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Poll

Should the Olympics in China be used to highlight injustice in Tibet?

Yes62%62% - 20
No37%37% - 12
Total: 32
2008-03-31 05:57:49
Burwhale
Save the BlobFish!
+136|6649|Brisneyland
In the lead up the the Olympics in China, Tibet is trying to use the Olympics to highlight its push for better human rights/autonomy etc. While Tibet really does have cause to push for better rights, many are saying that it would be beneficial to let China hold a successful Olympics and in that way allow China to interact more openly with the international community. Better rights in Tibet may follow from a more open China.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/st … 01,00.html

One argument =

Stephen Smith- Australian foreign minister wrote:

“The Olympics is a chance to put the spotlight on China but also to enhance China's engagement with the international community.”
Other argument =
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said overnight a boycott of the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony was possible to protest China's crackdown in Tibet.
Which do you think would be more effective in helping Tibet.

Personally I think that, Tibet should do whatever it can to have its case bought to a global stage. Use the Olympics by all means.
2008-03-31 06:06:08
CameronPoe
Member
+2,925|6982
Politics and sport don't mix. If anything they should have chosen not to have China host the games at the time the various nations were competing to host them. Tibet has been occupied since the 50s ye know... it's not like this is some new development the IOC didn't know about. I find it strange that all the focus is on Tibet too: Xinjiang (Uighur) province in north-west China is a similar situation: Han Chinese occupying the homeland of a distinct and different ethnicity.

Last edited by CameronPoe (2008-03-31 06:07:23)

2008-03-31 06:12:41
BL4CKL10N
Member
+66|6709
Tibet is making up alot of stuff nowadays to put China under pressure. What you've heard from the news etc will never be 100% correct because there is and will always be some kind of manipulation in the media. However, China is not inhuman, those people from Europe should get it into their heads. Everyday they indirectly claim that China is so bad and we must do something against them so they can't gain more power and stuff. Then please look at yourself and don't be arrogant, we all make mistakes, it is not right to blame it all on China. In my opinions, this is a very childish and immature way to to **weaken** another country. Europe isn't better at all...

Tibet should not go any deeper, they won't make a profit out of this. End

Last edited by BL4CKL10N (2008-03-31 06:13:57)

2008-03-31 06:27:34
PuckMercury
6 x 9 = 42
+298|6954|Portland, OR USA

CameronPoe wrote:

Politics and sport don't mix.
Agree completely.  This is about celebrating arbitrary and archaic physical feats purely for it's own enjoyment.  To turn this into some sort of spotlight or vessel through which actual issues which matter are brought to light would actually demean the issue being mentioned I would think.  I mean, we only care about aggregious violations of widely accepted human rights because Michael Phelps got a gold in the butterfly?  Now THAT'S offensive.
2008-03-31 06:29:09
jord
Member
+2,382|7105|The North, beyond the wall.
Maybe at the end when the actual good bit that everyone watches is over. I can't imagine turning over to the 100m mens final to see some sort of political debate...
2008-03-31 06:30:08
ATG
Banned
+5,233|6956|Global Command
I say that any pressure to get the Chicoms to stop brutalizing those people is good pressure.


I for one am boycotting the coverage.
2008-03-31 06:33:05
PuckMercury
6 x 9 = 42
+298|6954|Portland, OR USA

ATG wrote:

I say that any pressure to get the Chicoms to stop brutalizing those people is good pressure.


I for one am boycotting the coverage.
I'm completely against the Chinese being allowed to host the Olympics in the first place, don't get me wrong.  However - given that they now are, I only see benefits to the Chinese government monetarily from increased coverage or some political avenue being opened.  Any attention is good attention I would say.
2008-03-31 06:34:25
Mekstizzle
WALKER
+3,611|7047|London, England
Yeah, screw China. I never saw what was so special about the 'Lympics anyway. They're all druggies even moreso then me and ig combined
2008-03-31 06:43:59
PuckMercury
6 x 9 = 42
+298|6954|Portland, OR USA
I suppose I should temper my position by letting on that I've never seen the point of the Olympics anyway.  I mean really - what does it matter?  Forget about developing the finite strengths of a bounded body.  What will it benefit anyone to see a human run faster than a cheetah?  Does that benefit said individual?  No.  Does it benefit society at large?  Hardly.  Now Stephen Hawkins on the other hand can't even walk let alone run.  Will he benefit humanity or society at large?  Absolutely.  Knowledge is true power, and a greater understanding of our world only serves to enlighten us all.  A hulk lurching forth to hurl a lead ball the farthest is as pointless as it is a waste of the very strength developed for just that task.
2008-03-31 09:10:48
oug
Calmer than you are.
+380|6946|Πάϊ

CameronPoe wrote:

Politics and sport don't mix.
Maybe so. But the Olympics are a different case. Let's not forget that before this capitalistic charade that we have now, the Olympic games did not take place until all fighting in the known world had stopped. The games symbolized a time of peace. So yes, if that's what it takes to get the global community interested in the Tibet situation, why not use the games.
ƒ³
2008-03-31 09:16:26
S.Lythberg
Mastermind
+429|6873|Chicago, IL

oug wrote:

CameronPoe wrote:

Politics and sport don't mix.
Maybe so. But the Olympics are a different case. Let's not forget that before this capitalistic charade that we have now, the Olympic games did not take place until all fighting in the known world had stopped. The games symbolized a time of peace. So yes, if that's what it takes to get the global community interested in the Tibet situation, why not use the games.
Fighting would always resume after the Olympics.

But no, dragging politics into the mix detracts from the accomplishments of the athletes and the Chinese people.
2008-03-31 09:34:11
oug
Calmer than you are.
+380|6946|Πάϊ

S.Lythberg wrote:

Fighting would always resume after the Olympics.

But no, dragging politics into the mix detracts from the accomplishments of the athletes and the Chinese people.
Indeed but during the games everyone called truce. I'm saying that in a way politics were always into the mix. And of course this will not be good for the games, but since there is no other way to get peoples' attention on the problem, so be it.
ƒ³
2008-03-31 09:34:34
CameronPoe
Member
+2,925|6982

oug wrote:

Maybe so. But the Olympics are a different case. Let's not forget that before this capitalistic charade that we have now, the Olympic games did not take place until all fighting in the known world had stopped. The games symbolized a time of peace. So yes, if that's what it takes to get the global community interested in the Tibet situation, why not use the games.
Are we gonna wait for Israel to withdraw from the occupied territories, USA and sheep to withdraw from Iraq, NATO to withdraw from Afghanistan, Russia to give Chechnya independence, Serbia to recognise Kosovo, Cyprus to be reunified, Northern Ireland to be handed back to the Irish and peace to reign in Somalia and Sudan first too?
2008-03-31 09:38:45
blademaster
I'm moving to Brazil
+2,075|7072

CameronPoe wrote:

oug wrote:

Maybe so. But the Olympics are a different case. Let's not forget that before this capitalistic charade that we have now, the Olympic games did not take place until all fighting in the known world had stopped. The games symbolized a time of peace. So yes, if that's what it takes to get the global community interested in the Tibet situation, why not use the games.
Are we gonna wait for Israel to withdraw from the occupied territories, USA and sheep to withdraw from Iraq, NATO to withdraw from Afghanistan, Russia to give Chechnya independence, Serbia to recognise Kosovo, Cyprus to be reunified, Northern Ireland to be handed back to the Irish and peace to reign in Somalia and Sudan first too?
very good point +1
2008-03-31 09:42:50
CameronPoe
Member
+2,925|6982
Ask the question, hypothetically, the other way around.

Should the Olympics being held in the US be used to highlight the injustice of their invasion of Iraq and their use of torture?

Should the Olympics being held in the UK be used to highlight the injustice of British appropriation and plantation of Irish land?

Last edited by CameronPoe (2008-03-31 09:46:13)

2008-03-31 09:44:45
jord
Member
+2,382|7105|The North, beyond the wall.

PuckMercury wrote:

I suppose I should temper my position by letting on that I've never seen the point of the Olympics anyway.  I mean really - what does it matter?  Forget about developing the finite strengths of a bounded body.  What will it benefit anyone to see a human run faster than a cheetah?  Does that benefit said individual?  No.  Does it benefit society at large?  Hardly.  Now Stephen Hawkins on the other hand can't even walk let alone run.  Will he benefit humanity or society at large?  Absolutely.  Knowledge is true power, and a greater understanding of our world only serves to enlighten us all.  A hulk lurching forth to hurl a lead ball the farthest is as pointless as it is a waste of the very strength developed for just that task.
Regardless of what you think is worthy of people watching, people watch the Olympics for entertainment. You can apply that to anything and everything. Eurovision is a stupid continent wide contest that serves no purpose other than entertainment. Maybe we should raise awareness about something there as well.
2008-03-31 09:44:49
Braddock
Agitator
+916|6717|Éire
The Olympics should not have been given to China in the first place. The world's sporting bodies often like to pretend that they are a great authority on these things and punish injustices when they are occurring but in reality they pick and choose their fights. Look at FIFA who ban South Africa during Apartheid and Yugoslavia during the Milosovic era but then reward Israel by giving them a berth in the European zone despite the injustices perpetrated on the Palestinian people. Are we honestly to expect the same sporting body that gave Nazi Germany the games in 1936 to have a conscience over what the Chinese are doing in Tibet?
2008-03-31 09:49:44
jord
Member
+2,382|7105|The North, beyond the wall.

CameronPoe wrote:

Should the Olympics being held in the UK be used to highlight the injustice of British appropriation and plantation of Irish land?
Maybe 20 years ago when people were getting killed en mass. What's the point now?

Just about everyone knows about Northern Ireland, how much awareness can you raise...?
2008-03-31 09:51:56
CameronPoe
Member
+2,925|6982

jord wrote:

CameronPoe wrote:

Should the Olympics being held in the UK be used to highlight the injustice of British appropriation and plantation of Irish land?
Maybe 20 years ago when people were getting killed en mass. What's the point now?

Just about everyone knows about Northern Ireland, how much awareness can you raise...?
I'm hypothesizing. Most people's answer would be 'No', which is what my point is. If you were gonna blockade the Chinese Olympics then they should never have been handed the games in the first place. It isn't like they just invaded Tibet last week.
2008-03-31 09:52:42
PuckMercury
6 x 9 = 42
+298|6954|Portland, OR USA

jord wrote:

Regardless of what you think is worthy of people watching, people watch the Olympics for entertainment. You can apply that to anything and everything. Eurovision is a stupid continent wide contest that serves no purpose other than entertainment. Maybe we should raise awareness about something there as well.
I was simply giving my personal opinion, not trying to pass it off as universal truth or mandate.  I understand what you're saying about capitalizing on idiocy for the betterment of another cause, however.  I just see linking the two as potentially detrimental to the seriousness of the cause.

Last edited by PuckMercury (2008-03-31 09:53:15)

2008-03-31 10:14:42
sergeriver
Cowboy from Hell
+1,928|7184|Argentina
I'm sure Richard Gere will stop them /sarcasm

Nobody says anything about these fuckers having slaves working for 2 bucks a month, and selling their products for nothing.  Everything is made in China.  If we let them use slaves instead of well-paid workers, then they'll own the world soon.  Not that the Tibet issue isn't important though.

Last edited by sergeriver (2008-03-31 10:15:47)

2008-03-31 10:32:19
oug
Calmer than you are.
+380|6946|Πάϊ

CameronPoe wrote:

Are we gonna wait for Israel to withdraw from the occupied territories, USA and sheep to withdraw from Iraq, NATO to withdraw from Afghanistan, Russia to give Chechnya independence, Serbia to recognise Kosovo, Cyprus to be reunified, Northern Ireland to be handed back to the Irish and peace to reign in Somalia and Sudan first too?
Normally yes! (lol) But realistically speaking, since the Tibet issue affects the hosts I wouldn't mind the demonstrations. In fact I would applaud them. Shutting the fuck up because some fat bastards sitting at home gorging on pizzas and beers might bitch about the smudging of the spectacle is not an option...

Last edited by oug (2008-03-31 10:33:00)

ƒ³
2008-03-31 10:50:01
M.O.A.B
'Light 'em up!'
+1,220|6649|Escea

CameronPoe wrote:

Ask the question, hypothetically, the other way around.

Should the Olympics being held in the US be used to highlight the injustice of their invasion of Iraq and their use of torture?

Should the Olympics being held in the UK be used to highlight the injustice of British appropriation and plantation of Irish land?
If u played it that way there'd be like three countries in the entire world that nobody could pick up on, probably Trinidad or some south pacific islands no-ones heard of.
2008-03-31 10:55:15
Braddock
Agitator
+916|6717|Éire

M.O.A.B wrote:

CameronPoe wrote:

Ask the question, hypothetically, the other way around.

Should the Olympics being held in the US be used to highlight the injustice of their invasion of Iraq and their use of torture?

Should the Olympics being held in the UK be used to highlight the injustice of British appropriation and plantation of Irish land?
If u played it that way there'd be like three countries in the entire world that nobody could pick up on, probably Trinidad or some south pacific islands no-ones heard of.
Well should it be only 'played' that way on a specific group of countries? Which countries, who decides?
2008-03-31 11:12:29
SEREVENT
MASSIVE G STAR
+605|6534|Birmingham, UK
Hows about no-one even bothers to compete?


Actually, that would be kinda tbh.

 

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