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IamMe
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« on: February 13, 2008, 01:32:22 PM » |
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When China was chosen as the venue for the Olympics they agreed to drastically improve their human rights record. I'm sure you are all aware that they have not done so: the Chinese still do not enjoy basic rights like free-speech (never mind democracy etc.) and have supported the Darfur genocide.
So clearly the Olympics should not be held there. It is not too late to make a stand on this issue.
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\\\\"Anarchism is the ideal to which all societies should approximate\\\\" - Bertrand Russell
If you strike me down I shall become more dead than you can ever imagine.
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bringbackwigs
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« Reply #1 on: February 13, 2008, 01:40:52 PM » |
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I made a stand many years ago when I decided not to watch the Olympics.
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In religion and politics, people\\\\'s beliefs and convictions are in almost every case gotten at second hand, and without examination. - Mark Twain  |
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Wiglaf
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« Reply #2 on: February 13, 2008, 02:21:09 PM » |
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I'm with you on this, IamMe.
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. . . sometimes it seems that one has to lean into the wind to stand straight.
James Welch Winter in the Blood
Liberty lies in the hearts of men and women; when it dies there, no constitution,no law, no court can even do much to save it.
Judge Learned Hand
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Jericoacoara
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« Reply #3 on: February 13, 2008, 04:46:00 PM » |
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When China was chosen as the venue for the Olympics they agreed to drastically improve their human rights record. I'm sure you are all aware that they have not done so: the Chinese still do not enjoy basic rights like free-speech (never mind democracy etc.) and have supported the Darfur genocide.
So clearly the Olympics should not be held there. It is not too late to make a stand on this issue.
I agree with your moral argument. Not sure how the practicalities work though. How do you make a stand on it? It is too late now to switch the venue and legally impossible to do anyway. If we don't watch it, we are penalising the athletes who are innocent. Doe sport and politics mix? Not disagreeing with your point, just asking the question. |
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The greatest tragedy is for a person to die with the music still within them.
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OswaldTheOsprey
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« Reply #4 on: February 13, 2008, 05:40:32 PM » |
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When China was chosen as the venue for the Olympics they agreed to drastically improve their human rights record. I'm sure you are all aware that they have not done so: the Chinese still do not enjoy basic rights like free-speech (never mind democracy etc.) and have supported the Darfur genocide.
So clearly the Olympics should not be held there. It is not too late to make a stand on this issue.
De javu-it's 1936 all over again! OswaldTheOsprey  Berlin Sunday, August 9, 1936 |
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« Last Edit: February 13, 2008, 07:43:03 PM by OswaldTheOsprey »
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Urbi et Orbi
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Wiglaf
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« Reply #5 on: February 13, 2008, 05:48:00 PM » |
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When China was chosen as the venue for the Olympics they agreed to drastically improve their human rights record. I'm sure you are all aware that they have not done so: the Chinese still do not enjoy basic rights like free-speech (never mind democracy etc.) and have supported the Darfur genocide.
So clearly the Olympics should not be held there. It is not too late to make a stand on this issue.
I agree with your moral argument. Not sure how the practicalities work though. How do you make a stand on it? It is too late now to switch the venue and legally impossible to do anyway. If we don't watch it, we are penalising the athletes who are innocent. Doe sport and politics mix? Not disagreeing with your point, just asking the question. I don't disagree with athletes going if it's going to happen anyway. A few might even use their chance to embarrass the Chinese or Sudanese governments. Our responsibility is to leave sponsors(No Coke, McDonald's, etc.) in the cold and to urge action by those political leaders who can change things. Sports and politics certainly mix if a regime uses a major event like the Olympics to legitimize themselves. Those who oppose China's policies weren't the first to politicize it. We can't sit by an allow it to go on unremarked upon. I think that free nations should have boycotted it, but we lack leaders of courage on our Olympic committees and as our heads of state. |
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. . . sometimes it seems that one has to lean into the wind to stand straight.
James Welch Winter in the Blood
Liberty lies in the hearts of men and women; when it dies there, no constitution,no law, no court can even do much to save it.
Judge Learned Hand
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Jericoacoara
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« Reply #6 on: February 13, 2008, 05:57:50 PM » |
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The best example of sporting boycotts affecting government policy was the long period where all cricket teams boycotted South Africa because of apartheid.
The thing that annoys me sometimes about sporting boycotts though, is that governments are all to quick to encourage athletes to boycott sporting events out of moral duty in making a stand against the relevant government concerned. But many times they still continue trading with them and carrying on normal international business with them. The hyprocrisy stinks when that happens.
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The greatest tragedy is for a person to die with the music still within them.
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micfranklin
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« Reply #7 on: February 13, 2008, 06:02:24 PM » |
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I don't think China should be considered an upcoming superpower if they can't even treat their own people decently.
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Wiglaf
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« Reply #8 on: February 14, 2008, 05:14:45 AM » |
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I don't think China should be considered an upcoming superpower if they can't even treat their own people decently.
On the contrary they may well become one, though certainly not one what is likely to be a force for freedom. That is why free trade agreements ought to require certain nonnegotiable minimum standards for labor rights. As it is we're subsidizing the rise of a likely future foe. |
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. . . sometimes it seems that one has to lean into the wind to stand straight.
James Welch Winter in the Blood
Liberty lies in the hearts of men and women; when it dies there, no constitution,no law, no court can even do much to save it.
Judge Learned Hand
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Wiglaf
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« Reply #9 on: February 14, 2008, 05:16:42 AM » |
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The best example of sporting boycotts affecting government policy was the long period where all cricket teams boycotted South Africa because of apartheid.
The thing that annoys me sometimes about sporting boycotts though, is that governments are all to quick to encourage athletes to boycott sporting events out of moral duty in making a stand against the relevant government concerned. But many times they still continue trading with them and carrying on normal international business with them. The hyprocrisy stinks when that happens.
I agree. As I said it's incumbent upon our leaders, sporting or otherwise, to act with moral courage. |
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. . . sometimes it seems that one has to lean into the wind to stand straight.
James Welch Winter in the Blood
Liberty lies in the hearts of men and women; when it dies there, no constitution,no law, no court can even do much to save it.
Judge Learned Hand
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IamMe
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« Reply #10 on: February 14, 2008, 02:12:28 PM » |
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When China was chosen as the venue for the Olympics they agreed to drastically improve their human rights record. I'm sure you are all aware that they have not done so: the Chinese still do not enjoy basic rights like free-speech (never mind democracy etc.) and have supported the Darfur genocide.
So clearly the Olympics should not be held there. It is not too late to make a stand on this issue.
I agree with your moral argument. Not sure how the practicalities work though. How do you make a stand on it? It is too late now to switch the venue and legally impossible to do anyway. If we don't watch it, we are penalising the athletes who are innocent. Doe sport and politics mix? Not disagreeing with your point, just asking the question. Well one option would be for the Olympic Committee to cancel the games altogether. Another would be for countries to withdraw their athletes. |
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\\\\"Anarchism is the ideal to which all societies should approximate\\\\" - Bertrand Russell
If you strike me down I shall become more dead than you can ever imagine.
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IamMe
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« Reply #11 on: February 14, 2008, 02:33:32 PM » |
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\\\\"Anarchism is the ideal to which all societies should approximate\\\\" - Bertrand Russell
If you strike me down I shall become more dead than you can ever imagine.
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IamMe
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« Reply #12 on: February 14, 2008, 02:43:40 PM » |
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The thing that annoys me sometimes about sporting boycotts though, is that governments are all to quick to encourage athletes to boycott sporting events out of moral duty in making a stand against the relevant government concerned. But many times they still continue trading with them and carrying on normal international business with them. The hyprocrisy stinks when that happens.
I agree, but unfortunately economic necessity dictates that we must trade with China. However, we are under no obligation to play sport with them. |
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\\\\"Anarchism is the ideal to which all societies should approximate\\\\" - Bertrand Russell
If you strike me down I shall become more dead than you can ever imagine.
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Wiglaf
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« Reply #13 on: February 14, 2008, 11:41:46 PM » |
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The thing that annoys me sometimes about sporting boycotts though, is that governments are all to quick to encourage athletes to boycott sporting events out of moral duty in making a stand against the relevant government concerned. But many times they still continue trading with them and carrying on normal international business with them. The hyprocrisy stinks when that happens.
I agree, but unfortunately economic necessity dictates that we must trade with China. However, we are under no obligation to play sport with them. On what terms is it necessary? Is it a sin to have a poorer standard of living in the short term by refusing to support a nation which oppresses its own with the aid of many of this country's elites? Personally I'd rather be a few thousand a year poorer than to have the blood of oppression on the hands of many in my own land. I'm fine with trading, but not on their race to the bottom terms. |
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. . . sometimes it seems that one has to lean into the wind to stand straight.
James Welch Winter in the Blood
Liberty lies in the hearts of men and women; when it dies there, no constitution,no law, no court can even do much to save it.
Judge Learned Hand
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IamMe
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« Reply #14 on: February 15, 2008, 12:51:46 PM » |
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The thing that annoys me sometimes about sporting boycotts though, is that governments are all to quick to encourage athletes to boycott sporting events out of moral duty in making a stand against the relevant government concerned. But many times they still continue trading with them and carrying on normal international business with them. The hyprocrisy stinks when that happens.
I agree, but unfortunately economic necessity dictates that we must trade with China. However, we are under no obligation to play sport with them. On what terms is it necessary? Is it a sin to have a poorer standard of living in the short term by refusing to support a nation which oppresses its own with the aid of many of this country's elites? Personally I'd rather be a few thousand a year poorer than to have the blood of oppression on the hands of many in my own land. I'm fine with trading, but not on their race to the bottom terms. I agree, or I would if it didn't mean that more people would be forced to live in poverty. |
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\\\\"Anarchism is the ideal to which all societies should approximate\\\\" - Bertrand Russell
If you strike me down I shall become more dead than you can ever imagine.
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