You should see the cutesey graphic Google.com has up on their front page celebrating the Peking Olympics. They should be ashamed of themselves! Haven't they blocked web sites for the ChiComs for their internet services in China?

Viva Tibet Val! Lets say it!

Ditto, it amazes me the number of people talking about the air pollution, and how the poor athletes are suffering, but completely ignore the violation of Chinese Human Rights. I blame the Olympic Committee, they are a disgrace. The legacy of Avery Brundage is alive and well.

I feel exactly the same way, Val. I will not watch the Olympics and the way the world has allowed China to whitewash its image with little more than a few pro-forma objections is shameful.

I see alot of people saying, "Don't mix politics with sports". Personally, I can't do that considering how China is using these Olympics to showcase themselves as a modern, superpower nation. They use this as their "coming out" party. If they use these Olympics for that I don't see any reason to exploit their wrongs.

What really irked me about the Chinese government is how they lied about free internet access. After promising unlimited, free access to the internet in 2001, they are now using excuses from protests around the world to shut down that free access promised 7 years earlier. Of course, this doesn't come as a surprise coming from commies! Plus they kick out CHINESE RESIDENTS they consider "dangerous" to their image. If this happened in the U.S. you know there would be mass demonstrations, and for GOOD REASONS!

I'll wait for World Cup 2010 and the Olympics in 2012. Thank God we live in a country like the good ol' U-S of A!!

100% agreed.

//THUD// Gansibele agrees with Val (and with me)?! Now I'm sure the end of the world is nigh...

I do watch.
I follow how "some" athletes place in the standings... I watch "some" of the sports, because I like to. No other reason.
I do not buy olympic caps, t shirts, ect... I have asked people wearing such gear in restaurants what they know about the human rights situation there... I ask if they saw the people's houses being bulldozed without compensation to make way for olympic installations... I ask sometimes embarrassing questions, that sometimes end in cold glares... well I guess that's my point isn't it. Trying to make people think.
Often, the people I meet have expressed grave reservations regarding these olympics.

But at every step, I never miss an opportunity to ask chinese friends how the olympic team from Tibet is doing this year?
I mention that the killing of Falun Gong supporters seems to be catching on in China as mere sport. I get cold stares, I see evil. And I do not "shut up" regarding this.
I ask local media types if they think that human rights in China will improve... and then ask for reasons for their baseless opinions.

and I do think, that after the olympics, the situation in China will be worse. Not better.
and I do think, that people I have engaged in conversation regarding this, will be better off knowing that there are other opinions from the usual they are exposed to in the msm.

although they are a little bit offended to have met me sometimes.
I'm quite ok with that.

Next time you're in a McDonalds, ask for an Olympic Team Tibet doll.
... makes the kids think.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7550802.stm

Yes I have hope, that others will protest in like manner.

nota, In the attached photo, the Tibetan flag that these 2 were attempting to unfurl was hidden under a canadian flag... so there's hope for us yet?

really, I do not think that being quiet, is the appropriate response.
I think the opposite, that the chinese hate to lose face, to be publicly humiliated.