The Political Asylum

Vintage Girl · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 3:20 pm Post subject: Olympic Boycott

I know this subject has been touched on in the 'Tibet' thread in World Affairs but I thouhgt it would be interesting to hear the sports fans take on this.

My own view is that the oympics should never have been given to China in the first place with their appalling human rights record. However, we are beyond that stage and clearly there is no question of boycotting the olympics themselves. In my opinion that's what we should have done but it's obviously not going to happen.

More recently pressure is being brought to bear on leaders to boycott the opening ceremony. Sarkozy has indicated that he would be in favour of this and now Mr Bush is under pressure to make the same commitment.

So what do you think? Should we boycott the opening ceremony and how effective would that be in terms of sending a message to the Chinese government and in terms of whether it would change anything, particularly in terms of the situation in Tibet.
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kitchenwitch · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 4:41 pm Post subject:

While I don't think much of China and their policies I don't think the opening ceremony of the Olympics should be boycotted. This is a sporting event, not a political event and the idea is for many cultures to get together under the banner of sportsmanship. This will be the only time many of these athletes will ever be in the Olympics and it seems wrong to put a pall on it for them because the Olympic committe did a poor job of choosing the venue.

Dalton FB · Joined: 02 Apr 2008 Posts: 28

I would say Boycott it. China and it's murderous leaders, slave labour and cheap crap they send all around the world that ends up being recalled due to dangerous chemicals/metals or faulty assembly just pisses me off big time. (can I say "piss" on here? Very Happy

)
Yes, it was the wrong choice but the Olympic committee is up to it's neck in bribes so there should have been a getting together of brains to find a different venue of a scaled down "Olympics" that sends a "ff you" message to the hosts and the bent committee that set it up that decent human beings actually have power.
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JuanaLaLoca · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 5:48 pm Post subject:

kitchenwitch · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 6:38 pm Post subject:

I like the opening ceremonies myself, the sporting events, well they're of moderate interest.

Dalton I appreciate the fact that China exports substandard goods and have an abysmal human rights record, but the venue for the Olympics was chosen years ago - could you consider the idea that the Olympic committee was optimistic in their choice of China and hoped that putting them front and center would put pressure on them to straighten up? Or is that way too a fanciful & optimistic thought?

Truly I would have second thoughts about being an athlete participating in China, I understand the air pollution is incredible and then there is the food that may or may not be posionous. I understand that there are a few countries that are bringing their own food with them.

Matron · Site Admin Joined: 04 Nov 2006 Posts: 66

BlueEmperor · Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 6:58 pm Post subject:

Most definately the opening ceremony in Beijing should be boycotted.

The constant refrain from those who oppose boycotting the Beijing Olympics altogether - most of them politicians - has been that 'politics' should be kept out of sport and that this is a sporting event. Fine. I don't agree with that but fine. If that's the case and that's what the politicians who advocate that position really believe then a very good way of illustrating it would be for the United Kingdom to participate in the sporting events at the Beijing Olympics but for our politicians to STAY AWAY!

I want to see Gordon Brown and his government put their money (or rather our money) where their mouths are and I want them to boycott the Beijing Olympics.

B.E.
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adrien · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 4:26 pm Post subject:

BlueEmperor · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 7:31 pm Post subject:

Never going to happen, Adrien. They don't want to miss their photo op and the opportunity to snuzzle up to the next superpower. I hear the tourch is on its way to Paris, along with the protests. Good luck.

B.E.
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Dalton FB · Joined: 02 Apr 2008 Posts: 28

Thanks Matron!!

It does make you think who the IOC thought they were kidding.
Were they trying to do a Blair and go down in History as the ones that "moderated" China and finally got it to behave itself on the world stage?

At best they are daft and worst down right dangerous.

China is so desperete in previous games that their runners were on the very best new untraceable drugs East German style.
May be they got some tips from Flo-Jo
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adrien · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 2:30 pm Post subject: Re: Olympic Boycott

JuanaLaLoca · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 4:15 pm Post subject:

I don't think that the protesters extinguished it, though. I believe that the people in charge of the torch put it out three or so times when it looked like it was in danger. However, the Olympic flame itself is kept going all the time, and then I guess they relight the torch from that. As far as I know, the flame never went out.

Merak · Inmate of the Asylum Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 214

Seen this on another board and thought I'd share.....

BlueEmperor · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:47 pm Post subject:

That would be funny if you weren't suspicious that it's probably quite accurate.

I hear that our brave Prime Minister is boycotting the opening ceremony (by sending Tessa Jowell instead). What a bunch of twats.

B.E.
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Merak · Inmate of the Asylum Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 214

Oh he's good at that - he boycotted whatever was in portgual recently as well, and sent somebody else to that I think. Plank.

BlueEmperor · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:14 pm Post subject:

I think it was the summit where Mugabe was present and he stayed away and sent some junior minister instead.

I think it's fair enough - a big international summit, obviously UK interests have to be represented even if we don't want our PM sitting down at a table with the Black Hitler.

I would argue this is slightly different. This is not some grand summit, it's China throwing a big shindig and bigging herself up. Nobody should be there representing the UK at such a sickening spectacle.

B.E.
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Vintage Girl · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 12:36 pm Post subject:

Not only that, I believe he still intends to attend the closing ceremony.

What the hell's the point?
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BlueEmperor · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 5:34 pm Post subject:

He does plan to attend the closing ceremony and you're right, the whole thing is a charade.

The point is to shut up all the critics of this despicable pantomime by seeming to take a stand while actually bending on one knee in front of those appalling Chinese waxworks.

B.E.
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adrien · Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 12:36 pm Post subject:

Photo from Reuters Pictures.

Anti-French rallies across China
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BlueEmperor · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 8:41 pm Post subject:

I daresay Corsicans enjoy more rights and freedoms than Tibetans.

B.E.
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kitchenwitch · Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 4:33 pm Post subject:

I still think insisting that countries boycott the opening ceremonies is a foolish exercise. I know it isn't going to change how the U.S. interacts with China. Almost everything we can buy is manufactured in China, and we owe China so much money right now nobody in our government is going to upset the apple cart over some monks in Tibet. It won't make China changes it's ways either, they aren't suddenly going to feel remorse over their human rights record.

Oh sure it will draw more attention to China's failures, but we've been turning a blind eye for so long I just don't think anything will really change. We watched China's military kill their own citizens in Tienemen Square an did nothing about it.

SilverMiniCooperS · Inmate of the Asylum Joined: 09 Jan 2007 Posts: 195

Exactly KW.

wakeyboy · Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 9:41 pm Post subject:

Maybe we should be boycotting Chinese imports.
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JuanaLaLoca · Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 9:44 pm Post subject:

wakeyboy · Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 10:01 pm Post subject:

Merak · Inmate of the Asylum Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 214

BlueEmperor · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 10:14 pm Post subject:

KW, the purpose of boycotting the opening ceremony is simply. It may not change anything but it would send a strong message to Beijing that the world deplores their behaviour, their methods, and that to gain acceptance in the wider international community they ARE going to have to make changes. If people do nothing and just accept that things are as they are then the Communists have no incentive to reform at all.

Also, it would cleanse our own souls by demonstrating clearly that we renounce China's tyranny in Tibet and their threats towards Taiwan. It would clearly express the world's condemnation of the violence visited against the people of China by the regime and it would rob the Chinese Government of their 'big moment'. The opening ceremony has nothing to do with sportsmanship - that's what the actual games are for - the opening ceremony is simply an opportunity for the host nation to swagger about and say 'look how great we are'. I for one want nothing to do with it. I have accepted that my Government is going to flip-flop and dance around the issue - though I'm still glad the Prime Minister isn't going - but, for my own part, I am intent on completely ignoring the Beijing Olympics.

B.E.
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kitchenwitch · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 1:13 pm Post subject:

I just don't see it that way Blue. I think you're being way too optimistic if you believe Bejing is going to see the error of it's ways because of this boycott. They don't need acceptance to be prosperous because they are already making money hand over fist. I don't mind thinking that a boycott may alter their behavior in future situations, but I can't see China backing down over Tibet anytime in the near future. That would probably take a regime change and/or a complete and total boycott of trade with China and as I said, that will never happen - not in the U.S. at any rate.

I also believe China won't see the boycott as shameful, but as a moment of pride because the show will go on despite non participation of a number of countries. I'm sure they will manage to spin things in their favor, if to nobody else but themselve.

It's deeply cynical and pessimistic I know. but I just can't see it any other way.

BlueEmperor · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 4:02 pm Post subject:

Whether it makes a difference or not, I would still boycott the Beijing Olympics. I just wouldn't want to be associated with it in any way.

B.E.
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adrien · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 3:37 pm Post subject:

As I think I said I can hardly boycott the games, since I've never been interested in it: can't watch them less than not at all...

I think it is good to show support to the Tibetans - since all this really started with the unrest in Tibet last month. But I'm also worried about Chinese nationalism. I mean, I really don't care about insulting Joan of Arc or Napoleon, even calling us Nazis, in this context, is way too ridiculous to take offense. But this reminded me of the protests against the Danish cartoons when some Muslims around the world had also been burning Danish flags - or other flags resembling the Danish's, for that matter, showing the same ignorance of the reality of the country they target... We should be careful not to leave ourself open to charges of being "anti-chinese". They're 1.3 billion, let's not turn them into enemies...

Especially as the Chinese Government is giving encouraging signs:
China-Dalai Lama talks unlikely to bring change
Well, as the article says, it's not that encouraging... Anyway, better than nothing.
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adrien · Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 1:23 pm Post subject:

In a galaxy far, far away:

"And beware! If you keep destructing innocent planets, I'll boycott the death star opening ceremony!"
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Sit on the banks of the river and wait for the corpse of your enemy. - Indian proverb.

wakeyboy · Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 1:42 pm Post subject:

Vintage Girl · Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 3:23 pm Post subject:

My own translation was the same Wakey, except I had translated 'l'etoile noire' as 'black star'.
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