find it is quite easy to get around the firewall. Just ask a Chinese person, or better yet, go there yourself... go ahead, these "communist party members" are not all that frightening!

If you are here, you must have made some money from the china resource boom. I would think of all places ASF will understand that it is not the Chinese cultural revolution anymore. Please don't turn this into a racist argument and back your reasoning behind your negativity to China with facts.

edit: typos

edit: how ironic Aussie2Aussie that you made a thread that you think Aboriginals shouldn't be compensated for our government mistreating them... that was the very human rights issue that the Europeans were talking of boycotting the Sydney olympics for.

 

[juw177]

To put things into perspective.

This is an example of the boycott Sydney campaign (before Redfern and Cronulla riots).
http://sisis.nativeweb.org/2000/main.html

If you read it, you will think it is not the REAL Australia. Unfortunately for China, the western world only knows these sort of news from China, and even if it may be unpopular idea, it is not the REAL China.

Now say the Redfern riots happened leading up to the olympics, and they burn down most of Redfern, a few people die. "Free the Aborigines" they say. What will our government do when the international media calls us racist, police brutality crackdown etc, and want a boycott?

Someone like Aussie2Aussie will say "no way". Too bad others will brand him as a racist John Howard supporter.

This is the situation facing China right now.

 

[Aussie2Aussie]

Is there a need to reply to ignorant people that conveniently dismiss anything contradicting their views as Chinese propaganda? (that is a loaded question). And have you thought that unlike western countries, any Chinese person is well aware that their government is corrupt and censors the news... anyone looking for outside information will find it is quite easy to get around the firewall. Just ask a Chinese person, or better yet, go there yourself... go ahead, these "communist party members" are not all that frightening!

If you are here, you must have made some money from the china resource boom. I would think of all places ASF will understand that it is not the Chinese cultural revolution anymore. Please don't turn this into a racist argument and back your reasoning behind your negativity to China with facts.

edit: typos

edit: how ironic Aussie2Aussie that you made a thread that you think Aboriginals shouldn't be compensated for our government mistreating them... that was the very human rights issue that the Europeans were talking of boycotting the Sydney olympics for.

And the "we" are?? Just as I thought, no answer. Hint juw, if you are going to incorporate others into your justifications please name them.

If I am here, I may have made money out of the Australian resources boom - not "from the china resource boom", what an arrogant toad you are.

PS Irony is the fact that you spew your venom, from god knows where (Yarralumla I presume, that is where the embassy is isnt it) while you dish dirt on Australia. Now if you wouldnt mind posting even one piece about europeans boycotting the sydney olympics because of mistreatment of aboriginals ; and I am not talking about a couple of people in a pub in Norway.
Dont even attempt to compare our human rights with that of China.

 

[Aussie2Aussie]

To put things into perspective.

This is an example of the boycott Sydney campaign (before Redfern and Cronulla riots).
http://sisis.nativeweb.org/2000/main.html

If you read it, you will think it is not the REAL Australia. Unfortunately for China, the western world only knows these sort of news from China, and even if it may be unpopular idea, it is not the REAL China.

Now say the Redfern riots happened leading up to the olympics, and they burn down most of Redfern, a few people die. "Free the Aborigines" they say. What will our government do when the international media calls us racist, police brutality crackdown etc, and want a boycott?

Someone like Aussie2Aussie will say "no way". Too bad others will brand him as a racist John Howard supporter.

This is the situation facing China right now.

As I said, your funny.

Some guy called Lorenzo from Chattanooga is not what I would call "Europeans ...... boycotting the Sydney olympics" but keep trying.