flatback_frannie

I'm sure many of you have been following this weeks events in Tibet and China, the massacre of innocent and peaceful protestors in Tibet. I've always watched the Olympics, since I was a young girl. But this year I won't tune in. It's a small, little powerful boycott, but that's what it is.

With nations in the EU boycotting, I feel I should do the same.

horseshoes

I've been hearing bits and pieces of this over the last few weeks. Last night there was a news piece about how China finally let reporters into Tibet for a carefully planned tour.
The reporters ended up at a monastery and the monks were so upset about how the people of Tibet were being treated. Some of them were actually crying. It was quite sad.
The bodyguards that were with the reporters quickly pulled all the reporters away and made them get back on their buses.
That's a pretty big commitment to say you are going to boycott the Olympics. I hope you can stick with it. Easy to say things but much harder to follow through on them.

mistyriver

I won't be watching this time either. How the IOC could even agree to host them there, with all the human rights violations, is beyond me. I plan to boycott, and am hoping family and friends follow suit. We need to show them we don't like what they're doing.

swish'n'neigh

We're boycotting as a family. We've discussed this with our children (who are in their preteens and early teens) and made the decision together. Not only is there the issue with Tibet, but the Chinese government has many other human rights violations, within its own borders, and supporting regimes in other part of the world that are inhumane (such as in Darfur).

We've all gotten these shirts and wear them frequently:

SpottedEyes

I have heard the other side of the where from a friend which is a native of New Zealand and who just visited Beijing. He said that the Chinese are defending their properties that are in the inside Tibet. I'm not sure if this is true or not.

But because the time of the Olympics would be busy time for me, I would not even have spare to watch any of the games. Anyway, where is the next venue for the Olympics in 2012?

sallyanna

It's not just Tibet. It's all the violations they have racked up. All the persecution the Chinese government has done to religious groups. They've killed Christians for the crime of believing. Tibet is just the latest violation. I think they will be surprised at how little their attempt at PR sways the population.

horseshoes

I believe the next summer Olympics will be held in London. It seems like remember seeing something about that in the news several months ago.

Rider

Ok, so I'm undecided in supporting or boycotting the Olympics. Uhmmm, could someone please tell me again the reason for the Olympics? If we are talking only about the right venue of this event then I'm with the boycotting group. If we are talking about just plain games then I would still support the Olympics.

But here is my question, is there any country where it is free from persecution or racism in its history? What if this happens in Germany and lets say that in WW2, the Germans nearly wiped out all Jews (I'm not a pro-Jew, just citing a point). Or in the homeland US where racism is very much rich in its history. I think every country has its own atrocities. Let's just focus on the games and not on the venue.

SaddleSore

Yes, places have these things in their history. But if they were going on right now in the present, then people around the world would be incensed! And that is the point now-that China has to be sent a message that it needs to stop. I am not big on boycotts and on making statements but honestly, I have been totally turned off the games this year.

alexis

I dont know where my mind has been lately but mostly not in the news area it seems. Did not even know about half this stuff, I feel really lame now.

OldnGrey

I think a boycott would be a good thing, especially if it is supported by the larger nations. These abuses have being going on for a long time and the outcry has being relatively muted. The Olympics have brought China into more focus now, but what thereafter?

Flicka

I've been reading about the protests that have been following the flame on its journey. The flame had to be extinguished several times yesterday, unbelievable!! I believe it's on its way to America now; I'm not sure of the reception it will have. I feel badly for the people who are chosen to carry the flame on eash leg of its journey; what a tumult!

flatback_frannie

I heard on NPR there's going to be quite the protest in San Fransisco, where the torch will be (I believe the only place it will be in the US). People coming from all over.

I heard a Chinese ex-pat living in SF has been banned from the New Year's events in Chinatown because he protests outside the chinese embassy. how sad is that!

countrygirl

I don't understand why the IOC chose China for this summer's Olyimpics in the first place. And were there protestors out at the time of the decision?
Also, I feel bad for the athletes because it is not fair that they should have to deal with this controversy.