The 2008 Olympics in Bejing - how do you feel?

so I've been seeing a lot of coverage the past few days with the Olympic torch traveling through Europe and now in SF today.

there have been a lot of protesters (some not very peaceful!) using this as a platform for "free Tibet".

here's one article about what happened in Paris yesterday

how do you feel about this?

Re: The 2008 Olympics in Bejing - how do you feel?

CNN article Torch relay in San Francisco draws massive protest

Re: The 2008 Olympics in Bejing - how do you feel?

I have mixed feeling on it- not for the same reasons as these people

I am concerned about what will happen if the close the ports and shut down electricty to the factories

it could be very bad for our economy this fall

goods for 4th quarter need to ship at that time of year- so I guess my concern is more selfish- but it's a concern

Re: The 2008 Olympics in Bejing - how do you feel?

Personally, I agree with Clinton and Pelosi for encouraging our gov't to really look into this matter.

Tibet deserves to be heard and Chinese needs to be accountable for its crime towards humanity.

Why aren't reporters allowed into Tibet to cover what's happening there? Why are Tibetans being killed for protesting? Can you imagine that happening here? Guns being shot at demonstratiers just because the gov't wants to silence us?

The whole thing is shady and I'm glad the world is taking note.

Re: The 2008 Olympics in Bejing - how do you feel?

here's how I feel...

while I am repulsed by China's human right's record, the Olympics is NOT the appropriate forum to stage these protests. why do it now? b/c there is visibility. so IMO, the protestors are exploiting this. they can protest anytime they want to.

And re: Nancy Pelosi telling Bush to boycott the Olympics, I say that’s BS! It’s only punishing the athletes who deserve their moment in the spotlight every 4 years. It doesn’t punish China.

Message edited 4/8/2008 8:55:05 PM.

Re: The 2008 Olympics in Bejing - how do you feel?

Re: The 2008 Olympics in Bejing - how do you feel?

Message edited 4/8/2008 9:01:32 PM.

Re: The 2008 Olympics in Bejing - how do you feel?

Re: The 2008 Olympics in Bejing - how do you feel?

Re: The 2008 Olympics in Bejing - how do you feel?

Re: The 2008 Olympics in Bejing - how do you feel?

Re: The 2008 Olympics in Bejing - how do you feel?

The point of the Olympic games is to demonstrate that peace and unity can be achieved through friendly athletic competition.

I don't know if that message can be upheld by a country that doesn't encourage solving its internal problems in a peaceful and civilized manner.

China was given the Olympic games with the stipulation that they would improve their human rights record.

However, the record has only gotten worse since they were given the games.

Re: The 2008 Olympics in Bejing - how do you feel?

I heard about that - China is going to shut down the water supply to most of China and funnel it to the Olympic Village b/c they don't have enough.

why would a country without the proper infrastructure be allowed to host the Olympics



they don't have the resources to handle the olympics and there own people are going to suffer greatly for it

Re: The 2008 Olympics in Bejing - how do you feel?

Message edited 4/8/2008 9:24:46 PM.

Re: The 2008 Olympics in Bejing - how do you feel?

I think NYC should have won the 2008 Olympics. :D

But that's another story! Can you imagine the congestion!?

Anyway, I just saw a report by Katie Couric that alot homes in Beijing were demolished to make room for the Olympic Village. Many of the Chinese who were evicted from these old buildings were given empty promises of a new apartment only to be left homeless.

The report really made me cry...

Don't even get me started on what's happening at Darfur! :(

Re: The 2008 Olympics in Bejing - how do you feel?

Re: The 2008 Olympics in Bejing - how do you feel?

Honestly, I remember the boycott of the 1980 Olympics in Moscow and their counter boycott of our LA Olympics in 1984. The Sovet invasion of Afghanistan prompted Carter to encourage this boycott and many countries supported it. It was pretty swift.

One would think and learn from that in terms of human rights and decency, but I think big business and economies based in greed will not add up to much in this case. It isnt going to change.

People feared the Soviets in the 80s and that guided a lot of our national pride - not human rights - as sad as it is.

Re: The 2008 Olympics in Bejing - how do you feel?

Re: The 2008 Olympics in Bejing - how do you feel?

I honestly think the protesting is awful!! These athletes have trained for this their entire lives and it is being ruined and upstaged by lunatics. Sorry but go somewhere else and make a scene.

Yes I feel bad for those people that were killed, injured, houses were torn down etc. but don't use the Olympics to voice your outrage.

Re: The 2008 Olympics in Bejing - how do you feel?

Re: the air pollution... I have been to China three times in my adult life, and my shortest trip was two weeks long. I have been to Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and throughout the countryside in China.

I do NOT dispute that China has horrible air pollution, but some of the personal reports I've read all over the internet are grossly exaggerated. (Sorry, but I have a very weak stomach and the air quality in China has never made me have to vomit, as I've been reading all over the internet...)

Again, I do not dispute the pollution (and it's bad). I also do not dispute that runners and some athletes may have issues competing there (though I honestly question if their fears are exaggerated or not -- I don't know. I'm just not sure). I do, however, think some of the issues being reported are blown out of proportion or exaggerated. (Clearly, I'm NOT talking about China's human rights abuses.)

I actually share the disgust over China's human rights abuses, and I have seen them first hand on multiple occasions. I do NOT, however, believe boycotting the Olympics is the answer. Inappropriate forum, IMHO. I hope it does bring attention to the issues in that portion of the world. I do not, however, think we should be calling for our athletes to boycott the Olympics. Just my opnion - clearly many others disagree. I personally think that the Olympics should be a time when we celebrate our athletes and their accomplishments, not a time when we air our issues with politics. Hopefully this will continue to spark intelligent, informed debate all over the world -- but hopefully it will no detract from the accomplishments of our athletes and the intended spirit of the games.

Re: the infrastructure issues... I need to read more about this, as I haven't read a whole lot. The infrastructure in rural China is weak in general, but in the cities is okay... I hope they are able to provide for the Olympics without negatively impacting their already struggling people.

Re: The 2008 Olympics in Bejing - how do you feel?

Re: The 2008 Olympics in Bejing - how do you feel?

Re: The 2008 Olympics in Bejing - how do you feel?

I wonder if enough athletes protest the Beijing Olympics the IOC would reconsider holding it elsewhere...

After all, I don't think it's right to expect our top athletes to pull out of such an important event. But I think we should also not reward a country like China with such a great event during such chaotic times.

Who knows what else the protesters would do during the games?

I won't call them lunatics and don't think thye are capable of harming anyone but themselves, but they may disrupt the games enough....

Message edited 4/8/2008 9:52:01 PM.

Re: The 2008 Olympics in Bejing - how do you feel?

Re: The 2008 Olympics in Bejing - how do you feel?

The Olympics is a sporting event.
It shouldn't be boycotted or protested.

I think if the people who have a problem with China and their policies they should protest at the consulates or other appropriate venues.