The Warring States of NPF - Boycotting the Olympics

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Boycotting the Olympics

I hear all this stuff about the UK Prime Minister boycotting the opening ceremonies, and Obama and Clinton encouraging Bush to do the same thing. I understand the reasoning behind it, but I always viewed the Olympics as a sacred thing. Its one of those events that you're supposed to put political differences aside for.

I don't know what the common view is, and since most of the members of this forum are American, I'm curious as to how everybody else thinks. Its generally the Republicans that are excessively anti-China from what I know, but it seems like the Dems are hitting this one hard too.

Thoughts, people?

I don't know, I think it's mostly the political figures trying to look powerful, but by being ironic. The whole point of the olympics is a moment when the world comes together to be one. Many american citezens are laughing at this whole ideal like it's stupid, cause well, hell, it is. Like a wise man once said It's just a game. How is it that these men are 40 years old and are so immature they don't realize that! Anyway, my point is that the politicians are trying to just make a fuss so they can get support, but it really isnt working. I think the average american citizen has had enough XD

finally

The Olympics needs to remain a celebration of athleticism and not some huge political thing. People who turn it into a chance to criticize China have lost sight of what it represents.

There's already been some discussion on this topic, albeit in a different subforum. And I really do think that protesting them is in good order. As Meister said:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meister

If it's strictly a celebration for athletes what are all the sponsorship deals and broadcasting licenses doing in it?

Quote:

Do you believe it is worth it to mess with the Olympic ideals for something that the Chinese government will be very unlikely to change?

Yes. It's absolutely worth messing with the Olympic ideals and I myself would mess with the Olympic ideals given half the chance. They are less important than the people in China and Tibet. It's unlikely to bring about change, but it's better to voice your opinion than to stand there and pretend everything's a-okay over in China, just lay back and think of the Olympic Rings.

EDIT: In fact, part of why there are protests probably are the Olympic ideals, or what protesters perceive them to be. "Don't deserve to host the Olympic spirit" sounds pretty spot-on to me though, even though it's not quite logically conclusive.

I do wish there were similar protests when there aren't any Olympic games around the corner though, whether the subject is China or any other not-quite-trustworthy state. It's not a good thing when people only come out and protest when there's TV cameras.

The bold emphasis is my own.

I think those boycotting them are keeping what the Olympics used to, should represent very much alive.

It's another case of saying one thing (China is bad!) and doing another (Having economic ties to them).

And why would some say China is bad? Tienman Square.

Quote:

In addition to renewed economic prospects, the mid-1980's ushered in growing calls for political liberalization. In 1986, students at several college campuses across China staged demonstrations calling for political reforms. Communist Party Secretary Hu Yaobang was forced to resign when he refused to act aggressively against the student demonstrators. Hu's death in April of 1989 triggered mass pro-democracy demonstrations in Beijing's Tiananmen Square. From April 22 to June 3, huge crowds of protesting students and advocates of political reform defied government warnings to disperse. On the night of June 3-4, Chinese troops opened fire on the crowd, killing several thousand protestors; thousands more were rounded-up and imprisoned for long terms.

Of course, I do find it someone ironic that considering both Britain's and America's ties to freedom loving mobs *cough*Boston*cough
Or France for that matter. Something called The Terror?

Look, all I'm saying is that if you look at every country's history, you'll find some skeletons. (And we'll be dealing with the Bush's ones for a while.)

The Wandering God

they are just saying "Look, boycoting the opening of the Olympics will toss a lot less shit in the fan than putting economical sanctions or military efforts towards china..."

That's just the world leaders trying to be sympathetic to their own people so china's problem dosent become "their" problem. It's not really all that surprising... to do with the cool kids, staying out of "china's awesome party"...

I believe this isn't the first time some country has boycotted the Olympics. People do it because it IS a slap in the face. To have people refuse to compete in the highest physical contest in the world just because it's in your country sends a huge message and is a PR nightmare. I fully support it for a few reasons:

1. China is more than willing to kill Tibetans by the thousands just to shut them up, and has been for ages.
2. China has no business being in Tibet in the first place. They invaded, conquered, and proceeded to try to stamp out the locals.
3. Then they tried to hide it by legislating control over Tibet's religion and replaced one of the big figures (a child, believed by many to have been killed) with their own puppet.

I don't agree with massacring your own supposed citizens, I don't agree with invasions (from the US, either), and I ESPECIALLY don't agree with stamping out the basis of an entire society (Tibet was a theocracy) or killing children.

Quote:

Originally Posted by shiney

The Olympics needs to remain a celebration of athleticism and not some huge political thing. People who turn it into a chance to criticize China have lost sight of what it represents.

I dont even particularily care for the Olympics, but I completely agree. It has nothing to do with politics. Its about great athletes competing against eachother.

But the whole point of the olympics is supporting world unity! Seriously, I think its sad how we ignore that! Hypocracy is not how you set a world example, it's how you make people mad, and that is ALL this is going to accomplish.

edit: im argueing with bluestarulter not Josh

By boycotting, we are saying we don't want to have unity with a country that abuses it's people and Tibet. It's not hypocracy. In fact, I would think it'd be more hypocritical to go and act like nothing that China is doing is wrong.