Posted on 04/08/2008 7:58:36 AM PDT by indcons
The global Olympic torch run has descended into chaos and China has only itself to blame, write German media commentators. The protests have even created a new sport -- "Flame Extinguishing."
Authorities in San Francisco, the next destination for the troubled Olympic torch relay, are gearing up for the same kind of pro-Tibet protests that disrupted the relays in London and Paris in recent days.
Signs of protest are already visible after three people climbed the Golden Gate Bridge on Monday to unfurl a Tibetan flag and two protest banners. Billboards protesting China's human rights record have already gone up along major streets in the city and groups including Amnesty International will be holding rallies. Speakers will include South African cleric Desmond Tutu and Hollywood actor Richard Gere, a vocal supporter of Tibetan independence.
The torch run itself is due to take place on Wednesday and police are throwing a tight security blanket over the torch route in San Francisco following Monday's relay in Paris which was interrupted by hundreds of campaigners protesting China's human rights record. Officials in the French capital were forced to douse the torch several times before the planned procession was halted.
Similar scuffles were seen in London on Sunday, where more than 30 arrests were made after rowdy protests.
German media commentators say the protests prove that sport and politics cannot be kept apart if a country with a human rights record as controversial as China's tries to hijack a sporting event for propaganda purposes.
(Excerpt) Read more at spiegel.de ...
It’s true this Olympics located in China has a stain on it, but it is the Olympics, and I look forward to it. I was uncomfortable when China was chosen, but I view it as a chance for the world to take a closer look at China - including their oppressive regime, a growing economic and political superpower, and their role in the world in the next 50 years. I think good may come from the spotlight.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
The torch might become symbols of many things. Might even be the torch of the Statue of Liberty coming to light the darkness in the Northern City.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Well y’all have fun with your Olympics and protests and lofty speeches and all-encompassing symbolism and drug tests and judging scandals.
When they started allowing the U.S. all-star basketball team to play and made up some excuse that being professionals didn’t matter any more, I stopped giving a damn about what the Olympics represented — because they obviously stopped giving a damn, too.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
That’s precisely the moment I stopped watching the Olympics too!
I suspect that the balances in the Swiss bank accounts of the members of the International Olympics Committee attest to the members’ wisdom in awarding the 2008 Summer Olympics to China. After all, of what significance are a few hundred dead Tibetans when compared with a few million euros in members’ accounts?
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
....we can thank Jimmy Carter for this....his pious anger and moral exhibitionism in boycotting the Moscow Olympics began a movement that the Left will not let go of.
That happening was much worse than when the Soviet Union beat our armature basketball team in 1972. Avery Brundage has rolled over several times in his grave since then.
The sad thing is that all these protests will have precisely zero effect. No one will boycott the Olympics or stop buying cheap Chinese goods produced by slave labor.
If numerous instances of food and medicine poisoning won’t stop people from buying Chinese, this certainly won’t.
It will be interesting to see whether whatever network has bought the Olympic rights will lose any viewers over this. I doubt it, but let’s wait and see. Will people tune out the games because they are no longer uplifting, or will more people watch because of all this publicity, and in hopes of seeing more controversy?
I’m old enough to remember when the US boycotted the Moscow games in 1980, and then the USSR boycotted the Los Angeles games in 1984. I didn’t think it accomplished much other than spread ill will. It’s good to hold the protests and pressure China, especially if the Chinese people are able to somehow find out about them, but in a real practical sense all a boycott does is hurt the athletes (IMO).
I concur with the sentiments in your post.
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