I support the protest of the olympic torch processions

[creekster]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

Does it look like I care?

I'm supposed to weigh an athlete's feelings against murder, torture, imprisonment, communism, totalitarianism, fascism.

They say "sports transcends politics." But what that means is money (sports) trumps human rights (politics).

God, I hate the idea of being more concerned about selfish athletes than people who are dying under oppression.

First, the only reason there is any leverage on this issue is due to the decision of the Olympic committee, not due to an American policy.

Second, the athletes are only there becasue the olympics are there. They have no choice.

Third, nothing about the olympics equates with, causes or leads to murder, suppression or the other horribles that CHina is committing. In fact, if anything, having the Olympics there is only likely to help open them up more. The Olympics will go forward, with or without the american athlete.

Punishing the athletes for china and the olympic committee's transgressions doesn't make much sense to me. Do you think the 1980 boycott was effective?