NationStates Jolt Archive

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080411/ts_nm/china_tibet_dalailama_dc

The Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, said on Friday he did not support a boycott of the Beijing Olympic Games.

Asked on NBC "Nightly News" whether he wanted the world to boycott the Olympics this summer, the Dalai Lama replied, "No."

Asked if he wanted the United States and other world leaders to boycott the opening ceremony in support of Tibet, he replied, "That's up to them."

"It is very important to make clear, not only just the Tibet case. But in China proper, the report of human right is poor. And their freedom, also very poor," the Dalai Lama said.

Asked what his message to China was, he said: "My main point is: We are not against you. And I'm not seeking separation."'

For those who support Tibetan autonomy and the development of human rights in China, does this influence your decision to boycott the Olympics/opening ceremonies in any way?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080411/ts_nm/china_tibet_dalailama_dc



For those who support Tibetan autonomy and the development of human rights in China, does this influence your decision to boycott the Olympics/opening ceremonies in any way?

I won't be watching the opening propaganda-fest, but I will probably watch various events. The athletes deserve support.

Now, what I'd like to see is, say, the entire US swimming team get Tibetan flag tattoos. Let's see the IOC try to throw out an entire US team. And when they win, they'll all be on camera world-wide, tattoos and all. :D

No. Why would it?

I find the olympics boring and never watch them anyway.

However I am in full support of China being a hardass as they need to develop, we had to do it too and no one was around to bitch at us when we did it, so I want to give them a break.

That and I hate these damn hippes who want to boycott because they think Tibet should be free and the Dali Lama should be ruler, despite him saying numerous times he doesn't want Tibet seperate from China, just the human rights issues in China better.

Who gives a shit?

I don't care whether Americans swim in a Chinese pool.

when did people start caring what elderly religious figures think...wait scratch that when did anyone care what the Dalia Lama (http://gprime.net/flash.php/llamasong) thinks?

Boycotting the Olympics is stupid. The Olympics is about the athletes not China. I can guarantee you that any TV broadcast you watch on NBC or whatever channel it is on will be focusing on the sports and not China.

I know someone who will be competing in gymnastics so I will definitely watch.

*Hu Jintao at opening ceremony*

'POOLS CLOSED DUE TO TIBETAN AIDS, GO HOME!'

I won't be watching the opening propaganda-fest, but I will probably watch various events. The athletes deserve support.

Now, what I'd like to see is, say, the entire US swimming team get Tibetan flag tattoos. Let's see the IOC try to throw out an entire US team. And when they win, they'll all be on camera world-wide, tattoos and all. :D

You win.

The Tibetans will get better PR if they don't call for a boycot, but hold protests in the lead up to & during the games.

Who gives a shit?

I don't care whether Americans swim in a Chinese pool.

when did people start caring what elderly religious figures think...wait scratch that when did anyone care what the Dalia Lama (http://gprime.net/flash.php/llamasong) thinks?

Boycotting the Olympics is stupid. The Olympics is about the athletes not China. I can guarantee you that any TV broadcast you watch on NBC or whatever channel it is on will be focusing on the sports and not China.

I know someone who will be competing in gymnastics so I will definitely watch.

*Hu Jintao at opening ceremony*

'POOLS CLOSED DUE TO TIBETAN AIDS, GO HOME!'

My question was: For those who support Tibetan autonomy and the development of human rights in China. I don't expect reason from everyone, but being able to read seems like a fair prerequisite.

The Olympics is about the athletes not China.

I seem to remember that the athletes have pretty flags on all their stuff and China is using this as a way to show itself as a modern state

then again its would be folly to think that the athletes from various nations competing under their national flag would be political, why that would be madness

My question was: For those who support Tibetan autonomy and the development of human rights in China. I don't expect reason from everyone, but being able to read seems like a fair prerequisite.

actually my post does, I'm saying I don't care about the Dalia Lama thinks and those causing violence in Tibet sure don't

he's been saying this for years for Christ sakes

Boycotting the Olympics is stupid. The Olympics is about the athletes not China. I can guarantee you that any TV broadcast you watch on NBC or whatever channel it is on will be focusing on the sports and not China.


Except that they make gobs of money off it if things go right. That and the publicity make the Olympics fairly important for them.

My question was: For those who support Tibetan autonomy and the development of human rights in China. I don't expect reason from everyone, but being able to read seems like a fair prerequisite.
I could support Tibet and not give a shit about the boycott.

actually my post does, I'm saying I don't care about the Dalia Lama thinks and those causing violence in Tibet sure don't

I could support Tibet and not give a shit about the boycott.

You're both right, and I apologize.

I support the attacks on the torch and anti-China attacks. And I sincerely wish the "president" would boycott the opening ceremonies.

I may be watching some of the Olympic events however I refuse to recognize China as the "World Power" they want to be.

I sincerely wish America's sad excuse for a leader would boycott the opening ceremonies, but really, what can you expect from him?


Dismiss Issue

:O don't dismiss the issue!

:O don't dismiss the issue!

Nah, I'm just answering your question. I bet he would dismiss the issue.

That would be the easy way out...

Eh, this is China we're talking about. They'll screw the world a dozen times over if they think they can get a boost from it, and they'll hurt anyone they need to in the process. It seems such criteria is necessary for world powers these days.

Sadly, China can get away with this treachery because the already fragile economy is kind of dependent on them...

I won't be watching the opening propaganda-fest, but I will probably watch various events. The athletes deserve support.

I don't have cable, so I'll end up missing the majority of the games. :(

I actually like the opening ceremonies and will be following the games in the newspaper.

The issue I have with the "Free Tibet" protests, is I kinda think people are overlooking that the rest of China could probably be opened up more too! That said, I don't like it when the games become too commercialized or too politicized.

I don't have a solution. *shrug*

I support the attacks on the torch and anti-China attacks. And I sincerely wish the "president" would boycott the opening ceremonies.

I may be watching some of the Olympic events however I refuse to recognize China as the "World Power" they want to be.

Just out of curiosity, is your support for the violence under the intention to hope for change in china or simply to embarrass china?

If its the former then it is clear that you are not aware of your consequences of the attacks. Instead of actually helping, these attacks of destroying any chances of improving the situation. The attacks are promoting chinese nationalism and undermining the work of chinese moderates in the ruling power. Therefore, there's less chance for chinese high official to engage dialogue with Dalai Lama.

I think the entire tibetan protester don't give a damn about Dalai Lama if we are to assume the Dalai Lama is not lying about his intentions. It also quite clear that the pro-tibet protest has become an anti-china protest. I don't think a lot of ppl are aware that there are clear existance of other parties involved in these movements other than pro-tibetan group. These parties are distorting the movement to serve their own intentions and I don't think the pro-tibetan understand the issue that are actually being used. This inference can be made as there must be some other figures supporting independence as the Dalai Lama is not. Very odd, the disparaties are so clear and barely any media coverage criticising this issue. When the media interview pro-tibetan groups they say they want better human rights and believing in the Dalai Lama but the protesters are crying independence. Also according to Aljazeera, there has also been a report from the economist that was giving favourable report to the chinese goverment over the tibetan issue and yet that report is hardly noticed by other media.

Now could we really say that the mainstream media is not biased against China;) (Just to be a devil's advocate)

Just remember kids:

The one-l lama, He's a priest.
The two-l llama, He's a beast.
And I'll bet my silk pajama
There isn't any three-l lllama.



Boycotting the Olympics is stupid. The Olympics is about the athletes not China.
China is a totalitarian dictatorship. Under a totalitarian dictatorship, everything - including sport - is about politics. You think the PRC would let an outspoken critic of the Communist Party represent China at the Olympics even if they were the best in the world in their chosen sport?

Just remember kids:

The one-l lama, He's a priest.
The two-l llama, He's a beast.
And I'll bet my silk pajama
There isn't any three-l lllama.


China is a totalitarian dictatorship. Under a totalitarian dictatorship, everything - including sport - is about politics. You think the PRC would let an outspoken critic of the Communist Party represent China at the Olympics even if they were the best in the world in their chosen sport?

Maybe if their next best athlete wouldn't win, I mean, winning golds is political too.