Protesting the Olympic Torch...

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  • Posts: 4,984
    Kel Varnsen wrote:
    Maybe he does know, but it is not like China is going is going to pull out of Tibet if some guy decides not to run with the torch. So if it was his lifelong dream why should people try to stop him. And the torch is being stopped when people are knocking it out of the runners hands and spraying them with fire extinguishers.
    I didnt' see that, him getting sprayed with a fire extinguisher. That's awesome.

    It's true, none of this is going to infuence Chinese policy, that's for the people of China to decide. But to draw attention to the casue in the US can only give them motivation.

    This is bigger than some guys dream of running the olympic torch. Too bad for him.
  • Posts: 6,801
    Commy wrote:
    The guy running the torch has to know about the (much more important) issues of Tibet and Chinese brutality. And its not like the torch is stopping, the guy can still get it wherever its headed.


    No - they pretty much shut it down and it really makes me mad. I'm not in support of China or its policies, but these people are idiots for protesting the poor torch bearers.
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  • Posts: 1,952
    Commy wrote:
    I didnt' see that, him getting sprayed with a fire extinguisher. That's awesome.

    It's true, none of this is going to infuence Chinese policy, that's for the people of China to decide. But to draw attention to the casue in the US can only give them motivation.

    This is bigger than some guys dream of running the olympic torch. Too bad for him.

    I think it was someone in the UK or France who got sprayed with the extinguisher. It is not awesome, it kind of sucks actually since the shit in those extinguishers is not really very good to be inhaling.

    I don't look at it as being "too bad for the guy running the torch". The way I see it I don't think that an athlete or a torch bearer should have to bear the weight of this and lose out on their life long goals because some dumbass IOC member back in 2001 got better bribes from the Beijing Olympic bidding committee than they did from the Toronto committee. And lets be realistic, China didn't really have great human right back in 2001 so if people wanted to take a stand it should have been done then. To try and do something now is kind of a pointless gesture since it is not going to stop the Olympics and it not going to change anything with the Chinese government. Which is why I think making athletes and torch runners take responsibility for it, is a lot like expecting individual soldiers to take responsibility for a war that was started by government leaders.
  • Posts: 320
    catefrances wrote:
    so what? you just sit on your arse cause you dont think it'll make a difference? thats bollocks and you know it. if you believe in something then you act upon those beliefs. you dont say oh she'll be right ...cause it generally isnt right in the end. you can't have principles and not act on them.
    are you at a protest?
  • Posts: 320
    yellowsnowbetter wrote:
    ok....so i want to make sure i understand the "protest" concept.

    if i want to protest gas prices.......i should approach the cashier who is granting me access to put gas into my car.

    i think i understand........attack the weakest.
    LOL Awesome perception! Let's have catefrances try it.
  • Posts: 320
    well when the torch passes by here, I think I will go protest about the protest against the torch because it is a completely ignorant and worthless thing they are doing.
  • Posts: 320
    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.
  • Posts: 12,225
    Kel Varnsen wrote:
    I totally see what you are saying. I just think that with all the people involved with the Beijing Olympics, the torch bearer is the last person you would want to protest. How about the Chinese government, the IOC members, the networks covering the olympics, or the major sponsors like coca-cola.
    ...
    I agree.
    I also think a 'boycott' is a fucking joke. It punishes the athletes... I want Misty May and Kerri Walsh to get another chance at an Olympic win. Forcing Misty and Kerri to forfiet their aspirations and continuing to fund this Communist China with sleazy political deals and 'always lower prices, always'... is a fucking joke.
    ...
    To me... the Olympic torch relay is about as newsworthy as Paris Hilton getting yet another traffic ticket.
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  • Posts: 8,209
    catefrances wrote:
    so what? you just sit on your arse cause you dont think it'll make a difference? thats bollocks and you know it. if you believe in something then you act upon those beliefs. you dont say oh she'll be right ...cause it generally isnt right in the end. you can't have principles and not act on them.

    Sometimes sending a message is very meaningful even if it's doesn't change the outcome. Like the guy that stood in front of the Chinese tank...he didn't change the course of events that day but his voice was heard throughout the world and inspires still today. This may not be on the same level as Tank Man but it stems from the same fed up mentality. It's a symbolic form of protest.


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  • Posts: 5,213
    this is the olympics fault. look where they put the games.













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  • Posts: 2,245
    prljmngrl wrote:
    well when the torch passes by here, I think I will go protest about the protest against the torch because it is a completely ignorant and worthless thing they are doing.

    Yeah, totally worthless how the protests have drawn the world's attention and put the head of the IOC is a position to urge China to come to a peaceful resolution in Tibet. And really worthless the way it has put pressure on Western governments to take a stand against China in some way over their blatant disregard for human rights.

    I think these protests have mattered a lot and are at the very least preventing China from being able to causally sweep this all under the rug. And while this may suck for some of the athlete's or torch bearers, well, they still have their lives at least. Make no mistake, the Olympics and the politics behind it are bigger than the sports and athletes themselves. You can say how unfair that is, but it does not change the fact.
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  • Posts: 21,037
    irieinindy wrote:
    I'm just asking, and please feel free to educate me because I would love to no more of how you feel about this, since you seem closer to it than any of us. But the people have to change their governmet, they have to do something about it. And knowing that the world is actually out there listening and judging their government, does that not give the people more of a reason to fight for a change in their government.

    On the same point, yes a lot of people have set back and said nothing about Tibet for years and years but would you not agree that sometimes you have to wait for the right time to strike. And considering how much attention the Olympics will bring to China, isn't this the time to act.

    Same for the people of China-Now is the time to do something about your government?

    Please don't insult me, but I would love to hear different perspectives, by no means am I saying I have any of the answers-I'm just asking.

    Well, firstly, why would I insult you? Do I have a bad rep around these parts or something? ;)
    ....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.
  • Posts: 21,037
    SoonForgotten2 wrote:
    Yeah, totally worthless how the protests have drawn the world's attention and put the head of the IOC is a position to urge China to come to a peaceful resolution in Tibet. And really worthless the way it has put pressure on Western governments to take a stand against China in some way over their blatant disregard for human rights.

    I think these protests have mattered a lot and are at the very least preventing China from being able to causally sweep this all under the rug. And while this may suck for some of the athlete's or torch bearers, well, they still have their lives at least. Make no mistake, the Olympics and the politics behind it are bigger than the sports and athletes themselves. You can say how unfair that is, but it does not change the fact.

    This is true. And personally, I couldn't give a shit about the torch bearers. I do feel sorry for the people of China though. I listened to a childrens English speech contest at the weekend, and nearly every one of them mentioned the olympics and how proud they were to be having it in China. I just think it would be a shame for them if the games were ruined by this thing. This event is for the people, not their fucked up government.
  • Posts: 1,952
    SoonForgotten2 wrote:
    Yeah, totally worthless how the protests have drawn the world's attention and put the head of the IOC is a position to urge China to come to a peaceful resolution in Tibet. And really worthless the way it has put pressure on Western governments to take a stand against China in some way over their blatant disregard for human rights.

    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.
  • Posts: 579
    I totally support the protest. I don't think the athletes are the targets but it has drawn a TON of publicity to the Tibetan issue and it has been very embarassing to the Chinese who are trying to change their perception while they continue their human rights abuses.

    I hope their role in the Darfur crisis also becomes highlighted as we get closer. I appreciate the olympics but this is a wonderful opportunity for the international community to stand up to China.
  • Posts: 29,003
    prljmngrl wrote:
    are you at a protest?


    yes. i have been. but not on the relay route. and i will continue to do so. peacefully.
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  • Posts: 29,003
    prljmngrl wrote:
    LOL Awesome perception! Let's have catefrances try it.

    see above post. :)
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  • Posts: 29,003
    Cosmo wrote:
    ...
    I know... of ALL the fucking cities in the ENTIRE U.S.
    ...
    The brilliant minds pick San Francisco. Then, wonder... why is it a mess.

    surely you understand why san francisco was picked to be the entry point for the torch into the US.
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  • Posts: 185
    These athletes may think it's an honor to carry the torch, but I disagree with that this year. I would have nothing to do with the Olympics with what China has been/is doing. I support the protests, the torch bearers know what they're in for (if not, they must live under a rock or in China). While I don't support the bearers being attacked (or anyone being attacked), I agree with snuffing that stupid torch as much as possible, perhaps a few water guns would work? The Olympics barely resemble anything they were meant to be.
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  • Posts: 579
    catefrances wrote:
    surely you understand why san francisco was picked to be the entry point for the torch into the US.
    Funny, Vancouver was snubbed b/c the PM criticized China so China is also playing political games with the Olympics.

    I support non-violent protest and do not agree with anyone stealing the torch or dousing it. I think it damages the credibility of those who have something to say and are bringing attention to a very important cause.

    While I do sympathize with athletes who have trained very hard to get to the games, I sympathize more with those who are victimized by the policies and abuses of China.

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