Olympic Protests

[Donkey®]

Tibet protesters scale Golden Gate bridge - CNN.com



So there have been many protests all over the globe regarding China and it's Olympics. I have no problem with protests...people are free to protest whatever they want. My problem is when people use something like...the Olympics...to crawl out of the woodwork and show their disdain for something. Would people be scaling the bridge if the Olympics weren't happening? Sure, China has some questionable issues, but why not wait until the Olympics passes before disrupting shit? I think people need to realize this is an event that people train all their lives to participate in. All they are doing is shitting on their hard work and dedication. Not to just single out the Olympics...but there are other events...G8 is one...where people think they should get out and protest. The problem is, these issues don't go away. Why not protest constantly instead of once every 4 years? If you REALLY dislike something, you would be out there trying to do something about it constantly...not just when there is more visibility.

[motivez]

So long as China is using the Olympics to bolster their world image, I think the protests are fine

And how do you know (or why do you assume) these people aren't out there protesting or whatever about Tibet all the time?

There's plenty of activity about that all over, personally I think it's smart to use an event that will get your cause more visibility.

[Phantom]

Putting out the olympic torch gets you on CNN and all over the world

marching with a few signs and bullhorns might get you in the local paper if you are lucky

[kinggovernor]

I agree with you completely, but for some reason people of all ideological backings use the Olympics to further their political message.

[Donkey®]

Originally Posted by motivez

So long as China is using the Olympics to bolster their world image, I think the protests are fine

And how do you know (or why do you assume) these people aren't out there protesting or whatever about Tibet all the time?

There's plenty of activity about that all over, personally I think it's smart to use an event that will get your cause more visibility.

I haven't seen many people scaling the Golden Gate Bridge in protest. It could be a case where the media didn't report it...but quite unlikely.

I don't really agree either that people host the Olympics to "boost their image." Maybe it provides a boost in tourism...but I dunno. Almost every country has something in it's history that's questionable. I don't see protests out the ass over Australia's treatment of the aboriginies...or our treatment of slaves...or our activity in Iraq...

I don't see China's activity in Tibet much different than the Israeli activity in Lebanon or Gaza. But anytime someone says anything ill about their activities it's "what do you expect them to do, they are being shot at." Well, the people in Tibet aren't sitting on their hands either. Their protests get out of hand from time to time. China does what it needs to do. Double standard?

[Fed Up]

It seems this theme of "One World, One Dream, Free Tibet" is fueled by students across the globe. They actually put something on the Great Wall of China: The World from Berlin: One World, One Dream, One Big Human Rights Problem - International - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News

What they will do when the torch comes to San Francisco, will be interesting to watch. Many of the torch carriers are people who have either been inflicted with illness or helped make a difference in their communities: See Who Will Be Carrying The Torch In San Francisco - News Story - KNTV | San Francisco

It would be a failure for this group to disrupt or attack any of these people.

Fed Up

[kinggovernor]

Originally Posted by Donkey®

I haven't seen many people scaling the Golden Gate Bridge in protest. It could be a case where the media didn't report it...but quite unlikely.

Tibet protesters scale Golden Gate bridge - CNN.com
it is happening.

[7960]

I find it ironic that people march for "free tibet" while americans in their own city are starving.

It used to just be soccer moms with too much time on their hands. Now it's professional protesters who travel from city to city, issue to issue, rallying people to protest whatever's happening at that time.

I swear every time I see a "free tibet" bumper sticker I want to go ask "how many hours have you spent in your local soup kitchen?"

[Donkey®]

Originally Posted by kinggovernor

Tibet protesters scale Golden Gate bridge - CNN.com
it is happening.

No, I am talking about outside the scope of the Olympics.

[motivez]

Originally Posted by 7960

I swear every time I see a "free tibet" bumper sticker I want to go ask "how many hours have you spent in your local soup kitchen?"

Is someone not allowed to be politically active about an issue elsewhere in the world unless they've also volunteered for something locally?

That doesn't make much sense to me.

[7960]

Originally Posted by motivez

Is someone not allowed to be politically active about an issue elsewhere in the world unless they've also volunteered for something locally?

of course they're allowed to.

just like I'm allowed to think they're most likely "involved" with it because it doesn't require actually doing anything but having a bumper sticker on their car and maybe writing a letter to the congressman.

[kinggovernor]

Originally Posted by Donkey®

No, I am talking about outside the scope of the Olympics.

do you mean scaling the Golden Gate bridge for other issues?

If so I agree with you.

[Donkey®]

Originally Posted by kinggovernor

do you mean scaling the Golden Gate bridge for other issues?

If so I agree with you.

Even for the Tibet issue. They wouldn't be scaling the bridge if not riding the wave of anti China olympic protesting. Were they scaling the bridge before this? I hadn't seen it.

[kinggovernor]

Originally Posted by Donkey®

Even for the Tibet issue. They wouldn't be scaling the bridge if not riding the wave of anti China olympic protesting. Were they scaling the bridge before this? I hadn't seen it.

its selective protesting, but that is how protesting works. They have to aim for what gets them the most media coverage, and fucking with the Olympic torch certainly will.

[nbiggershaft]

Originally Posted by kinggovernor

I agree with you completely, but for some reason people of all ideological backings use the Olympics to further their political message.

The Olympics are largely political and are an excellent forum for protests and political discussions. I don't see the problem.