tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484626660177622626.post2687768529077920682..comments2024-03-27T19:54:34.479+00:00Comments on Falling On A Bruise: Boycotting ChinaFalling on a bruisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05518409624331248084noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484626660177622626.post-90861750162092975172008-04-11T21:00:00.000+01:002008-04-11T21:00:00.000+01:00I do feel for the runners jodie, to see that woman...I do feel for the runners jodie, to see that woman in London look so terrified as the demonstrators tried to grab the torch did leave a nasty taste.Falling on a bruisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05518409624331248084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484626660177622626.post-37596491287707396612008-04-11T17:00:00.000+01:002008-04-11T17:00:00.000+01:00Not to sound like I live a world of cupcakes and r...Not to sound like I live a world of cupcakes and rainbows, but my brother ran a length of the torch through Boulder, Colorado (Winter Games a couple rounds back - first after 9/11), and it was all pomp and ceremony, but a day I filed away as a good one. And my Dad got to hold the Olympic Torch. He even went home to his little town in PA and put a blurb and fuzzy photo of himself in the local news. He was King of the VFW for a bit ;)<BR/><BR/>I embrace and absolutely encourage the right to speak and act. Just makes me a little sad here in my fairy land.Jodie Kashhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18393736844570543146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484626660177622626.post-4598362965896378222008-04-11T15:15:00.000+01:002008-04-11T15:15:00.000+01:00David G,Yeah, we live in a world where not everybo...David G,<BR/><BR/>Yeah, we live in a world where not everybody thinks like you. How strange is that...<BR/><BR/>QAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484626660177622626.post-49853056831062723572008-04-11T06:26:00.000+01:002008-04-11T06:26:00.000+01:00It's interesting that Brown is boycotting the Olym...It's interesting that Brown is boycotting the Olympic opening ceremony. How many Iraqis did the British kill in Iraq again (but never mind, they're so, so concerned about Tibet civilians)?<BR/><BR/>And Mr Murder and Torture, George Bush, was lecturing the Chinese the other day about human rights.<BR/><BR/>We live in a strange world.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484626660177622626.post-31221803833215053332008-04-11T06:03:00.000+01:002008-04-11T06:03:00.000+01:00Hey, Speilberg gave them the finger (after much ca...Hey, Speilberg gave them the finger (after much cajoling from his Hollywood friends)O' Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05584821935299669982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484626660177622626.post-83247135834281802462008-04-11T01:35:00.000+01:002008-04-11T01:35:00.000+01:00Yes, getting the corporates to pull out would send...Yes, getting the corporates to pull out would send a great message. Other protests are a waste of time IMO.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484626660177622626.post-52379192353452994932008-04-10T21:37:00.000+01:002008-04-10T21:37:00.000+01:00This was on Radio NZ yesterday:http://www.radionz....This was on Radio NZ yesterday:<BR/><BR/>http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/national/ckpt/olympic_torch_relay_part_2<BR/><BR/>Puts the current debacle into a very good historical perspective.<BR/><BR/>Bottom-line: The Olympics has always been political. Get over it, folks.Dismal Soyanzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15527794711511575050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484626660177622626.post-18535547248815231132008-04-10T21:08:00.000+01:002008-04-10T21:08:00.000+01:00Plenty of protest-worthy things are going on in ou...Plenty of protest-worthy things are going on in our names. <BR/>Unfortunately,the turning away is evident.And quite distressing.Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03520811677683114077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484626660177622626.post-1073895400959845232008-04-10T19:05:00.000+01:002008-04-10T19:05:00.000+01:00Lucy et all,It isn't as if the Olympics (the new o...Lucy et all,<BR/>It isn't as if the Olympics (the new ones, not necessarily the ancient ones) have ever been in practice what they were supposed to be in name. Withdraw from the IOC or go along with the joke (about the games being for peace).<BR/>It's about entertainment and money insofar as it's about anything in particular.<BR/><BR/>I'd agree that this whole thing is jumbled. Just leave the folks alone and let them compete.Noghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10741030321448255586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484626660177622626.post-28252461326201892252008-04-10T18:59:00.000+01:002008-04-10T18:59:00.000+01:00You are right Steve, it is almost impossible to ke...You are right Steve, it is almost impossible to keep the politics out of the Olympics but it would be interesting to see what the reaction would be if this wasn't the powerful China we were talking about. <BR/><BR/>Maybe Q, there are just many things going on about us to protest about.Falling on a bruisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05518409624331248084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484626660177622626.post-31922920079196461732008-04-10T15:08:00.000+01:002008-04-10T15:08:00.000+01:00Lucy,Do we really know what the world thinks becau...Lucy,<BR/><BR/>Do we really know what the world thinks because of the actions of a few thousand people. Those same people that were protesting in the U.S. also protest against raising animals for human consumption, SUVs, tax decreases, Christianity, the use of non-organic fertilizers, cutting down trees, using animals for testing drugs, nuclear energy, etc.<BR/><BR/>They kinda protest everyday about something...<BR/><BR/>QAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484626660177622626.post-57824188961652520272008-04-10T12:26:00.000+01:002008-04-10T12:26:00.000+01:00I think your last 2 paragraphs hit the Olympic hyp...I think your last 2 paragraphs hit the Olympic hypocrisy right on the head. Though I don't think it's possible to keep the sport and the politics separate - and this might even be a good thing.<BR/><BR/>The aim of the Olympic movement is, essentially, political. From the IOC web page: "... the goal of the Olympic Movement is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practised without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play."<BR/><BR/>I would declare myself completely in agreement with that aim. However, this aim is a political one, even though it uses the vehicle of sport. So you can't keep politics out of the Olympics.<BR/><BR/>Article 5 of the Olympic charter: "Any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion,<BR/>politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement."<BR/><BR/>It's obvious that this Article has been completely compromised by the acceptance of China as a host nation. The political and commercial interests that you describe have taken precedence.<BR/><BR/>It sounds a complete mess - but there is a positive side. What better way is there to hold a big magnifying glass to the human rights situation in China and Tibet? The well-deserved embarrasment "suffered" by the Chinese authorities may well be the catalyst for positive change.<BR/><BR/>So let the Olympics go ahead, let the sportspeople compete, let's enjoy the spectacle. Let's also allow the protesters to open the eyes of the world. Then the Olympic movement might well have moved a little further towards its aims.<BR/><BR/>Olympic torch-bearer: "I'm doing this for world peace."<BR/><BR/>Protester with bucket of water: "So am I."Steve Lockwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07956011821441379334noreply@blogger.com