Sports is sports and politics is politics and never the twain shall meet if boycotted.

(First thing I ever agreed with that moron in the white house about.)

When those poor athletes who do all the training say they don’t want to go, that’s when we should boycott.

It’s already passed that point, for me, Jack.

Brian
Idaho

We tried this before, it didn’t matter. Boycott China’s imports and leave sports alone. I would like to see all the ships loaded with Chineese goods turned around and sent back.

I don’t see human rights being a big enough reason for the entire world to boycott such a major event as the Olympics. After all, the Olympics have only been boycotted a handful of times to my knowledge and never by the entire world. Yet they’ve been around for centuries while bloodshed and loss of human life occurred.

Jessica
Lexington, KY

The World will look the other way because that’s where the money is

Jack,

The Olympics is so commercialized that I think we have lost sight of the true purpose of the event. The Olympics is an event that unites nations via sporting activities, which fosters peace, tolerance, and understanding of different cultures. It is a shame that the Olympic committee chose to turn a blind-eye on China’s human right violations, which disregard peace and tolerance.

A boycott is in order and should begin with corporations removing their business and support for this event. How can we as a global community ignore the issues occuring in China?

If the rest of the world is as much in debt to China as the United States is then I believe that the plight of the Tibetian people will be ignored in favor of securing more loans from China.

It will take actual footage of Chinese goverment officials mistreating or taking extreme measures against their citizens for the rest of the world to wake up and see what atrocities are happening in China.

China is not Iraq. We can’t make up a lie and bomb them. They’d probably bomb us back. Sooo… they can pretty much do what they want. We only chastise countries that don’t have the same bully power that we do. Bush will go over there and smile. Then Cheney will come out and say “SO!” whenever the casualty numbers are announced across the world.

A lot of othr nations would have to realize the threat to the world economy that China presents.

The demonstrations throughout the world show that many people already have had enough and that the Olympics already should be boycotted. When it finally gets out that the Chinese government has massacred the poor Tibetans, maybe Bush will decide to stay home. Congress should vote and hit Bush with a mandate to boycott the games. Bush just wants to get all the free trips he can into the amount of time he has left in D.C. Under all of his deceptive “moral” talk, the guy has no sense of decency.

The olympics should not be used to punish one country by another for political reasons. We would throw a hissyfit if say china decided tobar our athletes from entering their country to participate due to a doctinal difference. Besides- think back to the thirty’s with Jesse Owens and Hitlers theory of aryan superiority! The best thing to due is to let the athletes make the best possible statement.

It would take a President who beleived in the importance of human rights. Why would Bush stand up for human rights now when he has taken such a weak role in the geneocide occuring in Africa?

There would have to be wholesale slaughter. On a grand scale. You can’t get the world to agree on any issues, Political, Environmental or any other for that matter. You want them to Come together, to protest Immoral Behavior on the part of a Major world Government that’s been stomping on Tibet since 1950? As much as I’d like a major boycott to happen, I just don’t see it. A few nations may Boycott, but unless Hundreds, maybe thousands, die where everyone can see, you’re not gonna get That kind of Large Scale Boycotting of the Olympics. And I think the Chinese are a Bit too savvy to let that happen.

Mike, From Staten Island, New York

Jack ,what I want to know is where do we have the kahunas to criticize the Chinese when we have a higher per capita in prison & one of the highest execution rates in the world,not to mention being in a war that that was wrong from the beginning. And how can we forget that we practice torture ourselves. We should be happy that they invited us with our record to be perfectly honest.

I think that what scares me the most is that I can’t give you that answer Jack.

Jona Falencki
Burlington, Vermont.

How can I say this, Jack? CHINA IS A BIG PROBLEM! Fortunately they are killing more of their own than us. I’m not talking about Tibet, I’m talking about the millions that have to breath that air! There is no telling what you’ll find in food or “Toys”!

Of course we should boycott, but that would take Leadership, and Bush hasn’t the brains to do that. For a Boycott to work it would have to be the United States first before some other countries would follow. do you realize that toxins in the air from China are picked up as far as Colorado?

If only we had a leader with a brain!

No worse in my opinion. It we role over, and play dead, their next play might just be in out own back yard. Namely Cuba…..

Would it make a difference if we boycotted the Olympics ?

We already tried that in 1980. Let’s extrapolate: it was about USSR invading Afghanistan, which we invaded 22 years later; so, get ready for an invasion of Tibet in 2030!

No one paid attention to Tibet in 1959 and no one will care now. It is a terrible shame that a whole culture is being annihilated by the Chinese, but Tibet doesn’t have any oil. But, hey, the world is much more interested in which country wins the most medals than to worry about human rights. Go China, kick those nasty Tibetan butts.

I already boycott all professional and amateur athletic events. I gave up watching the olympics due to the overwhelming commercialism and the absolutely idiotic opening and closing events that combine the worst of Disney and Circ du Soliel. But I’m willing to boycott WalMart until China leaves Tibet. I can’t afford to spend the money anyway, may as well make it a poltical statement,.

Let the olympics be. Pres Bush should NOT attend.
How about we don’t allow any products from China in the USA for a month, they would get the message loud and clear then. I like how we pick and choose who to help and who to ignore.. This country needs a serious change in direction!!!

For once I will take sides with Bush in insisting that boycotting the olympics does not make sense. This is even more important judging that most of those boycotting the olympics will be announcing their decisions with made in China microphones, wearing made in China shoes and in rooms furnished with made in China Furniture. Boycotting the Olympics while stuffing our homes with made in China goods is ironical in that it does not send any message at all. If we really mean business and really care for the Tibetans, enforcing a boycott of Chinese made goods, I believe, will make China listen. I think that our unreadiness to suffer deprivation that will intensely affect us but morbidly afflict China appears too much of a sacrifice to make, therefore giving rise to a the call for a lesser evil. The important question is “will a boycott of the Olympics elicit the required response from China?” In case you intend to ask this question on your blog, note that my advance response is ‘NO IT WILL NOT.’

Jack, it would take hell to freeze over. Human rights is just a catch phrase politicians use when they need to stand on platitudes, not when real people are actually threatened…especially if free trade is also threatened.

It would take ‘the world’ to do something. Any ONE nation that tries to bully China will feel the heat. China’s Red Storm HAS risen.

Why are we talking about boycotting the Olympics in the first place ? Why we have to make those athletes pay the price for a political issue ? That does not make sense. What make sense to me is to boycott trade with China. But that will hurt our greedy businesses right Jack ? So the easiest thing would be to make the Atlhletes the victims of this drama and still pump billions to China with businesses.

Nuwan from Houston, TX

Bad enough that Walmart stops buying goods from China to sell here in the U.S. Won’t happen. The economy, the war in Iraq, the hunt for Bin Laden, political sex scandals, the continuing incompetence of the Bush administration, the dollar tanking, record-high foreclosures, the Feds bailing out rich companies, high gas prices, and the celebrity du jour mini-crisises all overshadow the tragedy in Tibet. It’s just another blurb in many newspapers or a small banner occasionally crossing the screen. Think I’m kidding? When was the last time the crisis in Darfur led news casts or was even mentioned in the news?

When the first cell phone pictures go around in a loop on U-tube showing Chinese military gunning down Tibetan Buddhist monks. Then the world will notice big time.

Jack, the world is so busy kissing Communist China’s butt that they could care less about the travesty, in Tibet. Not until the Communist Chinese torture and kill every man, woman and child, in Tibet will the United Nations take notice and even then, any action taken will be token. They own us, so “The Decider” can’t complain, even if he wanted to. Communist China should be removed, from the WTO, at the minimum, for the rape and pillage, of Tibet.

Remember what G.W.Bush insisted 5 years ago.? But, today, it was proved to be a big Joke. But the Joke cost 4000 sons and daughters, fatehers and moms.

Jack, as a reporter, maybe you should report only after you really confirms the truth. You can not say just because others said so.

The world did nothing when China swallowed Tibet, and it won’t do anything now.

Boycotting the Olympics just punishes the athletes who have worked so hard most of their lives to get there.Maybe we should cut back on buying so many lead plated toys instead.

This is the type of challenge that is facing the next President…Mr. Obama is on the record that he would personally speak to China’s leaders…You know he just might be able to do something about the human rights issue facing China…Look how he changed my mind…For the first time in 54 years I’ll be voting him ” a Democrat” in my state primary. Who would have ever “thunk it”.

The world wants to sell China goods and services.The best opportunity to solicit this market is at the Olympics.No one will boycott the Olympics regardless of what the Chinese Government does in Tibet.

Jack

What boycott, do you honestly want all the Olympic Sponsors

to lose money? Get real!!

Jerry
Roselle, Illinois

Will it help the people of Tibet? . . . somehow I doubt it. The only people that it will hurt is the athletes. President Carter boycotted the Moscow Olympics and the only thing it accomplished was to have Russia boycott the Los Angeles Olympics.
There are athletes that will not be able to compete four years from now and it will be a shame to deprive them of the opportunity.

Jack,
I guess I’m the only one who could care less about what China is doing to Tibet. I’m more concerned about what China is being allowed to do to America. From tainted prescription drugs to aqua dots. From poisioned toys and food to manipulation of currency to directly effect trade. From threatening to cripple our economy to being the worlds leader in espionage attacks against the US. From stealing our military technology to buying it outright through the failed polocies of the Bush administration. Dealing with N Korea, dealing with Iran……I guess I’m more concerned with America than Tibet. If you want to boycott the olympics because of China then do it for the right reasons because I assure you for most people in this country, Tibet is not the number one issue when it comes to China.

Jack: The answer is how many more people must die before the world intervenes? It is comparable to how many more Americans must die in Iraq before before the world does something? There is no answer……..and that is the answer.

JACK, I think it is time that every Country Boycott ” CHINA ” for what it is doing to our Country, shipping deadly toys for our children. We are not the only ones` they are probably doing the same things to other Countries and they have not discovered them yet. Our so-called President George Bush is gun ho on attending, and laughing all the way——–another freebie trip for the President,,,,,,,maybe he will meet the King of Saudi Arbab again, who knows, who cares!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hope to read your book soon.

Barbara from Fl.

Having the Olympics in China was a bad, bad, bad idea. I don’t know how much Chinese officials bribed the International Olympic Committee but it had to be a lot. China is one of the biggest human rights violators and simply has no environmental conciousness. I simply cannot believe that any international organization agreed that China should be the host of anything, let alone that bastion of international athletic friendship, the Olympics.

Alas, alack, it is too late. The US and every other civilized and not-so-civilized nation will attend the Olympics and Beijing. The best we can hope for is that somehow on some rainbows and unicorns level that the international friendship of the Olympics will start a cascade of peace and unity among the Chinese and the rest of the world. Maybe Bush, Ahmadinejad and Kim Jong-il will hold hands and sing Kumbayah during the closing ceremonies. Then again, maybe not.

Instead of boycotting the games, boycott all China made products. DON”T buy anything made in China spend a few dollars more or go without and let the money talk. then learn to live on USA made products forever! Support America NOT China!

There just needs to be video of the crack downs.

Iraqi prisoner mistreatment wasn’t a pressing issue until the photos of Abu Ghraib showed up. LA Police brutality wasn’t front and center until the video of the Rodney King beating. A missing girl isn’t a story unless there are lots of photos and video of her smiling face.

The sad reality of today’s news is that if there aren’t images, it didn’t happen.

Jack what makes me so mad all the people who say oh this would cause a threat to the world economy. If we don’t stand up to China now we might as well give them the keys to the darn Country. If not for George and his little brother Neal we would not be up to our neck in China. I think we should cut off funds for jet fuel so George if he wanted to attend he could go on his on dime.

Sadly, even a successful boycott would not cause Tibet to be freed. The Chinese government thinks it can do anything it wants to anyone, any time it pleases. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? We don’t have a whole lot of moral superiority right now to tell any country to stop the occupation of another, and that is indeed tragic.

I would really love to see Tibet free, but there doesn’t seem to be a lot of realistic options right now to accomplish it, and that is way beyond tragic.

It looks very polite of the policemen.

China can do whatever they want, for as long as they want Jack. The only country that could have stopped them (The USA) is mortgaged to the tilt, courtesy of the Chinese Gov’t. If they called their loans to our Gov’t, we’re toast.

We’re too afraid to take a stand. That’s what you get with 7 1/2 years of Bush, and until recently, a Republican led Congress.

Jack, I’m afraid it will take wholesale slaughter of the Tibetans before the world community would consider boycotting the Olympics !

China owns us. Bush has sold us out.
With our debt with China, U.S cannot boycott anything.
If China pulled the plug on the mutil billions we owe
them what would happen? Cannot even visulaize.
Hopefully other countries will carry the torch on
this.

Jack,

When the media shows the true pain and suffering that China is doing…..but then I forgot we borrow money from China and that would not be proper nor ethical.

Lance

Michigan

These Olympics have Disaster written all over them. From the post-apocalyptic smog that dwells in Beijing, to the civil unrest in their streets. China is best friends with Russia, and although the Olympics are about PEACE, and human unity, there are political implications.
As we know, our administration doesn’t really like weighing all their options, but in this case, I think Bush has no option but to go through with the games. And so, the world follows.

I don’t know. i don’t care about the Olympics. We might want to rethink what we boycott because those people that have given their lives to training for this event won’t get another chance. China is making loans to us to fight a war in the middle east. What happens if we upset China and they call in the note? Your stimulus package check won’t cover it. Be careful what you wish for because you might just get it!!

The Olympics have become so commercialized that I don’t believe anything would cause a boycott. A better question would have been, “What was the Olympic committee thinking when they awarded China with the games in the first place?” It is not as if the Chinese gov’t just started acting this way. The idea of human rights in that country gets about as much play as copyrights and patents. Even if a boycot happens would it make any real difference?

That is a tricky one Jack. First China’s response to civil disobedience is nothing new and China was awarded the Olympics inspite of their history of crackdowns. Addressing those issues now with a boycott of the Olympics may be opportunistic but a bit hypocritical since this could have been decided before awarding them the Olympic games.

This world is going to hell in a handbasket. Since when does sports outweigh human life? What does it say about the state of the world when spiritual and religious persons are persecuted? We are all going to have to answer this when our children ask why we didn’t do anything about this.

Jack,
I think we should boycott the Olympics, but what do you think would happen when they want their money back ” another war” if so, Hillary says she has combat experience in other countries and I heard she was involved in some way in Waco TX. “GI Hillary” or is Her nose growing like her ego.

Moses
California

It’s already bad Jack. I know the athletes have worked very hard to go to the Olympics and they should not be penalized. But I think human rights are more important than sports. The athletes must show humanity and boycott China because you can always raise an olympic competition elsewhere in the world but you can’t raise the dead.

And let’s not pretend the Olympics are not about politics and money. It would be an insult to our collective intelligence. They are not only about sportsmanship that’s for sure. Let’s see our beloved athletes be National pride agents as well as ambassadors for Peace. Not only gold seekers and sponsors hunters.

Eddie, Quebec City

forget the u.s. gov to push it, our gov cares more about china then the u.s people. they make everything we use for a cheaper wage, and china is your gov’s cash cow. what’s going to happen when they want the loan’s payed off ? we can’t even pay the interest on the loan’s. what china want’s china get’s……….

Jack
We went to the games in Berlin, it would be hypocritical to boycott the Chinese. When will we learn that isolationism is not the answer. The answer is to go there and beat the pants off em. Besides who’s gonna take the time to make all that crap they sent us?
Cinti, Ohio

If the world is upset about a soverign country taking care of it’s internal business, so be it. Let the countries neighboring China say/do something. We are a big client of the Chinese, both on the exporting, and importing side. If not for the chinese buying our debt, we’d be in big do-do! Richard Gere should move his duba over their and fight them himself, and leave us out of this morass. These idealistic fools that galavant the world seeking change, and a so-called better way of life for the illiterate/misfortunate should shut their mouths and just do it! Enough said. P.S.Excuse me for being a christian, and speaking realistically!

Jack
Were not going to boycott the olympics we need the toys !

They have gone bad enough for me to boycott the games. Sorry about the athletes. Tibetans lives and freedom are more important than showing your abilities in sports.

China should NEVER have been selected as the Olympic venue in the first place. But its no surprise. This planet is infested with countries too cowardly to take China to task for anything it does. It manupilates the value of its currency, blatantly denies facts in evidence of political and socioeconomic wrongdoing, poisons the world with foods and goods that aren’t worth the money it took to ship them all while building a military complex so huge that one day (like now) noone will dare hold them accountable for anything they do. Let the sleeping giant lie while growing strong on the economies it floods with cheaply made garbage. But OH, wouldn’t it be a shame to disappoint the atheletes who have trained so hard for their endorsements on Wheaties boxes? I guess they’ll just have to turn “pro” and sign a multi-million dollar contract to console their broken hearts.

Europian media has admitted that they did some makeup about Tibetan situation.

Anything could be faked, pictures, words even people.

It would take a lot more for a Olympic boycott. The Olympic is now a very big business and corporate America has billions in endorsement deal already invested in the Beijing game. Not to mention the TV right who would be worth nothing if their was no American competing.

The world doesn’t seem to be bothered by China’s human rights violations judging from the participation planned for the Olympics.

And the U.S. can’t boycott them because President Bush has used China like a PayDay Loan center.

Several Biilion dollars…I take that back…EUROS… and alot of SPORTS endorsements.

Chances are the rest of the world probably won’t listen to, or take any cues from us, as we are no longer the moral leaders of the world anymore. I mean what China is doing to Tibet is no different from what we’ve done in Iraq, is it?

There is no way we can boycott the Olympics in China. Bush has us in so much debt with China we are poweless to protest. Why if we boycotted China’s Olympics we might get all the loans called in and anyone want to go through a depression? I hope there are strong nations that have not been led into debt by a poor leader like our president that will boycott the Olympics NOW. They should not wait for more to suffer and even die. Unfortunately for the United States we have a president who is like the emperor that wore no clothes and there will be no boycott for the U.S.

I don’t think the politics china is running will effect the constant running and dedication of all the olympic qualifiers

Won’t happen as long as we have the idiot bush jr. in the white house. It is obvious that he and his cohort cheney don’t give a dam about human rights.

It would take something along the scale of another Tianeman Square to convince the corporations and the networks involved with huge dollars at stake to even consider it. Who are we kidding? This isn’t about politics or human rights. It’s not even about sports anymore. Its about the money. Period.

It is completely up to the athletes as to whether they want to compete or not - they invest their time for decades to reach this point and for some it is their only chance . . . BUT I hope no one attends as a spectator - no need to feed money into that economy!

Jack, I always looked at the Olympics for their significance in terms of promoting athletics throughout the world. Did we boycott the 1936 Summer Olympics which Hitler wanted to use to show the supremacy of the Aryan race? I let politics around the world be discussed in the UN and by you, Wolf, and your award-winning team.

I suggest the Athletes boycott them. Any act by our government will be seen as a hypocritical stand. They should send our military and intelligence community there and start new Olympic events. Things like Waterboarding, Assassination, Caning, Tag Team Torture and the always popular Lying Marathon. We stand to win those events Jack.

For many, many years, the entire world knew about China’s government’s brutality in Tibet, their gross violation of human rights, poisoned toys, pitiful labor conditions, etc., etc. They chose Beijing anyway. None of this is new. No one should be surprised by any of this.

I think the only effecttive measure would be to enable a widespread viewer boycott of the Beijing Games. Just don’t watch it, don’t broadcast it, don’t put them in the news. Just ignore the whole thing, it never happened.

Wow! What a question. Apearently violent mistreatment of protestors is not enough. If more “proof” of killing protestors, like Tiananmen emerges from China, then there should be a STRONG statement from a coalition of free nations. BUT there will still be those, like Iran, who will attend, despite any evidence of human rights violations.

The French president has threatened to boycott the olympics if the violence doesn’t end. And we’re just turning our faces away from the slaughter. Too bad we owe the Chinese for our war in Iraq.

Jack, I am not sure that the world should boycott. Maybe the best thing would be for all the world athelets to go and use their individual voices to speak out to the Chinese and any one else attending the games about China’s abismal record on human rights. Of course that would take a lot of individual courage and might land some of those young people in hot water. But I think the courage of the worlds young people would go further to draw attention to the crisis in Tibet and elsewhere than all the gas bags in governments and corporations around the world.

It’s too late now. China never should have been given the games in the first place. The world should have withdrawn participation when China was awarded the games. It’s the morons on the Olympic Committee should be boycotted.

Jack,
We can’t boycott the olympics,we owe them too much money! Besides im shure Walmart wont approve. And you know what they say : So goes Walmart,so goes the nation!
Ray,Florida

P.S. Long live cheap Hi Def Flat screen TV!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Well it couldn’t be done without the approval of all the corporate sponsors. The Bush team would never do anything to upset the one percent, or as they refer to them, their base. The last time this happened, Jimmy Carter was severely criticized for boycotting the 1980 games. There were many dedicated ahtletes who had trained for years for their shot at the Gold, and due to the nature of competition, many never got another chance.

dear Jack: why would america consider boycotting the games when they walk hand in hand with saudi arabia,one of the most oppressive regimes on the planet?

sandra
edmonton,alberta

It would take conviction in the belief that human rights are more important than sports. A boycott is probably the most peaceful way to put pressure on China. If the Olympics is about bringing the world together, let’s bring it together to protect the the oppressed from their oppressor.

Leadership. Something we don’t have.

Jack, What mortifies us as Americans, to parts of the world are events that make up just another Tuesday. There will be no boycott to report.

We need to mind our own business. We have homeless people and people who still don’t have their houses fixed in the Gulf Coast but yet we are worried about how China is treating their people. Gee when are we going to mind our own business and fix our problems?

Jack, you are implying with this question that there is still enough interest in the olympics that anybody cares what China does in Tibet. Personally I don’t care what China does as long as they keep exporting extra cheap products to Walmart. The rules in the olympics have been twisted so much by the bribed judges that the olympics have become nothing but an extra long annoyance on tv.

So, what is so different from this in America. When is the last time you tried to stand up and protest. Get your butt kicked, that is unless your an illegal Mexican National.

Every country has something in it’s past or present that could drive other countries to boycott an olympics. Certainly the United States would not be immune from such an action. The olympics are a time for the countries of the world to come together in peace. If we only allow the olympics in countries that have nothing to be comdemned for, we would hold the games every year in Outer Mongolia…oh, wait, there was that Genghis Khan thing.

Jack it would be wrong for the world to boycott the Olympics because in doing so we would be turning our backs on those brave souls who are protesting there knowing full well the consequences of their actions. They are protesting now at this particular time ,because they know the world is watching because of the olympics. All the Athletes of the world as they step on the podium should give the power salute our black athletes gave in mexico city, as a show of support for all the oppressed people of the world. The best way the free people of the world can spread the idea of liberty is via satelite dish. And the world will be watching these olympics

For American citizen and Olympic participants to stop thinking about supremacy and just start protesting: blogs, boycott and no bullets.

Jack, China could nuke Tibet, and Bush’s shot put team would still show up. You don’t disrespect your sugar daddy.

Jack,
If Tiananmen Square-the June Fourth Incident, dying rooms for unwanted orphans, executions to procure organs, toxic toys and suspect produce haven’t gotten the world to boycott things Chinese, there isn’t any atrocity in Tibet that will. We live in a world that only worships things economic.

U.S. companies pulling their factories out of China, taking a personal profit hit.

our president would not allow us to boycott we would wind up just like the people in Tibet,our president and vice Dick just suck.

The Chinese would have to attack the United States. The Republicans are in bed with the Chinese and that’s all there’s to it. We’ll be buying Air Force tankers from them in 20 years. Bush plans to tour China and give speeches for $200,000 a pop as soon as he leaves office. The gifts of Nixon foreign policy keep giving and giving. Ask not what your country can do for you, but what we can do for the Chinese. Rick, Yakima, Wa.

No worse than it is now. Time for the world to tell China that they are impressing no one with their assinine antics,wake up and see how the free world lives. If not? every country should boycott the Olympics and let all olf their work go to waste.

I think any kind of boycott, by any country in relation to any atrocity by China would be in direct proportion to how much Chinese money is invested in a boycotting country.

Ok let’s face it Bush is an IDIOT!!! The rest of the world don’t need the U.S. to Boycott and I wish they would do it already. What’s Bush going to do send everyone to their rooms?

The Olympics has become a commercial promotion venture for the capitalist states, so there will be no serious boycott. When it comes to big business, nothing gets in their way. They want to open up China, increasing their markets by 20% i.e. trillions of dollars. Do you want to step in front of that freight train? God help anyone who does.

Since the Clinton’s place John McCain in such high regard, a McCain-Clinton ticket can campaign against an Obama-Richardson ticket . Sure would make politics interesting. A Gore-Obama ticket would of greater interest.

Frank
Bethlehem PA

Can it get any worse than having George Bush in attendance? That’s enough to have half the other attendees running for the hills, afraid that he might unleash another war on somebody then and there. Especially if anyone whispered Al Qaeda during the opening ceremony.

A lot of countries will boycott before we will. Why? Because we are owned by China more than our government wants to lead onto. That is why our “Leader” says nothing. He sold us to the Chinese and now he has no leverage to do what is right. Sadly since China is not an easy pushover that we can get their oil from Bush seems not to be interested. Sad!

I continually have to wonder what the IOC people are drinking when they choose a controversial country to host the games. Any sane person would have told you that Beijing was bad news back when it was awarded the games. A similar prediction was probably made regarding Moscow. There are certain countries that are, in my opinion, simply boycotts waiting for an excuse. China is one. To be fair, though, the United States these days is another, but it’s simply too commercially powerful for any boycotts to really make a dent. The IOC should consider basing the Olympics in a permanent, neutral location instead of repeatedly playing this Russian roulette.

It’s already bad enough! When you have a US President who thinks stuff like this is okay, then what does that say to the rest of the world? Bush’s leadership has pretty much destroyed not only our rights as Americans but also human rights worldwide.

Until we clean up our own act, it would be hypocritical to complain about any other nation’s human rights violations. Under the Bush/Cheney Administration America tortures those it thinks might hold information regarding terrorist activities. America spies on its own citizens in the name of national security. America props up dictators and repressive governments wherever it deems it serves our national interests. America is willing to poison the planet, throw people out of their homes and take their jobs away from them just so corporations can make a few extra bucks.

I agree with France. Send a message and boycott the opening ceremonies. The athletes can still compete and China would be on notice that the world does not agree with their policies.

Jack,
Take my word for it, when you come under fire, be it sniper fire or any kind of fire, you remember the day, the exact time, and when you changed your underwear. Clinton isn’t even a good third rate liar.
She should be, she has plenty of practice I believe.
As for Gore running, now that’s funny.

Hi wolf, frankly, iam worried about the olympics, they are already problems and what happens when they actualy will start, it makes me uneasy, something will go wrong, Susi IL

The European leaders seem to have their priorities in order so I could imagine them boycotting the Olympics before the US. How can you expect a rational response from our president who continued to read for 25 minutes after the second tower was hit. If there were oil under Lhasa, it would get his attention. I applaud Stephen Spielberg for refusing to work on the Olympics. At least someone in this country has stood up for what is right. I’ll continue to wear my Free Tibet t-shirt and boycott the sponsors of the games as well as products from China. If anyone has any other ideas, I am all ears.

Sen Clinton is the most petty person, no good for a person running for President. She is worse than a 10 yr old kid.
All she can do is play tit for tat, she is just to petty, Hard to believe this woman was ever 1st lady of the united states, she always says she has experience,I am begining to believe her experience is in telling little lies.
Keep it up and Gore will be President if not Gore it will be Mccain,
My choice is Obama but Hillery will soon tit for tat herself and Obama out of the race.

Jean

If the US hasn’t
1) withdrawn its “Favored Nation” status of China despite numerous trade violations?
2) kept the Chinese from artificially devaluing their currency? 3) confronted China on its numerous human rights violations?
there is little hope that it would boycott the Olympics over the crackdown in Tibet. The truth is China has emerged as a powerful nation and the US can’t afford to jeopardize its relationship with China.

All freedom starts with the freedom of speech. It is the moral duty of those nations who have dedicated themselves to preserving this freedom to encourage other countries to do the same. America, as well as the rest of the free world, has the moral obligation to withdraw from the Olympics in China. I do not know whether or not the Tibetan revolutionaries are justified, but it makes me truly sad that I do not have access to the information that would help me assess the situation. What other choice do I have but to think that the government of China has decided to hide something?

Inri
Cambridge, MA

Tibet is a complicated issue that is not simply right(the Tibetans) vs. wrong (the Chinese). Tibet and China have shared a very complicated and nearly feudal history that predates existence of the USA. How can we, Americans, who built our country on the exploitation of others (institutionlized slavery,Chinese coolies, genocide of the Native Americans) suddenly believe we are morally correct in judging China? No doubt, the communist government in China is one of the worst abuser of human rights in the world today. But in reality the current Tibet situation amounts to a country’s ethnic tensions that erupted into ethnic violence (Tibetans vs ethnic Chinese) that is being put down by armed police. I can recall this happening in recent times in Kenya/the Balkans/Europe(northern Ireland)/Middle East. Where was the outrage then?

People who want to go will do so at all cost. Warning labels on cigarettes don’t deter people. We’re invincible!!!

Pilot Point, TX

At the current standpoint of our economy and due to our deep “indebtedness” to China, the next mention of the Tibetians will be in the history books of the upcoming years. It could a full blown “Tibetian Genocide” before China actually admits their wrongdoings, and then what can we do. History has a strange way of repeating itself. Doesn’t it?

WE need to boycott the Olympics….WE need to boycott ALL things “made in china” until this situation has been changed…Pick it up in the store and sit it back down…..WE cannot wait on George W. Bush to do anything….He has no guts…it’s all about the money with him. That’s why we are in this situation with china.
WE as parents, relatives, friends should support our children when they go to china to compete BUT we need to keep our dollars in America…..If that wouldn’t be a message for the world I don’t know what would be…..It’s about courage to do the right thing.

You are asking two questions jack. The USA will not boycott for the reasons you mentioned, like China calling in the massive debt that we owe them.

The rest of the world however, may boycott the olympics if a few pictures of torture or mass killings are displayed on the net.

The question I don’t understand is how did they get the olympics in the first place. The olympics are about fair play, sportsmanship, honest competition, etc. You know Jack, all of the things China is not known for.

China saying their lead filled exports will be doubled, starting today.

For Americans it usually takes about 25,000 to 50,000 casualties before they do any thing. At least that is what it took to end the Vietnam War.

Gee Jack, what difference does it make to the rest of the world?? Look how long it took to get the world involved in the attempt by Hitler to erradicate a race from the world and then ask the question(s). Perhaps when Tibet is down to a few thousand the world will wake up. Of course we should boycott!

Pat

Jack, the biggest super power of China has us by the neck, all it has to do is twist it if it wants, therefore we can’t do Jack. and the rest of the World?, well China doesn’t have them by the balls yet.

Why should we care about the most peaceful people on earth? It’s not like they can do anything to us.

Until the big corporations quit using the Olympics as an advertisinig medium, the Olympics will not suffer any large scale boycott. Will CNN and other news and sports outlets stop giving away hundreds of tickets to their bigger advertisers?

Once again loosely linked concepts are the topic of discussion. China’s crackdown, were I am assuming you mean enforcing restrictions violently and illegally on Tibetans is insignificantly related to changing the popular worldly opinion. If China killed every single Tibetan and the media framed the Tibetans as a chronic demonic epidemic then the change in popular opinion in regards to this topic would be proportional to the efforts of self-conscious honest people to report the truth. Changing popular opinion depends on boomeranging manipular communion.

A strong International WILL. BUt every country is indebted to China.

Lets face it games are just games. All a boycott would accomplish would be that our atheletes would not get a chance to prove their worth. We could just drop a couple of bombs on China and they wil leave those people alone.

hello Jack. Why is it that everyone is so upset with China, they haven’t done anything ideologically different since Mao and the comunist took control of china. Sure they have taken all the US corporations factories and american jobs. they even have tried, successfully to paint them selfs out as a new kind of friendlier communism. But the truth of the matter is they are a growing super power who has at last obtained the one thing they have needed for so many years economic strength. so why get upset over a minor instance of human right violations . Anyways no one will boycott the olympics, it generates way to much revenue for giant media and corporate giants. so set back order some chinese food from the local take out and enjoy all the steriod inhanced sporting events.

China’s crackdown on Tibet will have to effect each and every individual around the world before there will be any widespread boycotts. China holds a huge purse thanks to America for buying poisonous toys and black berets. America can’t afford to boycott the Olympics.

But here’s an idea: let’s hold our Presidential election now and put a Democrat in office (preferrably one for “change”), bring most of our Troops home now, save billions of dollars each month, and then we’ll have the economic luxury to boycott nations who injure and kill monks and nuns.

Many will disagree, but we can’t separate Olympic sports from politics: we’re all a part of the American machine. At least all of us “should” be in this together. Or is the “team” concept dead in America?

I lived in Sichuan, China for 2 years and my heart aches for the abuse of power that the local, regional, and national communist party members take against the people to further their own interests. It is starting to sound like our own politicians here! I pray that the people will eventually become educated enough to win against such abuse.

With the negative U.S. balance of trade with China, and with all the inferior products we import from them, a boycott would seem to be appropriate pay back, Jack. Let’s get the “lead out” (get it?) and just do it!

Thanks to George Bush, there is little the United States can say or do to China before they tug on our leash and remind us of their generosity.

Wow Jack, I’m so proud. This is like the first day you didn’t post a question about the democratic race where you attack Hillary Clinton!

Gee, Jack, I don’t know why my posts keep getting removed from your blogs, but will try again.

Perhaps your question should be “how long before the world sees the attacks on Tibetans for what it is - an attempt to erradicate them”. After all, look how long it took the world to wake up and see what Hitler was doing to the Jewish people. Of course America should boycott as should any country that embraces human rights and does not appove of such. But then, America wouldn’t be seen as a “leader” in a boycott since we continuously import lead-laden toys that is, in a sense, erradicating our young.

Pat in Columbus MS

I don’t really care what the rest of the world does regarding boycotting the Olympics, however, I think the U.S. should boycott the Olympics but I doubt that will happen. The athletes and any Americans planning to attend can boycott it on their own, they don”t need anyone’s permission.

What, you think that Bush would be allowed to boycott something with that much money involved? Not likely. I don’t have to know the figures to quote to know that many of our corporations, not to mention many overseas corporations, have a vested interest in the Olympics. I am sure there are many, many, many ways that money is made off of the Olympic events from commercials to underground (or above) betting.

Even without any of that the US is now tied to China in an economic sense. The worlds biggest consumer and the world’s largest producer will always be irrecovably tied to one another. What the US needs to learn is that the consumer has a power over the producer. You see this all the time in the business world. Producers normally have a large influence over the consumer, but with the right conditions the consumers can gain a measure of power over the producer as well. The US needs to create a plan to keep us economically afloat with a threat to boycott not the Olympics, but chinese goods in general. Can I figure this out? No way. Do we have people and groups that can? Yes. We need this plan, if not for now, then for a not-too-distant future. One day we will collide with China as the US declines and China continues to rise. We need to make the move while we still have the power to do so in a non-militaristic fashion.

Without a plan in place for a situation where we are leading up to a confrontation with China, or India, or any other rising nation we will be forced to resort to what we have in the past to keep power: a militaristic response. For those of you who play or understand poker the best analogy I can come up with is this: When you’re in a tournament and getting low on chips with the blinds starting to chip away a significant portion of your stack each orbit, when are you going to make a move? When your power, your chipstack, is so low that a good portion of the table can afford to call your all-in bet? Or when you still have enough power left to hurt someone who may call you and be wrong? When your actual cards still do not matter. Waiting too late to make a move on a situation in poker or any situation where power is involved is always deadly. If you wait until your power declines too much to significantly impact the other party then you are gambling that you will win when the cards fall. Making a move while you still have enough power left to damage your opponent gives you the ability to win the situation without it ever being played out. You can win just because they do not want to take the chance that if they commit their resources that they may end up winning, but be too hurt by the encounter to recover themselves. If you wait until you can’t inflict that harm on them, then the only way you can win is to actually win.

Who couldn’t see this coming? I predicted this months ago. Why did we ever agree to hold the Olympics in China. Why would we ever borrow money from China. Is Bush serious when he says the Olympics are about the athletes and not politics? That’s another fine mess you’ve gotten us into Ollie.

I will boycott the Oylmpics if China’s treatment of Tibet gets worse than Kent state or if they beat more people than the cops did at the 1968 Democrat Convention in Chicago.

Anyone remember the Moscow Olympics being canceled by Jimmy Carter? or is it just the thinking that hasn’t changed?

A heart……..

Tibet has a lot of mineral wealth. China is moving from a communist country to Capitalism. This world is run by Capitalists & there is a lot of money involved in Olympics. Tibet will be contained & Olympics will go on.

The whole world seems to be suffering from the “me” attitude. If it doesn’t affect me, I don’t care. As long as it’s only the people of Tibet who are suffering, people look the other way and continue with their own lives and desires. When China causes us harm, then our out cry will be heard around the world. Until then, we just can’t be bothered.

It would only take a complete collapse of the chinese economy. Only when the U.S. has no need for Chinese cheap labor and cheap imports will we finally stand up for the inalienable human rights that are the foundation (supposedly) of our nation. I doubt the world will do anythng unless the U.S. does.

Boycott the games? Wouldn’t it be better to actually expose the Chinese government for the treatment of the Tibetans? It seems to me that reasonable people wouldn’t go or support the games. After all, they are just games! Tibetans have peacefully tried to maintain their independent identity and have been violated by the Chinese for over 50 years. Our government has just looked the other way. Now that China owns us, do you really think the US will stand up for what is right???

Boycott China Period! Don’t buy anything made there and don’t patronize any business/corporation that puts games above human life and dignity.

Pat
Michigan

Why the Olympics are being held in a country which is dedicated to the destruction of democracy and freedom is beyond my comprehension to begin with. The whole world should refuse to attend on the grounds that Red China is has criminal government which violates the rights of its citizens daily. How did this ever happen?

The last time we did this was when Carter boycotted the Moscow Olympics. They went on anyway, and our boycott had no effect on Solviet policy, and of course they retaliated in the LA Olympics. The only losers were the US athletes who had trained for nothing. The ancient Greeks stopped wars to allow the Olympics to occur. We should follow their example, and not let the politics of the day interfere.

Well, maybe the nuclear weapons we just sent to China’s best friend Tiawan will send them a message we can always ’slip in the backdoor’. (joke)

Tibet needs to be free from the oppression of China’s authoritarian rule. But, I dont believe that we would boycott anything involved with China. If we did I would hope it would be more than just the Olympics, maybe so of your trading to…

Furthermore, in regards to my joke, I hope thats all it is. Conflict is not the anwser, diplomacy is… so lets start there first.

Jack, it would take a miracle. America & many other contries are dedicated to China because of the profit. Human rights or atrosities again human beings don’t matter as much as profit. We turn our backs on anything that doesn’t have to do with profit.

America needs to voice their concerns but stay out of the business of other countries. We have enought to worry about let alone trying to pick a fight with China. I can see Bush deciding to go to war with China over this. Actually Jack, we need to get the UN involved in this and then take a back seat and stay out of it.

Jack, I don’t think the United States can boycott the company store. We owe our souls to the company store or so I’ve heard. A better question is “Should we be borrowing money from Red China?” If they are good enough to be our banker, they’re good enough to hold the Olympics.

Let me see if I have this correct Jack. The United States occupies Afganistan and Iraq. They are holding, so called prisoners of war without a trial. They indiscriminately bomb any country they see fit , which they presume are hiding terrorists. They import billions of dollars a year in goods from China, be they good or bad. They accept China”s money when it is convienent for them so that they can go on killing. Gee Jack, sounds to me like the kettle really is “black”. God bless hippocracy.

Considering the world’s general indifference towards human rights abuse & injustice it would be nearly impossible for China to do anything to keep the world from attending, advertising and filling their homes with cheap, poorly make Chineese goods.
James
Miami, Florida

I find it interesting that Hillary realizes that we have a choice as to whom our pastor will be. Don’t we also have a choice on whom our husband will be?

Charlene

About as bad as the Dem party infighting.

I think it is bad enough, France is about to step up to the plate and stay home. Bush will never stay home as he is to dumb and owe’s China to much. I feel bad for those who have been training for years but it will have to be them to do something as Bush will never do it.

If we find out there will only be Olympic medals made of lead and not Gold, Silver or Bronze.

The world and especially the U.S. will never boycott China.
We are all addicted to their cheap labor and crap at the expense of our economy and health. Big business and our govt. keeps telling us that China is good for us and like dummys we keep listening.

One bullet fired is enough! Why are we asking Bush what he would do? He doesn’t care about human life (ie: Iraq). Aren’t we still looking for Weapons of Mass Destruction? Enough of these countries treating people as if they are sewer rats. We have to stand up! BOYCOTT!

Gary
North Carolina

The economy is in shambles and gas prices are going through the roof. So many are facing bankruptcy in this country. People are more concerned with events that can effect some change in those areas. We don’t need live coverage of the Olympics. We need lower gas prices and solutions to the economic problems this nation faces.

Tamarac, Florida

when we stop shopping at Wal-Mart

If Tibet doesn’t back down, then China will be forced to be more violent which will result in more deaths in Tibet.

How bad does China’s crackdown on Tibet have to get for the world to boycott the Olympics?
The worl, Jack??? Like who has that kind of influence anyway. Now, do you want to know about USA??? First, ask yourself, hypothetically, “What if you had a son or daughter who has been training since the end of college for a berth on TEAM USA in the marathon for4 years given one has to be 21 to run the marathon>
?? So, let’s hearwhat you would do??

Edward Bennett from Sandy, UT:

Jack,

I am not sure why the Chinese got the Olympics in the first place.

Edward Bennett

One of the main points of even having the Olympics is having a global community gather in unity and sportsmanship. That being said, how could we as a nation possibly come in to a country that treats its peaceful citizens in such a violent manner? Of course Bush says that he’ll still attend the opening ceremonies. It would look hypocritical of him to speak against the Chinese government when he himself wages wars in foreign countries, not to mention all the money our government gets from China. Need I remind anyone about the Olympics held in Berlin in the 1930’s?

Kelly
Westerville, OH

Jack,

When people come before money… I’m only 28 and sadly, I don’t see it happening in my lifetime.

Jack, I think it would take 4000 people dying…oh wait…no…that won’t stop it e