Boycott The Olympics?

Simon of the Playa · Post by **Simon of the Playa** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 6:32 am

absofuckinglutely.

Kinetik V · Post by **Kinetik V** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 6:41 am

Are you advocating a boycott of the opening ceremonies like the French were suggesting or a total boycott? I'm for the latter because of Tibet and because of the environmental disaster they intend to cover up during the event. Who wants to support that sort of stuff?

Box Burner · Post by **Box Burner** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 7:37 am

Wouldn't make any difference in my case since I never pay attention to the Olympics anyway..

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 7:54 am

If you want to have an effect, let sponsors know you aren't pleased with them.
Tell them why.
Ask the networks not to carry it.

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 9:57 am

They're not holding the 100-meter delay this year.

CapSmashy · Post by **CapSmashy** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 10:05 am

The opening ceremonies can be utilized by many to make a very public and seen round the wold statement. Such as 500 people carrying Tibetan flags, pulled out after they enter the arena, of course.

Boycotting the event and asking networks not to cover it is tantamount to turning a blind eye to what is happening since you are removing the only real international view into China with the international press corps covering the events.

Boycotting also serves to unfairly punish athletes that have worked their entire lives to have one shot at their goal of Olympic Gold. To some out there, that still means something. Having a friend that was denied his chance to compete in 1980 because of the US boycott, I know from her (gymnast) that the pain they feel is very real and very long lasting.

Badger · Post by **Badger** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 12:25 pm

Pier 40 A here in San Francisco is where they've moved the venue for the police commission meeting where the issue(s) will be discussed of trying to limit (yeh, right) the protest when the torch comes through its only North American venue.

The ACLU is threatening to sue San Francisco if the City follows through with its plan to keep the rout secret until the very last minute.

BTW, the meeting starts at 6:00 today.

Sensei · Post by **Sensei** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 4:04 pm

There's an old and subtle Chinese curse that goes something like this: May you live in interesting times.

Unfortunately for the present Chinese government, these are very interesting times, and it looks like things are going to be getting a hell of a lot more interesting real soon. I know the Chinese want to show off their shiny new country but I can't help but think that the Olympics are going to blow up in their faces.

thirt33n · Post by **thirt33n** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 4:46 pm

I'm with CapSmashy and Sensei.

We all know what's going on in China. The world should see their faces as they smile through their dirty deeds and welcome "everyone". The world is watching.

The athletes and events shouldn't have anything to do with politics. It brings too many different points of view in this world together in the name of peace.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 6:44 pm

Let's see. The boycott over Afganistan resulted in Afganistan's being free. 9 years later. And then civil war. And then the Taliban. And now we're occupying Afganistan. Ever heard the term Pyrric Victory?

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 6:50 pm

thirt33n wrote: The athletes and events shouldn't have anything to do with politics.

You do know that the modern revival of the games was started by a French baron who wanted to prove that the French were superior to the Germans. He had this inferiority complex because they Germans had won the Franco-Prussian War. In part because French nobles decided they'd rather surrender to German noblemen than put up with the Paris Commune.

Nice dream you have there. Maybe if we all beleived in Zeus, and it was his particular festival...

Maybe.

Kinetik V · Post by **Kinetik V** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 8:16 pm

Underestimate the Chinese at your own peril...and I mean every bit of that. My hunch is they'll find a way to pull off a successful Olympics even under the hot spotlight of international scrutiny. Instead of seeing Tibet take center stage...we could be seeing China's official coming out party as a true superpower.

May you live in interesting times....yeah, who holds a good portion of America's debt? Read up on it and be afraid...very damn afraid. Interesting times, indeed.

Apollonaris Zeus · Post by **Apollonaris Zeus** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 10:58 pm

We will dominate the Olympics!

Tibet will be an issue that will get more attentions

Soon there will be real priestesses instead of actors reenacting the torch ceremonies

Zeus Rules!

AIIZ

thirt33n · Post by **thirt33n** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 12:01 am

[quote="Kinetic V"]Underestimate the Chinese at your own peril...and I mean every bit of that. My hunch is they'll find a way to pull off a successful Olympics even under the hot spotlight of international scrutiny. Instead of seeing Tibet take center stage...we could be seeing China's official coming out party as a true superpower.

May you live in interesting times....yeah, who holds a good portion of America's debt? Read up on it and be afraid...very damn afraid. Interesting times, indeed.[/quote]

true dat....good point homey

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 12:30 am

Maybe you people should boycott Burning Man, if it's made with Chinese products.

Kinetik V · Post by **Kinetik V** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 6:37 am

Bob wrote:Maybe you people should boycott Burning Man, if it's made with Chinese products.

I think that's a fantastic idea Bob. But I can't say why just yet.

Simon of the Playa · Post by **Simon of the Playa** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 8:45 am

my daughter is an All-American Fencer who is internationally
ranked, and most likely will compete on the american team.

i still want a total boycott.

the chinese govt can go to hell.

Simon of the Playa · Post by **Simon of the Playa** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 9:03 am

actually, Our Government can go to hell, too.

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 9:26 am

Simon of the Playa wrote:actually, Our Government can go to hell, too.

Shouldn't take much of a shove to get it there, either.

Post by **mdmf007** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 11:19 am

IMHO - China will only be changed from within. Boycotting the olympics would make a great statement to the rest of the world, and who knows maybe show China that they are in the wrong.

Simon of the Playa · Post by **Simon of the Playa** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 12:24 pm

they have a chance now, to make peace with tibet.

a "Nixon going to China" but in reverse, sort of, would be Humble, welcome, and a gesture that would not go unheeded by the rest of the free world.

Let china make the appropriate moves BEFORE it is rewarded with the hosting of the Olympics.

i would hate to see a repeat of 1936.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 1:19 pm

Boycott Archie McPhee?

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/356636_toys27.html

dana · Post by **dana** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 2:03 pm

CapSmashy wrote:The opening ceremonies can be utilized by many to make a very public and seen round the wold statement. Such as 500 people carrying Tibetan flags, pulled out after they enter the arena, of course.

They're already warning journalists and participants that their bags and rooms may be searched, their communications monitored. People would have to be fairly sneaky to pull off something that blatant. It would be an amazingly cool sidelight on the games coverage though.

What I find especially chilling is how effective the Chinese propaganda machine is within China. They also have an excellent lockdown on internet communications. I think most Chinese people themselves tend to view the Tibetans as primitive troublemakers that deserve to be punished.
Shades of Nazi Germany....

Wait, there's more rant yet.

Another thing that gets me is the fact that so many Americans (and other foreign investors) have been literally throwing money at China by buying up "all of the red hot stocks set to explode". We've been helping to finance a growing political and ecological disaster. Forget a boycott of the olympics. We need to divest.

Soon there will be real priestesses instead of actors reenacting the torch ceremonies

I like that idea. The re-emergence of "pagan" ceremony, as the church gradually loses its grip on our consciousness.

ZaphodBurner · Post by **ZaphodBurner** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 2:36 pm

According to some show that was published on PBS, some significant majority of Chinese exchange students in American colleges have never seen the Tienaman Square footage, and if I remember correctly a smaller majority of them knew almost nothing about it. These are not only Chinese college kids, they're top students who are wealthy enough to be able to afford to study abroad.

That's what the world is up against. I think boycotting the opening ceremonies is the least the world can do, but it only works if the whole world does it. Boycotting the entire Olympics would have a much more dramatic impact, and I understand the people who say that the athletes studied their entire lives to get there, but, what makes an athlete' life any more valuable than a Tibetan monk or some soldier kid who might end up having to fight a war for Tibet someday?

-zb

cowboyangel · Post by **cowboyangel** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 2:49 pm

I think hosting the Olympics in China was a great move for whatever reason. It will focus the moral eye of the world on the culture killing, environment killing beast that it is. Too bad the US now stands second to them in moral authority. Way to go US!

Badger · Post by **Badger** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 5:14 pm

It will focus the moral eye of the world on the culture killing, environment killing beast that it is.

Unfortunately that will all be overshadowed by the adoring TV anchors, the two week fusillade of product advertisement, and the nauseating mascots seen here:

I think it's be a great sound bite to have five folks dressed like these obnoxious cartoon fucks all handcuffed together and pouring fake blood on each other as the torch passes through San Francisco.

Better yet, stop by the Chinese consulate in SF and see if you can convince them to do an air drop of several thousand stuffed doll versions of the mascots somewhere over Darfur airspace. I'm sure the orphaned children would love to have a huggie.

can't sit still · Post by **can't sit still** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 5:27 pm

mdmf007 wrote: who knows maybe show China that they are in the wrong.

007, I have to take issue with you on that statement. Their government approval rating is over 80% They're growing at <14> They have a trillion and a half of extra money. They're emerging onto the world stage.
They may very well believe that they are doing everything RIGHT.

They smacked down their restless possesions and they are scaring the US with their rubber-covered submarines and their ability to shoot down satellities.
Considering that they moved 300 million from poverty to the middle-class, I imagine they're quite contented with their actions.
Little things like runaway pollution, farmland destruction and all the other tiny problems are all incidental to amassing power.
If amassing power and prestige is the be-all and end-all of thier actions, I'd say that they are pretty happy.
I'm not trying to play the devil's advocate, but there is more than one point of view.
I don't agree with conquest at the point of the sword, but, that's our history. Dan

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 6:34 pm

Badger wrote:

Is it true that Larry Harvey is buying all the extras of the central one for this year's burn?

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 6:36 pm

Kinetic V wrote:yeah, who holds a good portion of America's debt? Read up on it and be afraid...very damn afraid. Interesting times, indeed.

Yeah, is anyone getting relief on their mortgages by exposing the bankers' floozies to their wives?

Post by **mdmf007** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 7:50 pm

Cant sit still -

Dont get me wrong - The Chinese are making HUGE strides in improving their lifestyle and quality of living, but at the cost of the environment and in lives.

China looses somethinglike 29 workers a day in the coal mines to feed their powerplants.

a coal fired power plant goes online every week.

People are moving from the farms to work in the factories to make shit for the US market.

China buys a billion a week in US currency to keep the value of the US dolalr up - They will want their money back at some point and sell.

Forced abortions still happen

Infanticide still happens

China has a long way to go - but is much much closer than they were ten years ago.

Even with all that I am still impressed with the leaps and bounds they have made socially. They will be fully democratic in my lifetime with free elections.

so game on I say. watch - dont watch its still happening. I still expect to see a lot of protesting on tv.