Protesting the Olympic Torch...

pjalive21

these protest have not brought more awareness to the issue...get over it, no matter what happens nothing will be done or China would have not gotten the Olympics to begin with

my dad ran with the torch the last Olympics and it was a proud moment for us because he was nominated and to have some schmuck try to get his 2 min of glory stopping this using it as a political platform is assanine

Abookamongstthemany

pjalive21 wrote:

these protest have not brought more awareness to the issue...get over it, no matter what happens nothing will be done or China would have not gotten the Olympics to begin with

my dad ran with the torch the last Olympics and it was a proud moment for us because he was nominated and to have some schmuck try to get his 2 min of glory stopping this using it as a political platform is assanine

If people are talking about it then it has spread awareness.

Urban Hiker

pjalive21 wrote:

these protest have not brought more awareness to the issue...get over it, no matter what happens nothing will be done or China would have not gotten the Olympics to begin with

my dad ran with the torch the last Olympics and it was a proud moment for us because he was nominated and to have some schmuck try to get his 2 min of glory stopping this using it as a political platform is assanine

This is what frustrates me. We do not want to stop and think about others if it causes us any inconvenience.

I totally admire the ATHLETES who are putting aside their Olympic dreams to protest the actions of the host country.

What matters more, winning a medal while helping a country completely lacking in the human rights department or forgoing the medal while knowing your strengths as an athlete and COMPASSIONATE human being?

prljmngrl

Urban Hiker wrote:

This is what frustrates me. We do not want to stop and think about others if it causes us any inconvenience.

I totally admire the ATHLETES who are putting aside their Olympic dreams to protest the actions of the host country.

What matters more, winning a medal while helping a country completely lacking in the human rights department or forgoing the medal while knowing your strengths as an athlete and COMPASSIONATE human being?

There are political issues of human rights happening in every city in every town in every village over the entire globe. By that reasoning, no one ever should participate in their own interests because they should be out protesting the injustices in the world.

catefrances

prljmngrl wrote:

There are political issues of human rights happening in every city in every town in every village over the entire globe. By that reasoning, no one ever should participate in their own interests because they should be out protesting the injustices in the world.

and wouldnt the world be a better place if everyone actually gave more of a fuck about their fellow man and did protest on some level and did harass their 'representatives' to do something?

Kel Varnsen

Urban Hiker wrote:

This is what frustrates me. We do not want to stop and think about others if it causes us any inconvenience.

I totally admire the ATHLETES who are putting aside their Olympic dreams to protest the actions of the host country.

What matters more, winning a medal while helping a country completely lacking in the human rights department or forgoing the medal while knowing your strengths as an athlete and COMPASSIONATE human being?

It is not just "winning a medal" for a lot of these athletes training for the olympics is pretty much their job and has been for most of their life (especially in the countries that actually fund amateur sports). They work very hard to do that job and it all comes down to one event every 4 years. Many of them only get one shot at the games and then that is it. Asking them to boycott is like asking them to quit their jobs. Why should they have to quit their jobs that they have worked so hard for when the IOC members who have very easy, cushy well paid jobs aren't going to quit their jobs and they are the ones who decided to send the Olympics to China in the first place?

yellowsnowbetter

catefrances wrote:

and wouldnt the world be a better place if everyone actually gave more of a fuck about their fellow man and did protest on some level and did harass their 'representatives' to do something?

yes, go outside and assist a fellow man that is sifting through the alleys. give him money, give him food, ask him or her how you can help. as for the "representatives" that is why we vote and hold them accountable.

it is amusing how many people walked by the one man holding out a cup for change so they could protest one nation.

"people who care".....right.

rbzombie

The torch relay was a Nazi propaganda ploy invented by Hitler anyway.....personally If I were an athlete I would not accept the invitation to relay the torch. Also let's not forget about China's stance on genocide.

mammasan

Protesting the torch rely is absolutely useless. No one cares that is the problem. People will watch the news and say how horrorable it is that the Chinese government is doing this and then turn around and continue to buy products made in China and continue to purchase products and good from companies that support the Chinese government.

Just look at Bhurma. There was all this outrage originally and now nothing. There is zero coverage on Bhurma. I'm pretty sure that the military junta there didn't just up and leave and that democracy and freedom is abound there. As a people we have the attentions span of a fucking gnat. Today the plight of the poor Tibetians is the shiny nickel in front of us. Tomorrow it will be something else and in a few months we will sit down and watch the Olympics completely forgetting what China did and is doing to Tibet.

inmytree

The torch/bus tour is pretty funny...

I have to disagree with those who think China doesn't care...How can they not care...? The Olympics were supposed to be a "coming out party" for China...

They hoped and still hope show off for the world...right now they're not looking so good...

prljmngrl

yellowsnowbetter wrote:

yes, go outside and assist a fellow man that is sifting through the alleys. give him money, give him food, ask him or her how you can help. as for the "representatives" that is why we vote and hold them accountable.

it is amusing how many people walked by the one man holding out a cup for change so they could protest one nation.

"people who care".....right.

you tell her! It never ceases to amaze me the shortsightedness of fanatics who jump on every band wagon that comes along....so long as it makes them look like cool intellectuals. Helping the needy right down the street isn't glorious enough. Then again I would venture to say that "some" discussing this as being such a positive protest are blowing hot air when they claim to have participated. But we wont mention any names.

prljmngrl

inmytree wrote:

The torch/bus tour is pretty funny...

I have to disagree with those who think China doesn't care...How can they not care...? The Olympics were supposed to be a "coming out party" for China...

They hoped and still hope show off for the world...right now they're not looking so good...

and they probably never will no matter what they do. The point is, the violence and oppression against Tibetan Monks has been going on since the 1950's. It is not a new issue. It's great that some group has managed to finally get it mainstreamed but to make it the main focus point of the Olympic games is irresponsible at best. It is creating too much controversy to actually do any good. The powers that be will not want to get involved because it won't look good. Remember, politics is all about impressing the other guy.

Protest fine but don't disrupt a non-entity involved in the issue.

SoonForgotten2

prljmngrl wrote:

and they probably never will no matter what they do. The point is, the violence and oppression against Tibetan Monks has been going on since the 1950's. It is not a new issue. It's great that some group has managed to finally get it mainstreamed but to make it the main focus point of the Olympic games is irresponsible at best. It is creating too much controversy to actually do any good. The powers that be will not want to get involved because it won't look good. Remember, politics is all about impressing the other guy.

Protest fine but don't disrupt a non-entity involved in the issue.

How is it irresponsible? Your claims are bordering the ridiculous at this point. The protests have created just enough controversy to be noticed and addressed by the main players in this.

It's nice that you're totally oblivious to the fact that the protests have stepped up pressure on western governments to at the least boycott the opening ceremonies. The Chinese regime may not care itself about the protests, but they will care if the western governments take a harder line towards them. The German and French premiers have already pledged to boycott the opening ceremonies and the pressure is on Bush to do likewise. This is important because it's (at least) a symbolic gesture against the Chinese government which the west has been hesitant to make. It has to start somewhere and this at least feels like a beginning.

rbzombie

SoonForgotten2 wrote:

How is it irresponsible? Your claims are bordering the ridiculous at this point. The protests have created just enough controversy to be noticed and addressed by the main players in this.

It's nice that you're totally oblivious to the fact that the protests have stepped up pressure on western governments to at the least boycott the opening ceremonies. The Chinese regime may not care itself about the protests, but they will care if the western governments take a harder line towards them. The German and French premiers have already pledged to boycott the opening ceremonies and the pressure is on Bush to do likewise. This is important because it's (at least) a symbolic gesture against the Chinese government which the west has been hesitant to make. It has to start somewhere and this at least feels like a beginning.

they also cared when Spielberg pulled out of directing the opening ceremonies due to China's support of genocide...again....screw the torch relay....it was a Nazi propaganda ploy invented by Hitler.

prljmngrl

SoonForgotten2 wrote:

The German and French premiers have already pledged to boycott the opening ceremonies and the pressure is on Bush to do likewise.

Hmmm, yet you can be oblivious to the fact that the Dali Lama himself said that he was planning on attending the "opening day festivities". He also spoke out against the boycott saying he supported the olympics and asks for calm PEACEFUL demonstrations.

SoonForgotten2

prljmngrl wrote:

Hmmm, yet you can be oblivious to the fact that the Dali Lama himself said that he was planning on attending the "opening day festivities". He also spoke out against the boycott saying he supported the olympics and asks for calm PEACEFUL demonstrations.

He's entitled to his opinion and is playing politics as well. That doesn't change anything. And for the record, the overwhelming majority of the protests have been peaceful. Police response has been less so from what I've seen and experienced.

olivine

I bet French and German premiers don't really give a fuck about Tibet and its people. Same goes for other politicians around the world. This all mess is more anti-China than pro- Tibet.

SoonForgotten2

olivine wrote:

I bet French and German premiers don't really give a fuck about Tibet and its people. Same goes for other politicians around the world. This all mess is more anti-China than pro- Tibet.

And it's totally unfair to take a stand against an oppressive regime... right?

olivine

SoonForgotten2 wrote:

And it's totally unfair to take a stand against an oppressive regime... right?

It's unfair to say you're fighting for the good of some people, for example, people of Tibet, while all you really want is to screw up somebody else (for example, China).

I'm not talking about "regular" people here, I just don't like politicians. They don't give a fuck about Tibet.

prljmngrl

SoonForgotten2 wrote:

He's entitled to his opinion and is playing politics as well. That doesn't change anything. And for the record, the overwhelming majority of the protests have been peaceful. Police response has been less so from what I've seen and experienced.

last time I checked, physical attacks on an innocent torch carrier were not classified as peaceful.

That's right...fight the man. Authority figures suck. (shakes fist in the air)