China Olympics

[Strangler Lewis]

I think an Olympic boycott would be meaningless. This Olympics will be a train wreck that should be embraced and widely covered. Watching marathoners keel over in the pollution will be a boon for environmentalism.

[sleepyjeff]

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

I think an Olympic boycott would be meaningless. This Olympics will be a train wreck that should be embraced and widely covered. Watching marathoners keel over in the pollution will be a boon for environmentalism.

For once we are in complete agreement.

Speaking of enviromentalism......shouldn't we ask ourselves how an Olympic Boycott will affect future Climate Change treaties with China? Because lets face it....if CC is for real(don't get excited, I said "if") and if there is any chance we can stop it China will have to be a part of it. Embarrasing them with a Boycott certainly will not make them more sympathetic to Western Causes.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by sleepyjeff

For once we are in complete agreement.

Speaking of enviromentalism......shouldn't we ask ourselves how an Olympic Boycott will affect future Climate Change treaties with China? Because lets face it....if CC is for real(don't get excited, I said "if") and if there is any chance we can stop it China will have to be a part of it. Embarrasing them with a Boycott certainly will not make them more sympathetic to Western Causes.

That's precisesly why I think a boycott is necessary. By playing nice just long enough to win the Olympic bid, and then blatantly sliding back into major human rights abuses on the eve of being under the world microscope, they're sending a pretty clear message that they have no desire to work with the international community. If we just let the Olympics go ahead, we're rewarding them for that two-faced behavior.

[sleepyjeff]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

That's precisesly why I think a boycott is necessary. By playing nice just long enough to win the Olympic bid, and then blatantly sliding back into major human rights abuses on the eve of being under the world microscope, they're sending a pretty clear message that they have no desire to work with the international community. If we just let the Olympics go ahead, we're rewarding them for that two-faced behavior.

Good point, but how will a boycott change their desire to work with the international community? Wouldn't that do just the opposite?