Protesting the Olympic Torch...

SoonForgotten2

Kel Varnsen wrote:

But even the IOC urging anyone to do anything it totally hypocritically lip service since they are the ones who gave Beijing the games in the first place. Like I have said already, it is not like China wasn't in Tibet back in 2001 when the games were awarded.

No argument there, but it's nice to see the IOC squirm because I'm sure it would rather ignore this whole issue, as well. They deserve their share of this embarassment.

Kann

Well at least these protests do have the quality of making things move :
2 months ago the french govermnent was signing billion dollars contracts in china, today they're questionning the president's participation at the opening ceremony. Same for W. Same for half of the leaders of the "free world". I think that just this is pretty cool.

And then you have the IOC forced to quit their idiotic speech on how "politics and the games should not mix" (bullshit by the way, 2000 years ago Cesar was already asking to "give them bread and games" for the angry people in the streets), which is also pretty cool.

And then you the police forces in western cities abusing their rights and people realize that free speech no longer seems to be a given, and that investigations on all this shit is underway (well at least in france) and that is also pretty cool.

So I'm sorry for the athletes, and I'm sorry for all of you who thought games and politics didn't mix, but all of this is at least making things move.
edit : I just wanted to add that though I think some of consequences of this are pretty cool, I do have some reserves. Especially the part concerning protesters wearing "made in china" clothes. If you despise a regime, then at least try to be consistent about it.

Anon

prljmngrl wrote:

If you want to protest, hold up a sign, write a letter to a politician, speak out in a public forum but don't harrass the innocent athletes who have worked so hard to get to the olympics. This isn't their problem.

You do realize that the majority of people who get to carry the torch are not athletes don't you?

I support peaceful demonstrations and don't believe the torch carrier, (who is most likely NOT an athlete) should be subjected to harrassment in any way, shape or form.

Anon

Byrnzie wrote:

There's a media black-out of the protests over here. I don't watch the news here - coz it's in a funny lingo - but I'm aware that the protests just aren't mentioned. And as far as the people changing the government...It's a difficult one. I'm certainly no expert on China. I just moved here. Although I can't see any change happening anytime soon. The people just have no access to information here, and if they protest in any way they get locked up. The government has a pretty tight screw on things as far as I can tell.

Isn't everything there in funny lingo?

Stay safe amigo.

prljmngrl

Pj_Gurl wrote:

You do realize that the majority of people who get to carry the torch are not athletes don't you?

I support peaceful demonstrations and don't believe the torch carrier, (who is most likely NOT an athlete) should be subjected to harrassment in any way, shape or form.

It doesn't matter. The athletes who are competing have worked their whole lives for this event. The people who carry the torch have been given a once in a lifetime opportunity to be involved in something very special. It isn't purposeful to bust their bubbles because someone wants to be heard about a completely unrelated issue. They aren't the ones who are causing problems in China. They are innocents who just want to participate in the olympics.

If anyone, the people of China should be protesting the Olympics by not making themselves available to work the events, participate in anything associated with it or promote it.

Chasing down torch runners may have gotten some attention. But by no means has gained anyones respect. It isn't going to solve the problem. Think of how you would feel if you were the one being attacked for something you had nothing to do with. Think of how you would feel if you had spent your lifetime, thousands of dollars (quite possibly life savings), sacrificed lots, exerted all your effort into preparing for these events only to have some political fanatic squash your dreams at the last moment.

Take the protests to a proper venue. These Tibet protests have become more and more violent and obnoxious in the past few months even away from the olympics. Kinda hypocritical to say "stop the violence" and then to be promoting violent and dangerous protests. Wouldn't you say?

(In my best Chris Crocker voice) Leave the athletes alone!

Anon

prljmngrl wrote:

It doesn't matter.

Thankyou. That was my point.

Kel Varnsen

SoonForgotten2 wrote:

No argument there, but it's nice to see the IOC squirm because I'm sure it would rather ignore this whole issue, as well. They deserve their share of this embarassment.

I don't think they are really squirming, they are acting all high and mighty asking China go easy on the Tibetans, which is retarded because they weren't going easy on Tibet in 2001 and they were rewarded with the Olympics.

know1

I just don't understand how people can't see that the Olympic Torch and the people carrying it have NOTHING to do with the issues with Tibet.

It's like wanting to protest KFC's abuse of chickens and going to the library to harass people as they checkout books.

prljmngrl

know1 wrote:

I just don't understand how people can't see that the Olympic Torch and the people carrying it have NOTHING to do with the issues with Tibet.

It's like wanting to protest KFC's abuse of chickens and going to the library to harass people as they checkout books.

ROFLMAO....Love it!

ajedigecko

know1 wrote:

I just don't understand how people can't see that the Olympic Torch and the people carrying it have NOTHING to do with the issues with Tibet.

It's like wanting to protest KFC's abuse of chickens and going to the library to harass people as they checkout books.

no...you must go to the chicken farmer and harass the truck driver as he is delivering the feed for the chickens.

inmytree

I find it amusing that some many are pissy about this issue...

the analogies are amusing as well...

as I see it, China is being embarrassed by the protesting...the question is: will it change anything...? personally, I don't know...but it's nice to live in a country that allows people to protest...

Jack McCaffery of CNN raised a good question last night, he asked (not verbetim) "what's China going to do when someone breaks out a Tibetan Flag during an event or in the Olympic Square?"...that should be interesting indeed...

Also, I'm interested to see what happens to the advertising money...are advertisers going pull out because of the protesting...?

whether you think the protesting is stupid or not, it's not going away...

ajedigecko

inmytree wrote:

I find it amusing that some many are pissy about this issue...

the analogies are amusing as well...

as I see it, China is being embarrassed by the protesting...the question is: will it change anything...? personally, I don't know...but it's nice to live in a country that allows people to protest...

Jack McCaffery of CNN raised a good question last night, he asked (not verbetim) "what's China going to do when someone breaks out a Tibetan Flag during in Olympic Square?"...that should be interesting indeed...

Also, I'm interested to see what happens to the advertising money...are advertisers going pull out because of the protesting...?

whether you think the protesting is stupid or not, it's not going away...

interesting scenerio that mccaffrey puts together. i will have the upmost respect for those individuals.

catefrances

inmytree wrote:

Jack McCaffery of CNN raised a good question last night, he asked (not verbetim) "what's China going to do when someone breaks out a Tibetan Flag during in Olympic Square?"...that should be interesting indeed...

this will be an inetresting moment to be sure. and what can china do? they will be on display in front of the entire world. do the really have the balls to reprimand(in whatever way they see fit) someone who has the cojones to pull such a stunt when the entire world, and probably half of jupiter is watching? what will happen once the festivities are in progress and some enlightened athlete(yes.. im sure they exist) decides his conscious is too heavy to let such an opportunity pass and he/she/ they make a statement in opposition a la tommie smith and john carlos?

SoonForgotten2

inmytree wrote:

Jack McCaffery of CNN raised a good question last night, he asked (not verbetim) "what's China going to do when someone breaks out a Tibetan Flag during an event or in the Olympic Square?"...that should be interesting indeed

I wonder what kind of searches will be performed as people enter a venue. This has the potential to get real ugly because I certainly don't see China shying away from whatever controversy their actions would elicit.

melodious

inmytree wrote:

I think it's fine to protest the torch...

the olympics have turned into a money-making venture anyway, so protesting the symbol of this money-making venture makes some sense...

It's nice that some think it's asinine, those protesting may disagree...

a man came across my path and was saying how he hopes the police arrest everyone on the golden gate...i think that people are protesting on behalf of Tibet...and if so, then I wish I could have taken the day off to be there tooooooooooooo...

i prayed for the man and wished him blessing because the environment where we met was not conducive for me to ring his little reddened neck...;),,,not really but i did feel empassioned a bit..

SoonForgotten2

melodious wrote:

a man came across my path and was saying how he hopes the police arrest everyone on the golden gate...

Yet somehow I bet this guy is proud of how "free" America is.

stuckinline

so if you agree or disagree with the torch protests, there has definitely been more awareness from these protests. so, what is the solution to these problems? do you really think china cares?

prljmngrl

stuckinline wrote:

do you really think china cares?

nope

brainofPJ

they still hold the olympics?

sourdough

stuckinline wrote:

so if you agree or disagree with the torch protests, there has definitely been more awareness from these protests. so, what is the solution to these problems? do you really think china cares?

I think they do. Largely because of public exposure, China has had to make concessions (albeit token) towards Tibet and will need to have positive relations with other nations including the US and Europe. If public pressure is put on leaders to speak out against China, that is bad for business.

I'm not saying that the protests will single handedly free tibet nor stop the arms trading and fuelling of the Sudanese gov't but it may "encourage" China to re-think their policies. China has put in a LOT of effort to clean up its image prior to the games so obviously they do care.