what do you think about the chinese occupation of tibet

[Tracy J]

Originally Posted by Eric

Ok, forget the seals, (unless you are a movie star looking for some cheap publicity) .... but Canada's record in dealing with First Nations people is not a good one. While Canada does not kill aboriginal people in a direct sense, one can argue that their continued inaction gives rise to the outrageous suicide rates, alocholism rates, and low life expectancy on reserves ...I could go on, but you get the picture ... The point I would like to make is that if one applied strict standards of government morality in all cases, not just to the COMMUNIST Chinese then no country would be judged fit to hold the Olympics. And I do believe that the land on which many of the events in the Vancouver Olympics will take place is territory which is claimed by aboriginal peoples. As the modified version of our National Anthem goes: "O, Canada, our home on Native land."

canada does not respect the first nation people are there land claims,,they are second class people in there own land,,however if the goverament started murdering them i would hope people would not support any games we were haveing

[steeljack]

Originally Posted by Tracy J

canada does not respect the first nation people are there land claims,,they are second class people in there own land,,however if the goverament started murdering them i would hope people would not support any games we were haveing

Sorry Tracy , but think it would be more effective if people stopped buying cheap Chinese imports every time they walk into a store , that would bring more pressure

[Bonnyboy]

I’ll be watching the games, the fact that I will be doing has no bearing on my feelings as to what I think about the Chinese. They should never have been awarded the games in the first instance.

Look forward to seeing some first class sport, just hope the polluted air doesn’t spoil things

[Wynonie Harris]

I reckon the decision to hold the Olympics in China and the silence over their occupation of Tibet and indeed the fact that China itself is a brutal, repressive dictatorship aptly illustrates the rampant double-standards at work on both sides of the political spectrum.

I seem to remember that not so long ago Iraq was a similarly repressive dictatorship. The British and American governments were so concerned about this that they actually invaded the country to effect "regime change" with the resultant loss of many lives. Don't you think that they would be so concerned about a similar situation in China that they would at least try to stop the Olympics being held there? Wonder what the difference is?

Now let's move to the other end of the political spectrum...can you imagine the situation if a move had been made to hold the Olympics in South Africa 30 years ago? Can you imagine the protests that would have ensued from every left-wing liberal the world over? Strange, isn't it that they all seem so quiet about China and Tibet? But, then again, I guess it's just more fashionable to protest about some types of police state than it is about others. Radical chic eh?...doncha just love it?

[garinda]

Originally Posted by Wynonie Harris

I guess it's just more fashionable to protest about some types of police state than it is about others. Radical chic eh?...doncha just love it?

Liberal luvvies, like Richard Gere, and Sting, to name but two, have been vocal in condemning the Chinese atrocities in Tibet, for years.

[Wynonie Harris]

Originally Posted by garinda

Liberal luvvies, like Richard Gere, and Sting, to name but two, have been vocal in condemning the Chinese atrocities in Tibet, for years.

Yes, but has there been even a small portion of the protest over this that there was about South Africa? Don't misunderstand me, I was totally opposed to the apartheid regime in the 70's. I'm totally opposed to the Chinese regime now. But, as I say, if the Olympics had been held in SA in the 70's can you imagine the furore?

Mind you, I wouldn't be watching it, wherever it's being held, as I've no interest in it (apart from the beach volley ball ).

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by cashman

i can agree they should not be given to such places, but fact remains this has always been the case, so will it stop me watching em - NO.

Well ya I agree with you cashy, its a decision that shouldn't have been made, but given the fact that I like watching our lads and lasses competing I suppose I'll be watching as well, it would make no difference not doing so, the only protest that would register would be if the athletes didn't go, but that won't happen

[andrewb]

Again no option for me, I'll watch but of course I care.

I think the Olympics should have been used to try and improve peoples human rights by not letting them have it until they improve.

They appear to have given away their bargaining chip by not doing this, however I think with the eyes of the world on China the Olympics being there could still have a positive effect on the issues there.

Remember we allowed Russia to join the G7 (creating the G8) in the same sort of way, to help westernise them by including them.

[wadey]

It's complicated of course but is Tibet a democracy? Does it have religious freedom?

[Loz]

I will still be watching because i love watching our atheletes competing in the greatest sporting event there is.
However i do not believe it should have been given to China in the first place and the poll, like for many others doesn't have an option for yes but i do care.
Like so many other things money talks.
I like the idea stated earlier that the games could benefit more if they were moved to Athens permenantly therefore ensuring situations like this don't occur again.

[yerself]

Originally Posted by wadey

Does it have religious freedom?

Ask the Dalai Lama.

[Eric]

Originally Posted by Tracy J

canada does not respect the first nation people are there land claims,,they are second class people in there own land,,however if the goverament started murdering them i would hope people would not support any games we were haveing

And what do you call the shooting of Dudley George by the OPP tactical squad at Iperwash Park in 1993 ... and the dumping of drunken Indians by Saskatoon police on the outskirts of the city to freeze to death ... etc.

But the point is that China has been a bad guy for quite a while ... I think the term "Yellow Peril" was coined in your country in times less Politically Correct. In fact, this whole question of Political Correctness seems to color this issue. At a time when China is mellowing out, is it a good thing to shut down dialogue with a boycott? Is this the way to communicate ... by taking your ball and going home because you don't like the run of play? In less enlightened times, no one boycotted the Berlin Olympics of 1936. I do believe the British athletes actually gave Hitler the Nazi salute. And if the games had been boycotted, Jesse Owens would not have had the opportunity to humiliate the Master Race. And think of the boycott of the Moscow olympics over the Russian invaision of Afghanistan ... now there is a tinge of irony there ... in the same week Canada extends its mission to Afghanistan the 81st Canadian soldier is killed in action in Kandahar.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by steeljack

Sorry Tracy , but think it would be more effective if people stopped buying cheap Chinese imports every time they walk into a store , that would bring more pressure

True but our Government's could ban Chinese imports as well.

[WillowTheWhisp]

I do care but I will watch some that I am interested in and not watch some that I am not interested in.

Individual olympic competitors are not to blame for the location. Individual Chinese are probably too busy making sure they stay alive to be worthy of blame.

Regimes do not tend to suffer when sanctions are imposed - helpless individuals do.

[steeljack]

Originally Posted by yerself

Ask the Dalai Lama.

not being flippant but , what does he actually do ? all I ever see is him do is turn up for dinners/banquets in his honour , guess he can speak English but don't think I have ever heard him give a speech about anything , has he written any books that a lot of people have read ? only thing I remember reading about Zen and Bhuddism was about motorcycles about 40 years ago ..........
just curious ....