I was watching the news tonight and China has issued an etiquette protocol on how Beijingers are supposed to behave. No sex, no indulgences, no driving on certain days, always being polite, learning compulsory english phrases... I thought the olympics were about authenticity?

As for the above post... I'm tempted to boycott as well, just for the freedom of speech thing alone. I'm disappointed the the Olympics were awarded to a country where the Olympic spirit hardly persists.

what's the point of boycotting the olympics when everything you buy in north america comes from china anyway? just saying.

i kinda want to watch the opening ceremonies....but i'll do so guiltily...if that's a word...

I don't buy Chinese products.

What's sad about this whole thing is that the Olympics is supposed to bring the world together. I think it's unfortunate that what should be a beautiful event is being marred by these issues.

I'm not saying I disagree with the issues brought up. I just find it sad.

Beijing should not have been chosen for the site.

How do you know that you do not buy anything from China? Do you inspect everything? Do you know the origin of every part of everything that you buy?

When the Olympics come back to America, would you be upset if there were a bunch of people boycotting the Olympics here in America because they were upset about the way that we run our country? Sorry but I just dont see the point in boycotting the Olympics.

That doesnt mean that I agree with everything that goes on in that country, because I dont with anything that was posted.

I knew people would challenge that statement.

I do inspect everything, and I don't buy much so actually I do know the origin of every part of everything I buy. I can't imagine you wouldn't. And I don't shop at Walmart or other cruddy stores like that which prey upon materialistic Americans.

If the Olympics came to the US I would support other countries and individuals if they boycotted the Games.

Speaking of boycotting the US, did you ever get that 9/11 picture from your relative, star?

Boycott the games cause it is gonna interrupt days of our lives

i just hope no one gets hurt. i'm not really interested in the games but i hope nothing bad happens. it's a scary world we're living in.

You have to have a large purse to fit a social conscience in it.

Edit to add: I'm not saying I have a large purse, just that I don't buy alot of stuff.

Well, I remember that she had a pic of the Pentagon disaster as it was occurring and no one anywhere has a pic of that so if she did have it, it would be extremely significant to many people.

I meant that I would support boycott of the games if they were in the US because of the way US has treated people all over the world, including it's own civilians which lead me to think about 9/11 which led me to think about your aunt's photo. Whew!

Yes. And I will in 2010 also when it will be on stolen land. My politics wouldn't allow me to take any other stand.

and here, an exert

"August 8th is the beginning day of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. We propose that it be a day of simultaneous action and rebellion wherever this message reaches. Instead of passively spectating the Olympics, let's play our own game: the game of attacking international power structures.

The Olympics are a multi-national spectacle that catalyze in their "host nations" break-neck industrial development, gentrification and tourist development, massive increase in police/security operations, and the "social cleansing" of undesirables. After the stage has been set by the forces of the State and developers, international capital in the form of tourism, corporate sponsorship and privatization validates the whole repressive affair and further colonizes whatever venue has been picked. The Games promote a false internationalism that thinly veils the consolidation of power by national governments and multinational corporations.
[And against the spectacle we -dance-]

The 2008 Olympics are being hosted by China, one of the most repressive countries in the world. The Party wants to hold on to power, and they are doing so. The liberals of the First World make a show of being aghast at the government's "human rights" violations, but see the industrialization of China as what it is: the project of Capitalism. The Communist Party government is the muscle that suppresses the daily rebellions against industrialization throughout the country (and censors communication about these rebellions), in addition to perpetrating the bloody "pacification" of the Tibetan independence uprisings. This is the reality in China, and it is one that suits both Capital and the State. In solidarity with this situation, we propose attack on the corporations that fund the Olympic repression in China.

Potential targets:
McDonalds
Coca Cola
Volkswagon
(and other sponsors)

San Jose Airport (where athletes from the United States will be flying from)
Olympics headquarters, offices, and stores
Government centers, police stations, etc.

We don't delude ourselves that we'll be able to shut down the 2008 Olympics at this late hour. But we can choose to act in solidarity with the rebels of China, contribute to the momentum of resistance to the Olympics, and try to create something of what we ultimately want to see: simultaneous rebellion against governments and capitalism everywhere. The anarchist resistance against the Olympics has manifested in 2004 Athens, 2006 Torino, and pre-emptively against 2010 Vancouver (on stolen indigenous land). Let's not let the 2008 Beijing Olympics happen unscathed.

Feel free to start early, and continue attacking throughout the Beijing Olympics (the circus runs until the 24th)--and then it's on to the 2010 Olympics (which also has many sponsors)!
Riot now! Riot everywhere!"

Though this is not the right audience, but whatever.

I hate people.

Most of them.

Of course you do, Birchie. That’s why you made a career out of helping the people the rest of society looks down their noses at. Come on.. Admit it… YOU CARE!! That’s why you are here. To help people.
You have saved so many people on this forum (including myself) on very touchy subjects by putting things into perspective.
True: I don’t get the same fuzzy-bunny feeling when I see that you replied to a post (that feeling is reserved for Homer), but I still don’t consider you as ehealth’s ‘ray of sunshine’ (that feeling is reserved for Darkmoon). But you’re a good, caring person – and don’t give me the ‘there’s a difference between caring and loving’ speech. It won’t work on me.
But I still adore and admire you, you old Ice Queen!

Ha ha! Thanks Beline!

(I like fuzzy bunnies.)

Me too. They go particularly well with a garlic/mushroom sauce.

Oh...

oh no.

You didn't.