Boycotting 2008 Olympics

2

Comments

  • crittables
    crittables Posts: 342
    redrock wrote:
    That's the problem boycotting sporting events such as the olympics. Athletes train for years to be good enough to compete at the olympics. Might be their only/last chance as well. It is punishing the wrong people.


    i don't care if a bunch of athletes lose their opportunity to compete. aren't the lives of hundreds of thousands of africans more important? i mean seriously, where are our priorities if we care more about gold medals?
  • my2hands
    my2hands Posts: 17,117
    i have planned on boycotting the bejing olympics for quite a few reasons. there is no way in hell those games should be played in that oppressive country

    i may just have to pass on the olympics forever because of this one

    i started talking about it quite some time ago and my friends look at me like i was crazy :rolleyes:
  • my2hands
    my2hands Posts: 17,117
    jlew24asu wrote:
    is there any particular reason why they do this?


    why else...OIL

    it makes the 21st century go round
  • Cosmo
    Cosmo Posts: 12,225
    Rushlimbo wrote:
    Yes. The lives of those in Darfur pale in comparison to an athlete competing for a piece of metal. It wouldnt be fair to them.
    ...
    No one claims a comparison between the people of Darfur and Olympic Athletes. Athletes cannot fix the Darfur situation... politicians can. Boycotting the Olympic Games doesn't help the people of Darfur one bit.
    If American business didn't rely so heavily on Chinese manufacturing, then the job would be a lot easier. A better boycott would be a consumer boycott of anything made in China... which will put all the Wal-Marts out of business.
    Face it... we decided to sleep with the Chinese guy. Now, we're compalining because we got Chinese Wang up our butts?
    Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
    Hail, Hail!!!
  • my2hands
    my2hands Posts: 17,117
    there are alot more reasons than darfur the games shouldnt be there, as if that wasnt enough
  • crittables
    crittables Posts: 342
    Cosmo wrote:
    ...
    No one claims a comparison between the people of Darfur and Olympic Athletes. Athletes cannot fix the Darfur situation... politicians can. Boycotting the Olympic Games doesn't help the people of Darfur one bit.
    If American business didn't rely so heavily on Chinese manufacturing, then the job would be a lot easier. A better boycott would be a consumer boycott of anything made in China... which will put all the Wal-Marts out of business.
    Face it... we decided to sleep with the Chinese guy. Now, we're compalining because we got Chinese Wang up our butts?


    1. it's not about the athletes, boycotting the games would be a huge blow to the chinese government's ego. they want to prove that they are some powerful, developed country, worthy of attention and respect.

    2. boycotting chinese goods and putting wal mart out of business would be a huge mistake. millions of american rely on the cheap goods they can get at walmart and no where else. it's nice that some people can afford the alternative to chinese goods and walmart, but for many there is no alternative.
  • Rushlimbo
    Rushlimbo Posts: 832
    Cosmo wrote:
    ...
    No one claims a comparison between the people of Darfur and Olympic Athletes. Athletes cannot fix the Darfur situation... politicians can. Boycotting the Olympic Games doesn't help the people of Darfur one bit.
    If American business didn't rely so heavily on Chinese manufacturing, then the job would be a lot easier. A better boycott would be a consumer boycott of anything made in China... which will put all the Wal-Marts out of business.
    Face it... we decided to sleep with the Chinese guy. Now, we're compalining because we got Chinese Wang up our butts?

    I agree with boycotting Chinese goods but disagree that threatening to boycott the Olympics wouldnt help those in Darfur. The Chinese look at these olympics as their introduction to the world as a new world power. Do some reading about what they have done to prepare for this and you will see that there is no way that this would not frighten the hell out of them.
    War is Peace
    Freedom is Slavery
    Ignorance is Strength
  • polaris
    polaris Posts: 3,527
    crittables wrote:
    1. it's not about the athletes, boycotting the games would be a huge blow to the chinese government's ego. they want to prove that they are some powerful, developed country, worthy of attention and respect.

    2. boycotting chinese goods and putting wal mart out of business would be a huge mistake. millions of american rely on the cheap goods they can get at walmart and no where else. it's nice that some people can afford the alternative to chinese goods and walmart, but for many there is no alternative.

    1. again - a US boycott would be embarassing for the US in general
    2. are you saying access to slave labour goods with no worker rights is more important then the lives of the sudanese?

    the intent is not to be facetious but the reality is that there is a plethora of things wrong with china ... and it all boils down to economics ... economics for them as a country and we as consumers ... everything is interconnected - the choices we all make affect the lives of others ...
  • Rushlimbo
    Rushlimbo Posts: 832
    crittables wrote:
    2. boycotting chinese goods and putting wal mart out of business would be a huge mistake. millions of american rely on the cheap goods they can get at walmart and no where else. it's nice that some people can afford the alternative to chinese goods and walmart, but for many there is no alternative.

    millions of americans are losing their jobs to cheaper labor in China BECAUSE they continue to buy at Walmart. Truly a terrible cycle.
    War is Peace
    Freedom is Slavery
    Ignorance is Strength
  • crittables
    crittables Posts: 342
    polaris wrote:
    1. again - a US boycott would be embarassing for the US in general
    2. are you saying access to slave labour goods with no worker rights is more important then the lives of the sudanese?

    the intent is not to be facetious but the reality is that there is a plethora of things wrong with china ... and it all boils down to economics ... economics for them as a country and we as consumers ... everything is interconnected - the choices we all make affect the lives of others ...


    america constantly embarrasses itself. i'm not worried about that.

    i agree that there are a lot of things wrong with china. i'm just HATE the argument i get all the time that we shouldn't be buying their products from walmart. that walmart should be put out of business. i get the argument from smug assholes (not saying you are one of them) that can afford to go to target or the mom and pop stores and pay more money. but other people can't. so before you make that argument think about the millions of people that would be hurt here.

    and yes i care about the sudanese people, which is why i'm arguing for a boycott of the olympics. if that is enough leverage to make the chinese act in darfur, then great we should give that a try. besides, do you really think you can get enough americans to boycott chinese goods to make an impact? doubtful. people love cheap shit.
  • polaris
    polaris Posts: 3,527
    Rushlimbo wrote:
    I agree with boycotting Chinese goods but disagree that threatening to boycott the Olympics wouldnt help those in Darfur. The Chinese look at these olympics as their introduction to the world as a new world power. Do some reading about what they have done to prepare for this and you will see that there is no way that this would not frighten the hell out of them.

    no way it's ever going to happen ... china may threaten to cash in those bonds that is funding the national debt ... or expose the countries the US currently sells arms to that aren't so righteous ... china and the US are linked at the hip ... neither country can exercise any influence over the other ...
  • Cosmo
    Cosmo Posts: 12,225
    crittables wrote:
    1. it's not about the athletes, boycotting the games would be a huge blow to the chinese government's ego. they want to prove that they are some powerful, developed country, worthy of attention and respect.

    2. boycotting chinese goods and putting wal mart out of business would be a huge mistake. millions of american rely on the cheap goods they can get at walmart and no where else. it's nice that some people can afford the alternative to chinese goods and walmart, but for many there is no alternative.
    ...
    So... it's nice to SAY you're against something... but, not good to DO something about it? If you're gonna boycott the Olympics because you don't like what China is doing.. yet, still continue to feed the beast... what does that say about you (not YOU, personally... you collectively)? Either boycott both the Olympics AND Chinese profits or do neither.
    If it really IS that important... then yeah... it's gonna hurt. Hard decisions usually have servere consequences.
    A boycott of the Olympics means nothing unless we back it up with actions.
    ...
    I would rather see progress made along diplomatic channels. Although, i know it's tough. I mean, how can a country that is currently in a military occupation of a foriegn nation be taken seriously regarding human rights?
    Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
    Hail, Hail!!!
  • crittables
    crittables Posts: 342
    Rushlimbo wrote:
    millions of americans are losing their jobs to cheaper labor in China BECAUSE they continue to buy at Walmart. Truly a terrible cycle.


    it is. often its the same people that argue against things like NAFTA and the WTO that are buying the foreign made goods. it's hilarious. they don't even realize it.
  • Steve Dunne
    Steve Dunne Posts: 4,965
    Many good points in this thread...many more so than I anticipated.

    But I think it's insanity to boycott ANY Olympic Games. They stand for competition in athletics, and are a model for sportsmanship. Yes some Olympics have been tainted, putting it mildly, but all in all, it is a celebration of sports where the world participates. I, for one, look forward to each Olympics, not for the opening and closing ceremonies, but to see the competition in events that we just don't really get to see on ESPN every week.

    It is unfortunate that politics/war/oppression have been linked with the Olympics with boycotts and such. I understand that when we see a Chinese diver on the platform, we also see their flag. Their 'flag' may represent oppression/war/genocide, but to me that diver does not. They have NOTHING to do with each other. Nations and governments unfortunately place a great deal of pressure on teams/athletes and want them to 'beat' another country so they can say 'they're better' than the opposing country's team, and to try to prove a point that, hey, if we beat you in the frickin luge, we'll kick your ass in a war. It's dumb.

    I hope we go.
    I love to turn you on
  • crittables
    crittables Posts: 342
    polaris wrote:
    no way it's ever going to happen ... china may threaten to cash in those bonds that is funding the national debt ... or expose the countries the US currently sells arms to that aren't so righteous ... china and the US are linked at the hip ... neither country can exercise any influence over the other ...


    china is screwed if they cash in. our currency would inflate but that would only hurt them too
  • crittables
    crittables Posts: 342
    Cosmo wrote:
    ...
    So... it's nice to SAY you're against something... but, not good to DO something about it? If you're gonna boycott the Olympics because you don't like what China is doing.. yet, still continue to feed the beast... what does that say about you (not YOU, personally... you collectively)? Either boycott both the Olympics AND Chinese profits or do neither.
    If it really IS that important... then yeah... it's gonna hurt. Hard decisions usually have servere consequences.
    A boycott of the Olympics means nothing unless we back it up with actions.
    ...
    I would rather see progress made along diplomatic channels. Although, i know it's tough. I mean, how can a country that is currently in a military occupation of a foriegn nation be taken seriously regarding human rights?


    if there is a way to help the people of darfur and NOT hurt the american people i'm going to argue for it. and i think boycotting the games would do that.
  • polaris
    polaris Posts: 3,527
    crittables wrote:
    america constantly embarrasses itself. i'm not worried about that.

    i agree that there are a lot of things wrong with china. i'm just HATE the argument i get all the time that we shouldn't be buying their products from walmart. that walmart should be put out of business. i get the argument from smug assholes (not saying you are one of them) that can afford to go to target or the mom and pop stores and pay more money. but other people can't. so before you make that argument think about the millions of people that would be hurt here.

    and yes i care about the sudanese people, which is why i'm arguing for a boycott of the olympics. if that is enough leverage to make the chinese act in darfur, then great we should give that a try. besides, do you really think you can get enough americans to boycott chinese goods to make an impact? doubtful. people love cheap shit.

    there are ALWAYS alternatives to wal-mart and goods from china ... millions of people suffer for that desire for everything cheap ... what goes around comes around ... again - everything is interconnected ...

    i've already explained why a boycott would never happen ... and again - i support it fully in its purpose ... whatever it takes to stop the atrocities in sudan but if you aren't willing to make personal sacrifices and are counting on others - then there isn't much you can say when it doesn't happen ...
  • Cosmo
    Cosmo Posts: 12,225
    polaris wrote:
    no way it's ever going to happen ... china may threaten to cash in those bonds that is funding the national debt ... or expose the countries the US currently sells arms to that aren't so righteous ... china and the US are linked at the hip ... neither country can exercise any influence over the other ...
    ...
    You got that right... joined at the hip as in their hip is firmly planted against our buttocks. They have a hell of a lot more leverage than we do... if we stop buying their shit... there is the entire rest of the world that will continue to.
    Advantage: China.
    Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
    Hail, Hail!!!
  • polaris
    polaris Posts: 3,527
    crittables wrote:
    if there is a way to help the people of darfur and NOT hurt the american people i'm going to argue for it. and i think boycotting the games would do that.

    you don't understand china ...

    tienammen square was probably the worst PR situation in history and they still haven't changed ... china cannot and will not be pushed around - why do you think the rhetoric from the US has stopped with regards to taiwan?? ...
  • crittables
    crittables Posts: 342
    polaris wrote:
    there are ALWAYS alternatives to wal-mart and goods from china ... millions of people suffer for that desire for everything cheap ... what goes around comes around ... again - everything is interconnected ...

    i've already explained why a boycott would never happen ... and again - i support it fully in its purpose ... whatever it takes to stop the atrocities in sudan but if you aren't willing to make personal sacrifices and are counting on others - then there isn't much you can say when it doesn't happen ...


    i am not saying i'm not willing stop buying chinese goods, i can afford to shop where i want. i'm just saying there is no way we're going to get enough other people to do the same to where it actually hurts the chinese.

Categories