Boycott the 2008 Beijing Olympics!

I can see the point about the injustice and lack of social welfare the PRC's government is beaming towards their people...but I can also understand the fact that the nation is trying to globally grow at a rapid pace that it overlooks or completely ignore the rights of the majority common people. Look at the world's history. During industrialization, many people's rights were being ignored and they were being exploited. Eventually, there were changes made, and programs set up.

I think this is what China is going through. It's so focused on growing and becoming powerful and quite frankly, the ends justifies the mean. No growing country wants to admit that it's got issues. To admit this fault would show the people something contradictory to the image of an infallible nationalistic power. Maybe after being at the top, it'll try to tackle the social problems.

Even industrialized western nations are still trying to work on their social problems.

As far as boycotting the olympics--I could care less. But I don't think protesting an international celebration of athletes and world relations would really make a difference in the end.

I do applaud those fighting for justice. I think it's not going to be achieved overnight, but it's a start.

I disagree with Cao Cao and voritz.

Japanese fascism, as demonstrated to worshipping war criminals has nothing to do with silencing free speech in China. The former is just whitewashing acts of genocide and lying about atrocities, as well as being morally repugnant in paying homage to people who committed those acts. The Chinese silencing of free speech, you can argue is done either because China is not ready for full democratic rights, or because the CCP wants to maintain its hold on power. Either way, this is in no way related to Japanese lying about history and paying respect to their leaders who killed millions of people.

As for CaoCao's remarks, economists are able to control for inflation when measuring GDP. China's economy has grown on average greater than 9% for 25 years.

Although I may agree that support of the Olimpic Games might be construed as support for China, it is not at all desirable or commendable that Games be boycotted because of China's policies. One of the ways to open up societiesw, including China in this particular instance, is indeed to expose it to international observation at a grand, massive level while at the same time allowing people from outside China to enter the country and view it first hand as opposed to the media which lie tous left and right all the time to support one or another eco-politial interest group. Isolationism would further re-inforce Chinese unilateral view of =what is the right thing to do without any criticism from the outside. No. I do not agree that boycotting the Olimpic Games would promote the cause for freedom and liberal and equality in China or anywherelse.

With an opening date of 08,08,08 - the Bejing Olympics, at least in the view of Chinese symbolism already has a healthy start establishing better harmony between nations and peoples, so why not give it a fighting chance. :~ [Edit by="spavelkagregg on Dec 27, 4:21:45 PM"][/Edit]