Tibet, China and the Olympics

For a couple of days now we hear about the uprisings/demonstrations in Tibet and how China is responding. Due to the violent strikes Chinese "security units" blow, a discussion has got on the way whether or not the Olympic Summer Games in Bejing should be boycotted. Please vote and tell us about your decision. Thanks.


In my opinion participants should show their solidarity and sympathy for the people of Tibet while taking part in the Games. There even might be a chance to bring the issue to the knowledge of some of the Chinese. Yes, I know that I'm a dreamer.

I can't even to vote on this. Every option is equally important to my mind.

China is destroying a culture of peace in the name of modernization. Forceful modernization. China is power-hungry, and seeks domination in the shrewdest and least sympathetic way. The only reason we let China get away with this sh!t is that our economy would get a righteous f**king-over. But what does it say for us when the wealth of our economy depends on another country?

I think China should be boycotted in every possible way.

At least our figurehead of a leader should not dole out wimpy, half-assed comments about dissatisfaction or whatever about China. Have some balls for once in your life you yellow b*****d, Bush and condemn China for its awful actions. But then again, with you f**king over your own country and the world so much, that would reek of hypocrisy, wouldn't it?


Edited by stonebeard - March 19 2008 at 11:27

Every other country competing in the games should have a "Free Tibet" patch sewn to their uniforms.

tuxon wrote: Personally I don't think a boycot will help, I suggest we make a fist and invade China, throw out that brute dictator and remove all the nuclear bombs they have.     BTW, while we are at it, why don't we boycot the USA for invading and forcefully opressing the people in Iraque, Afghanistan, and New York, same with Great Brittain, The Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, France and other countries involved in oppressing parts of the world.   I'm very much in favour of a free Tibet (not that it affects me in any way), but I think it's rather hypocritical to point the finger when you live in a Western society which supports western intrusion all over the world, and never in the places where it matters (Sudan, Erithrea, and where do we stand regarding Birma and stuff like that, as long as there's oil or other natural products or cheap labour to harvest).   Let's first pull back our troops where they don't belong and than we can tell other country's to do the same (lead by example not by force).

Reality is obscured by perception, once again.... I think Gerald has a few good points here, neither Chinese or Westerners have clean hands. Giving China the games and then boycotting them is indeed an act of hypocrisy. Requiring our sportsmen and -women to boycott the games is equally so - why should these people give up their (Olympic sports) dream for us, who only look from a distance and give up nothing? They have had as much part in this as the Tibetans have asked for being treated as they are now.

I like the idea of participants showing solidarity with the Tibetans - regardless of whether they deserve or require independence, solely for the way China treats them. 

Boycott would be terrible for the athletes and many more people... but to show solidarity will be fair and, peaceful.

On the other hand, a nation that never existed (Kosovo) got its fake "independence" supported by many powers and why not Tibet has this right since it existed as a nation before. Stop the world, please, I want to get out.

Edited by Atkingani - March 19 2008 at 18:51

I for one am glad the games are giving Tibet some much needed exposure. We have to realize, however, that the games are not about politics but for bringing people together. We still had the games in 1936 in Germany despite the rising evil everyone was cautious of. Think of all the hard work these hundreds of athletes have put in. Some people's lives are entirely devoted to these upcoming games; their life has simply been a preparation for this mass meeting of the world's premier athletes. These games need to remain a symbol of humanity.

Third option. 

Sean Trane wrote: I couldn't care less about Olympic games.... It's been a travesty for decades (I'd say since 68 in Mexico), and political since that time as well: Black Power in 68, than the PLO in 72, the African Boycoot in 76, the Western Boycott in 80 , the Easetern Boycott in 84  etc....   Seoul (88) was the first games that really derailed the sports. They eliminbated Johnson but didn't check Carl Lewis who was also a doped athltetes. etc....       Far away from me the idea of supporting China (I really don't), but when they invaded Tibet in the late 40's and when the Dalaï Lama fled in 59, it is because the communists eradicated a feodal system where 85% of the population was either slaves (serfs) or part of the religious community, headed by a semi-living god called Dalai Lama. 90% of the land belonged to the clergy. Foreigners were killed as to not say what was happening in this land. The Tibetan buddhism absolute monarchy  was one of these religious regime mankind can certainly do without.   Other buddhist absolute Monarchies like Bhutan, Sikkim (part of India) and some provincies of Nepal are not much better in terms of human rights as Tibet of the 40's or today's China.   While there was no genocide, one can draw comparison between China's invasion of Tibet with Vietnam's invasion of Kampuchea/Cambodia during the Pol Pot years; However Vietnam withdrew as quick as they could, something these arseholes in China are not willing to do.   I know it's very trendy to be buddhist in our western democracies, partly because it likes to define itself as a philosophy, rather than a religion (this is pure BS, of course, it's a religion just like others), but we should definitely look that the Tibet regime in exile as something else but saints.     BTW: the head of Olympics is Belgian Jacques Rogge and there is an all-important Tibetan institute in Belgium (Chateau Fontaine L'Eveque in Tihange/Huy), so you can't say that I'm biased after reading this post of mine

Geez! Your anti-religious stand is so dominating that it tilts you toward anyone anti-religious, even such obnoxious rogues as the Chinese communists.

Edited by IVNORD - March 28 2008 at 10:16