Boycott the 2008 Beijing Olympics?

[Oneironaut]

So there's talk of boycotting next year's Olympic Games in China because of continued widespread human rights violations, as well as their support for the Sudanese government regarding the Darfur conflict. Do you think a boycott should take place? Why or why not? The boycott would be precedented by the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, which took place shortly after the USSR invaded Afghanistan, in which several countries including the USA, Canada, and West Germany decided not to participate.

[medicinal]

So there's talk of boycotting next year's Olympic Games in China because of continued widespread human rights violations, as well as their support for the Sudanese government regarding the Darfur conflict. Do you think a boycott should take place? Why or why not?

Yes, that is not the only issue:
1. they are buying our country
2. they are using the profits to build up their military
3. they won't adjust their currency to the world market causing an unusually cheap product to be foisted upon the world market causing instability and job losses in 1st world countries.
4. they are the communist scourge.
5. they have terrible breath, are for the most part short, and you cant understand a damn thing they say.

[Tea Party]

Yes, that is not the only issue:
1. they are buying our country
2. they are using the profits to build up their military
3. they won't adjust their currency to the world market causing an unusually cheap product to be foisted upon the world market causing instability and job losses in 1st world countries.
4. they are the communist scourge.
5. they have terrible breath, are for the most part short, and you cant understand a damn thing they say.

Racism, even in jest, is not called for. Plus, I am short...so I want to jump off a stool and clobber you in the gonads.
I like Chinese people (if we villify Chinese people because they have a shitty government, it is like vilifying other people [like Americans for instance, for having a shitty government] but their government can fuck off until they get out of Tibet and return the Panchen Lama from captivity (if they have not already murdered him). You better kick my stool out if you want to live!! Just kidding. I am not a violent man. Unless you call me shorty!!!;)

[cannabisis4for20]

I'll boycott it, because the Olympics suck. I'll do you one better, I won't watch any Olympic games in the future either.

[rebgirl420]

Well we probably should but even if we did it wouldn't change how China is. If we continue to piss them of (example: the olympics and all the recalls) im pretty sure they could just cash in all their bonds (more than a trillion dollars worth btw). Sure it wouldn't end the U.S. but it would knock the wind out of us. But hopefully if they go and pull all of that the U.S. should close ALL trade with them indefinately and maybe we could toughen up on all their human rights violations and such.

[Delta9 UK]

Oh the irony.......

[Tea Party]

Oh the irony.......
Indeed. Everybody knows that China is just trying to get back at the British for human rights violations rendered.;)The irony is deep and leaves nobody without blood on their hands.:mad:

[onequestion]

The USA would nev er in a millon years do anyhting to upset china. China can finush us in a second.

But I would want us to boycott if we werent so at mercy to china.

[Tea Party]

The U.S. government would not...but the U.S. citizenry would--by not shopping at Walmart as much as possible and buying quality stuff that lasts longer than Chinese goods. I know it is expensive, and we are all poor, but every dollar spent elsewhere is a step toward improvement...and don't buy anything made in Jamaica either until you have watched the documentary, Life and Debt Life and Debt | A Film By Stephanie Black (http://www.lifeanddebt.org/) the state of the world is governed by our purchasing power.

[Mississippi Steve]

Wow. Do you not know what the Olympics stand for. Leave all the politics aside and let the ATHLETES decide who is best. Can we not do that for 3 weeks...please?

Alright, i read your post more and i see the history. But i still say WTF, lets play the games.

I concur

[Tea Party]

I concur

Yes, the world is going to hell in a hand basket...why not relax with some beach volley ball or field and track, or some curling in the winter.

The Olympics do not stand for what they pretend to stand for. They stand for making money for the host city. They stand for steroid users and blood dopers trying to trick the system to further whatever sort of rush they get from beating their opponent. These are people who, after all dedicate their whole childhood and young lives to WIN at any cost (usually under the thumb of their parents in the first world, and the government in the third), for THEIR OWN COUNTRY. That sort of thing does not bring people together...and I guarantee the Chinese athletes are more than gently prodded to win!

This is not a slight on anybody who enjoys sports, but competition in no way brings people together (which is what I think most people believe the Olympics stand for). Corporate sponsored sporting events are just what they look like--business. Why not let us skip the games and have the delegates work on something worthwile like famine relief, healthcare, human rights violations, and the decriminalization of Marijuana.

I mean no disrespect, but those are my views.:jointsmile:

[MadSativa]

Im gonna watch just to see all the poor athletes dieing in the pollution

[cobracommander1079]

Im going to boycott the olympics, solely because these "olympic events" revolve around "physical activity".. And that I am against

[TallCoolOne]

A boycott would be totally unfair to the atheletes, and would prove nothing. Look at the Munich Games.

[V-DubLove]

The olympics kick ass, i look forward to them so much every two years. the whole point is to forget the political differences and unite through friendly competition

[essnine]

Not only human rights man. ANIMAL rights violations are a constant part of life there. Bears and dogs are tortured on a daily basis to drain their bile for use as an aphrodesiac.

The people who committ these crimes disguist be and should live their rest of their lives in a 3x3x3 cage with a tube up their ass draining their bile.

[cobracommander1079]

does dog bile really work as an aphrodisiac ? & and how do you trick her into ingesting dog bile?

[Ganja Dude]

does dog bile really work as an aphrodisiac ? & and how do you trick her into ingesting dog bile?

You could probally mix it with a drink. Anyhow, I don't want to think about what dog bile may taste like.

The olympics shouldn't be that political. If there was an immediate need to boycott like a chinese attack on US soil then boycotting the olympics is an option. Other than that I don't see the need to make the US athletes suffer just because of some tension which we've lived with our entire lives.