China Olympics

[Alex]

Like I said in my first post. If it is part of some larger package then I am much more open to it.

Since I haven't seen any mention of any real sanction against China, then yes, I do think you're hoping for too much. Engagement is the official diplomatic policy of our country when it comes to China and I don't see that changing (and I'm not entirely sure it should change; but without a wholesale change then just boycotting the Olympics strikes me as a truly empty gesture and perhaps more harm than good).

I'm not accusing you of this, but as always there is the kabuki dance of political opponents advocating whatever stance the other side isn't. Prior to the war, there was a large pro-engagement movement on the issue of Iraq (when war became the preferred option that morphed into a pro-sanctions movement). There is one for Cuba and North Korea. In China, where pro-business interests produce a strong pro-engagement movement the engagement people start to advocate sanctions. And I'm not criticizing one side over the other; if sanctions make sense for Cuba, then they make many times more sense for China.

I wholeheartedly support any athlete or team that decides the political issues far outweigh the athletic ones and so decline to participate. But since, I don't think there will be any larger package, asking a group of athletes to be the only symbols of our disapproval and the only ones put out by it, I am definitely anti-boycott.

So, I don't think we necessarily disagree. I just have no hope or expectation of anything larger happening unless China does something much worse than it already has.