[caffeinated]

What the hell do we do about the Olympics in China? How do we justify going in there and pretending that the Chinese government isn't a brutal, oppressive totalitarian regime?<br><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,338610,00.html" target="_blank">http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,338610,00.html</a><br><br>
Should we boycott?<br><br>
(I'm home sick today, and I'm cranky and bored.)

 

[OakDawg]

The Olympics are no place for politics.<br><br>
We were wrong to boycott in 1980 and the boycott of 1984 was wrong, too.

 

[Horrible Peanut]

I say we do it- we just don't invite the Chinese athletes to participate.<br><br>
"Yes- I know you're the hosts- but you cannot play. Put the water polo ball down, son."

 

[hazelrah]

We should boycott the Olympics right after all US companies boycott cheap Chinese labor. I would not think the average Chinese citizen as any more control over their government then we do of ours, theoretically they have allot less, so I certainly would not punish Chinese athletes.

 

[Liam3494]

Most running shoes are made in China these days - Send them all back - Refuse to buy them -<br><br>
Seriously - It is a very important issue and one not to be taken lightly, but a boycott by the west will make no difference to the Chinese authorities, and probably hurt the "ordinary" person far more in the long run - Diplomacy and economic boycott at a higher level would be far more effective - me thinks.

 

[QuixoticNotions]

I agree

 

[caffeinated]

Theoretically? They have a communist government. We have a representative democracy.<br><br>
Granted, punishing the athletes would suck. But the government stands to make a lot of money and gain a level of legitimacy and acceptance in the world from these games.

 

[Xavier Dan Q]

We went to the Berlin Olympics in 1936.<br><br>
I don't think China is any worse than Nazi Germany.

 

[ElDuderino]

An Olympic boycott would be a form of economic boycott, remember that since 1984 the Olympics have been big money makers for the host cities. And frankly, no athlete is going to die from lack of participation. People in Tibet, and Burma last year, are dying however.

 

[Xavier Dan Q]

True.<br><br>
But I don't think our boycott of the Moscow Olympics was very sucessful nor was the USSR's boycott of the LA games in '84.<br><br>
I say let's go to the Olympics and kick some Chinese ass.

 

[caffeinated]

That's a pretty low standard.<br><br>
And this idea that the Olympics is no place for politics, I disagree. Any interaction between governments is political in nature. What about the idea of finding alternatives to violence as methods of resolving conflicts? I've read on this same forum that we should be using every means at our disposal, short of war, to end the senseless murder and oppression of innocent people. That there is always an alternative to violence. This is a huge opportunity to use non-violent means to work for peace.<br><br>
What message are we sending to the world by turning a blind eye to the brutal oppression of Tibet, while at the same time smiling and laughing with the oppressor?

 

[Xavier Dan Q]

What better message could be sent that there there was no such thing as a master race than Jesse Owens winning a gold medal?<br><br>
Our boycott of the Moscow Olympics did not make the USSR get out of Afghanistan.<br><br>
And our boycott of this Olympics will not impact one iota what China does in Tibet.

 

[Ileneforward]

Lets overthrow the Chinese government while we are there!

 

[fatmantrying]

I agree with your sentiment, but I don't think it would make a rats ass bit of a difference. We would only do it because of political or popular pressure. The athletes would suffer but nobody else would.... All the while we'd still be doing everything we could to keep KFC and McDonalds open in China and our ports would continue to fill with Chinese made goods.<br><br>
The difference between how we handle Cuba and China and the real human rights differences between the two are truly applaing. Cuba is at best a rank amatuer in human rights violations when compared to China.

 

[QuixoticNotions]

I might see this logic if our boycott would mean that the Olympics would be moved elsewhere. There would be a solid accomplishment there.<br><br>
HOWEVER, it will not be. Which makes the boycott less practical and more symbolic. And I do not feel the Olympics is the place to make political symbolic stands.<br><br>
The only people hurt by this would be the athletes. And it would be contrary to the spirit of the Olympics.

 

[ElDuderino]

Regimes like the one in China live for 'proof' that their system is superior. Every time a riot breaks out in an outlying province like Tibet, or puppet state like Burma, it's one more black mark on their system. The public relations disaster of a boycott would be significant in the long run; maybe they wouldn't change anything but it would at least awaken people to reality.<br><br>
And as far as the athletes, I realize this is a running community, but I couldn't give a rat's ass about athletes missing out on an Olympics. There are far more serious matters in the world.

 

[caffeinated]

Holy crap, I agree with ElDude!

 

[ElDuderino]

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