The Tale of Two News Reports.

White Devil Red Angel ^ | march 30 | White Devil

[KungFuBrad]

The Guardian UK

Xinhua China News

Headline: Merkel says she will not attend opening of Beijing Olympics Quotes: "The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, yesterday became the first world leader to decide not to attend the Olympics in Beijing." "Donald Tusk, Poland's prime minister, became the first EU head of government to announce a boycott on Thursday and he was promptly joined by President Václav Klaus of the Czech Republic" The disclosure that Germany is to stay away from the games' opening ceremonies in August could encourage President Nicolas Sarkozy of France to join in a gesture of defiance and complicate Gordon Brown's determination to attend the Olympics.

Headline: EU foreign ministers reject call for boycott of Beijing Olympics Quotes: "The European Union (EU) foreign ministers rejected on Saturday the call for a boycott of the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games over the Tibet issue." "British Foreign Secretary David Miliband told reporters: "We are fully engaged in supporting the Olympics. We want to see it as a success, and I think it is right that the prime minister represents us." BRDO, Slovenia, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The call for a boycott of the opening ceremony of Beijing Olympics received chilly response at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Slovenia on Friday.

It appears to me that Germany and Poland not attending will put pressure on others. I hope that France quickly jumps on. The more that jump on now the better chance of getting some change in Tibet and China. if they wait to the last minute it wont be effective at all

[KungFuBrad]

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[kingu]

I wonder if these non-arrivals and possible team boycotts will do the opposite. China never was a nation that appreciated backing down from anything. And I don’t see Tibet ever being released from the Chinese. Face saving is far more important to them than lives, than the Olympics, than Tibet.

[KungFuBrad]

You hit the nail right on the head. Anyone who has lived in China for a long period of time knows that nothing is more important then keeping your face.

[mefistofelerevised]

“boycotts will do the opposite.”
The opposite of what?

[kingu]

Opposite of the intended result - if the desire is to force China to address the Tibet issue, they will indeed address it, with increasingly large crackdowns. The most stubborn headstrong child, in a way...

[TigersEye]

You are probably exactly right. But that will bring more unwanted attention to China. They can’t escape the face losing criticism their actions will bring. The more they struggle to stop the problems the worse they look.

[Tainan]

"The more they struggle to stop the problems the worse they look."

In the eyes of the world, yes. However in the eyes of the party hard-core and the wavering populace seeking to follow the PRC drumbeat, this merely demonstrates how the strength of the party can overcome such 'rebels' as the Tibetans.
Just look at the recent demonstrations in Toronto to see what I'm referring to.
For domestic consumption. And thats is the target audience...1.3 or so billion in the domestic audience. Keep 'em scared with displays of power. Tell them it is for their 'own good' and for the good of China.

[TigersEye]

That is the reaction of panic. China can act like it lives in a vacuum but ultimately it has to deal with the world.

[mulan]

I agree with you about “the most stubborn headstrong child” opinion about Chinese commies. How about “eunuchs”? Those ancient Chinese eunuchs with unmeasurable wealth and power who would get rid of anything and anybody in their way.

[mulan]

Yes, I agree with you. Chinese people need to be given the facts that they are living in a prison/hell even though it's getting fancier. Good food, good tea, good beds, and fancier roofs can be provided in a prison too. They shall be taught life on the Earth means much more than what they have now. It's not about material things. It's about their souls! It's their mental well-being as human beings, living happily and feeling self-fulfilled, living standing up straight instead of on their knees!