Tags: beijing 2008, boycott, china, olympic games, tibet
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April 12th, 2008 at 9:15 am
Nop, politics don´t mix with sports.
April 17th, 2008 at 4:46 am
Many people argue that the Chinese government was wrong to have used force to suppress the protests of monks and civilians. But is it really wrong? If in Australia, large groups of Aboriginals threw stones at police and set shops on fire, is it wrong for our police to use force to stop it? The Aboriginals, like the Tibetans, would claim it was protest for injustices of past invasions and slaughter. The Native Americans could do exactly same. Since when is it ever wrong to use force to preserve social harmony? The way I see it, these protesters, whether they’re just housewives, plumbers or monks, are wrong for disturbing the peace. Violence never solves anything, it is simply an irrational outlet and method of protest and anger. I support China; it is entitled to use force to preserve peace in its society. And who are we to condemn them, when we would do the same?
Many people also condemn China for its poor standard of human rights. We love to comment on how terrible it is to work in sweat-shops, to not have the right to free speech etc. But we are forgetting that even in our own countries, our human rights are not perfect either. The US has a comprehensive Bill of Rights, so in order to abuse and torture people, it sets up a detention centre off American soil: Guantanamo Bay. Australia’s ethnic minorities have suffered immensely for the past hundred years or so. Our own politicians have compared their poverty to Third World countries. So all of this begs the question: why condemn China’s protection of human rights, when we are not perfect ourselves? Who are we as ‘role models’ as democracy, if we can’t help and protect our own?
The Chinese have spent $40 billion on this Olympics. This is their one opportunity to showcase their country and make visible effort to improve themselves for international display. Boycotting does nothing and has achieved nothing in the past, except for increasing political tensions. Besides, we should not forget that the Olympics is about sport. It is about the athletes, not their governments. We should leave politics at the door. Let us not be blind to the progress that China has made already. Let us not forget that Tibet, under Chinese rule, has enjoyed much economic growth (almost 600% improvement since 1994). The Chinese government even exempts Tibet from taxation and provides 90% of Tibet’s government expenditure. If anything, Tibet should be grateful and appreciative at its economic and social situation. It should stop and carefully consider the implications of independence.
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April 19th, 2008 at 7:15 am
let’s leave people the freedom to participate or watch the olympic games. If people who want to start riots or engage violent demonstrate, they should expect police to step in no matter which country they are in. It is French’s shame that local government lets violent demonstrators interrupt olympic torch without arresting the offenders. SF did better, but failed to keep all demonstrates at peace while allow most peacefully people to witness the pass of the torch.
April 29th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
A prospective boycott will just destroy the opportunity to discuss the problems around the human rights with the Chinese government.
This is a new start and a new possibility for China to be a better country and to be more open to the world.
Politics and sports should be kept apart. It’s not a political arrangement, but an opportunity for the world’s best athletes to compete.
April 30th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
What bothers me is the self-righteous Westerners’ failure to examine themselves in the same light.
China has a shaky record on human rights, but the West, particularly the US, has a human rights record that has
created suffering around the world.
Just months before the opening of the Beijing Olympics, China now faces a grave situation in Tibet.
In Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, weeklong peaceful demonstrations for Tibet’s autonomy turned into deadly riots Friday. The rioters now hold an area of the city, surrounded by government forces.
With biased reporting from the media and common misconceptions of the China-Tibet relationship, many Westerners are quick to condemn China and its human rights record, and the call to boycott the summer Olympics is renewed.
The demonstrators question China’s historical claim over Tibet, a topic that arguments can be made for both sides.
While Tibet has enjoyed prolonged periods of practical autonomy in the past, beginning in the 13th century, Chinese dynasties from Yuan to Qing had always claimed it within their borders.
In other words, while China’s claim over Tibet may not be absolute, it is infinitely more legitimate than the United States’ claims over Texas, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
Those who chant the “free Tibet” slogan must understand that for all practical considerations, Beijing can’t allow Tibet to split from the central government.
Strategically, Tibet, with its vastness and geographical obstacles, serves as an important buffer region against India.
Taking Tibet out of China’s grasp would leave the rich and populous province of Sichuan and the inner provinces exposed and vulnerable.
More importantly, Tibet is not the only region in China calling for its independence:
Muslim separatists in Xinjiang province and the island of Taiwan are paying close attention to how Beijing handles the Tibet situation.
Granting it independence, or even showing any signs of weakness, will set a dangerous precedent and encourage other separatist movements in the country.
While I am deeply worried about the situation in Tibet, I remain optimistic that it will be resolved with minimal bloodshed. After the Tiananmen Square incident in 1989, Beijing knows better than to repeat history in Lhasa.
As for those who fear an ethnic cleansing following the riots, they should ask themselves: What do you know about the China-Tibet relationship?
China’s treatment of Tibet suggests the exact opposite. In the past two decades, it has invested heavily in Tibet without consideration of economic returns.
Huge sums were spent in improving the region’s transportation - including building a railroad that connects Tibet to the rest of the country, diversifying its economy and providing free education to Tibetans.
What bothers me more is the self-righteous Westerners’ failure to examine themselves in the same light.
One cannot dispute that China has a shaky record on human rights, but one would be equally ignorant to say that the West, particularly the United States, has a human rights record to be proud of.
Currently, the United States and the rest of the “coalition forces” remain in Iraq, locked in a five-year-old war that, if presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain has his way in the election, may last another 100 years.
According to a September 2007 survey by Opinion Research Business, the estimated total number of war casualties in Iraq since the 2003 invasion exceeded 1.2 million.
Reports of U.S. soldiers and mercenaries committing atrocious crimes surface regularly, yet the so-called human rights advocates don’t seem to care.
One doesn’t hear calls to investigate the United States’ handling of the war and the staggering civilian casualties, yet riots in Tibet can raise overwhelming sympathy and finger-pointing from the West.
It’s safe to say that Beijing doesn’t have the patent to hypocrisy.
Countries act in their self-interests. Sometimes such acts are controversial, and often one country’s self-interest conflicts with others’.
China is no exception, but at least it doesn’t cry foul at the first news a controversy emerges in another country. The West should do the same.
May 11th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
unfortunately two votes need to be moved over here (#5Anonymous / #6bobaboba). Why boycott the games hey are not a political arena?
And really the games should boycott the US for the current state of war.
July 7th, 2008 at 7:59 am
Wow, talk about self righteous. And egotistical. The US isn’t the center of the world. In its rights or its wrongs. Thank you for proving this by bringing the US to the center of the conversation instead of what this is really about- Boycotting 2008 Olympics. I’m just stating this so you won’t repeat the stupid mistake in the future. Second, the US is not at fault for everything. Sorry, it can’t be the center here either despite the fact that everybody wants somebody to be at fault and are too cowardly to look at themselves and examine their own role in the world. “The West, particularly the US, has a human rights record that has
created suffering around the world.” If you say it, back it up. Where’s your facts. America may be the first in line with many wrongs, but the third person in line is still in the same line. So quit hiding. At least in Iraq they went in with good intentions, even if some motives were attached.
July 26th, 2008 at 10:39 am
I am a Chinese citizen, and I think we shouldn’t boycott Olympic Games. In my opinion, the people who want to boycott Bejing Olympic games are ridiculous. If you think that our government is not really good , then so? It doesn’t affect us, or the Olympic games. Chinese citizens like me are ever so honoured about the fact that our country is holding the 2008 Olympic games, and nobody would spoil it for us. So to the people who want to boycott Olmpics, then do so: but to the sensible people who don’t want to boycott Olympics, then congratulations because you’re making a wise decison.