I can't see why anyone is surprised at this. I mean, why travel all the way to China to protest and get thrown in jail when there's an Olympic torch coming to a town near you? I'd expect this scene to be repeated ad nauseum all over the world for the next few months. Between actual Free-Tibeters and generic angry contrarians who'd protest air if they got the chance, the torch relay is going to turn into a worldwide protest tour.

Hey! Spud already posted a blog entry on this one!

Not from the Sports section but the crime section of the Guardian UK, btw.

Alrighty then. Spud'll just C&P his opening post there over here.

FTFA: Police say they have made around 35 arrests along the 31 mile route.

China's brutal repression of the Tibetan people since their illegal invasion/ occupation of that country began is a serious breach of human rights. China's attempts to hold an Olympics was too much too soon. Spud's already decided to Boycott the China Olympics and hopes other people decide to turn their backs on the event.

Alas, while many people many obviously feel this way, the only government with the guts to back up their convictions here are, oddly enuff, the Germans under Angela Merckel.

Good on them sez Spud.

Fuck the Chi-Com bitches.

Free Tibet.

Boycott the Olympics.

Hope someone eventually puts the torch out in one of the countries it travels to.

Be Well.

/I'd expect this scene to be repeated ad nauseum all over the world for the next few months.
//We can but hope.

SEE YOU BASTARDS IN SAN FRANSISCO!

Oh YEAH!!! Let the games begin!!!

Let the Revolution begin!!! This Olympics is going to get nasty...between the Uyhgurs, Tibetians and 90% of the Chinese pissed off masses!!

to

He should have doused himself with gasoline, grabbed the torch, and set himself on fire. That would have been cool.

I agree with Spud, and I am right wing. Boycott those bitches, it looks terrible to support anything that country does. All they do is threaten whoever they need to to gain whatever they want. Tibet, Tawain, US.

And all the Chinese Spying as well. And Bush wants to go watch.

Bush is an idiot. Damn hes stupid.

Kuma

The entire worls should boycott these Olympics. China is a repressive dictatorship which executes citizens on a whim. We should not even be dealing with these people but hey, I'm a liberal complaining about our relationship with a Communist dictatorship while conservatives preach the mantra of "free trade" with a country that doesn't practice "free trade."

Let me get this straight. The atheletes, who have devoted thier whole life to this mission should boycott the olympics because the host country has a 'repressive dictatorship' and has illegally invaded Tibet.

What about the repressive dictatorship we live in now in the US, who has illegally invaded Iraq and Aphganistan? What should we do about that? I know, let's all boycott using petroleum products. Can't do that can you, because it is inconvenient.

Let the atheletes perform. It's the only thing left that is not tainted and now you want to taint it too with your political tunnel-vision. Grow up and get a job!!!!!

I agree with Lipzoidial.
It is not fair to punish the athletes because of the location of the Olympics.
They have spent their whole life training for this and may not get another chance.

It's about ethics, not the need of an athlete.
It's about basic human dignity for life.

Every athlete should boycott.
So what if they don't get a chance. Those people murdered in Tibet had every right to live too.

The Olympics have nothing to with politics.
Why punish the athletes for the wrongs done in Tibet. The 2 are not related.

So, all you "boycott China" folk, I can only assume that you are not buying any products produced in China, right? Not one. Not any at all.

I can only assume that if you are serious about the boycott China line, then you must also be boycotting a vast variety of American businesses that sell products produced in China, or sell products that include pieces and parts from China, right?

Following the logic path, you must then "boycott" the US Government, which has been borrowing a couple billion a day from China just to keep the US from sinking.

The Olympics have nothing to with politics.
Why punish the athletes for the wrongs done in Tibet. The 2 are not related.



Then why punish the people of Cuba with a boycott?

Or is one brutal communist regime worse than another?

I hope these douchebags fucking with the relayers get the torch extinguished on their faces like a cigarette butt in an ashtray.

"The Olympics have nothing to with politics."


I disagree completely. The Olympics have always been used to highlight the countries that they are being held in. They are a time for the global community to become more aware of different countries, and this includes the bad side of these contries. The Olympics can't help but be political. Why else would we have boycotted any of them, ever, if not for political reasons?

I hope these douchebags fucking with the relayers get the torch extinguished on their faces like a cigarette butt in an ashtray.



Posted by 101Chairborne


How ironically Chinese of you Chair!

It amazes me that some who supported the invasion of Iraq because of the evil Saddam Hussein don't have the same level of anger for the leaders of China. I guess if American Corporations can make enough money in China it erases the horrors of the brutal Chinese dictatorship.
How many do they execute per year....too many....they keep it a secret.

China didn't violate a cease fire agreement and UN resolution dozens of times.

Hey! Spud already posted a blog entry on this one!

Posted by dethspud at 2008-04-06 05:24 PM | Reply | Flag:

In the hope that this will resonate with you!

Go fuck yourself.

Sincerely,

RCADE

"China didn't violate a cease fire agreement and UN resolution dozens of times."

Cuz China sits on the Security Council and can veto anything they want at the UN. I can't believe my eyes when I read posts from righties defending Communist China. American politics have been altered significantly by the corporate influence in the Republican Party. BArry Goldwater would never have defended them.

hey everyone it's ok there are no more communists Reagun whipped em but good! We are all scared of terrists now. Please stay on message communists defeated terrists scary. That is all.

PS: We are not scheduled to fear communists again until 2037.

Cuz China sits on the Security Council and can veto anything they want at the UN. I can't believe my eyes when I read posts from righties defending Communist China

~Danni

That cuz most folks on the right are cowardly cretins who worship at the altar of raw power. They don't particularily care who's power it is and they certainly don't make morality a consideration cos in their poor excuses fer minds that makes them weak.

China lends the US money to make war on folks who were no threat to the US? They must be alright, then!

They got no clue as to how this is gonna play out in the long run.

None wotsoever.

Be Well.

How ironically Chinese of you Chair!

Posted by Manypaths at 2008-04-07 11:50 AM | Reply


Fuck China. I just want the dude carrying the torch to fuck up any protester that gets in his/her grill.

The Olympics have nothing to with politics."


I disagree completely. The Olympics have always been used to highlight the countries that they are being held in. They are a time for the global community to become more aware of different countries, and this includes the bad side of these contries. The Olympics can't help but be political. Why else would we have boycotted any of them, ever, if not for political reasons?

Posted by everlong at 2008-04-07 11:44 AM | Reply |

My comment should have been:
The Olympics SHOULD have nothing to with politics.

I still do not think the athletes should be punished because of where the Olympics are being held.

I just want the dude carrying the torch to fuck up any protester that gets in his/her grill.

Posted by 101Chairborne

Which means you are exactly like China. You want to squelch protest with violence, just like Communist China or any good dictator does.

Which means you are exactly like China. You want to squelch protest with violence, just like Communist China or any good dictator does.

Posted by TFDNihilist at 2008-04-07 01:56 PM | Reply |


No stupid, it means I want the person carrying the torch to fuck up any loser that tries to take it from him.
If you're walking down the street and I take your fanny pack (because you're gay) would I be a protester?

I would like to say that anyone who attacks the person carrying the torch should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. These are the left-wing nut jobs of the world who can't see that they are doing the same thing they are protesting. Violence.

This Olympics should be "BOYCOTTED", the Civil Rights and Human dignity of the people of Tibet cannot go un-noticed. The idea that these Athletes have worked for years for this one chance is a JOKE.

These are not Amateurs, these are Professionals looking for another large payday. There are a few sports that are truly Amateur driven but the major Sports are not. Track an Field, Gymnastics, Swimming, Basketball all of the major Sports the Players are getting Paid!!! They get paid depending on where they are placed in the competition, either by there own Federations or States.

Go on Vacation FUCK the Olympics, America stands for something, Jimmy Carter as President Boycotted the Olympics in Moscow in 1980, an within 10 years the Wall had come down. Was that the only reason, of course not but did it make the world pay attention to the War policies of the Soviet Union....They lost some of there luster...

These are the left-wing nut jobs of the world who can't see that they are doing the same thing they are protesting. Violence.


Posted by everlong


I can only hope that one day you and people like you learn the difference between extiguishing a ceremonial flame and wounding and killing fellow human beings because of differences!!!

Man, you are a dickwad.........EverLong DickWad

I can only hope that one day you and people like you learn the difference between extiguishing a ceremonial flame and wounding and killing fellow human beings because of differences!!!

Posted by Manypaths at 2008-04-07 02:40 PM | Reply


I'd extinguish that ceremonial flame on their vaginas!

Fuck Tibet. I don't even know where it is or who the people are but I hate them!

You just proved the ignorance of your arguments by connecting Carter boycotting the Moscow olympics with the Berlin Wall coming down. Carter's foriegn policy had zero to do with the Berlin Wall coming down, or anything else for that matter.

So what if the atheletes are professionals, does it hurt a capitalist such as yourself that someone wants to make money from their talents?

If you want to boycott something Chinese, boycott the product that keeps them economically viable, their money market and the product of their industry. Boycott accepting thousands of Chinese immigrants into this country every year. But you, like most americans, won't do that because it is inconvenient and counterintuitive.

I don't even know where it is or who the people are but I hate them!

Posted by 101Chairborne


Their skin is SLIGHTLY lighter than those found in the Middle East Chair.

Care to reconsider?

Fuck Tibet. I don't even know where it is or who the people are but I hate them!

~Airhead

Way to suck up to yer new ChiCom overlords, Airhead.

Maybe yer liver will be kept off the market when they take over. Fer a while anyway. How are yer kowtow lessons going you cowardly sack of shit?

Yer such a bitch.

Be Well.

Care to reconsider?

Posted by Manypaths at 2008-04-07 02:47 PM | Reply

It all depends. Do they have slanty eyes?

I don't even know where it is or who the people are but I hate them!

Posted by 101Chairborne

Ah, American pride.

Fuck Tibet. I don't even know where it is or who the people are but I hate them!
Posted by 101Chairborne at 2008-04-07 02:42 PM

LOL!!! Funny Flag. Not for the sentiment, but for the way it was put.

Fuck the torch.

It's Nazi shit yo.

Hate to Godwin, but sometimes it's appropriate.

It all depends. Do they have slanty eyes?

Posted by 101Chairborne


Only when watching porn on 15 inch monitors, but hey, who doesn't?

LOL!!! Funny Flag. Not for the sentiment, but for the way it was put.

Posted by Hagbard_Celine


And again I say:

WELCOME!!!

Excuse me, manywrongpaths, but you obviously think it's okay to attack a guy or girl because they happen to be carrying a symbol. You are the same type of person who thinks it's okay to attack people wearing fur and such.

The fact of the matter is these left-wing nut jobs, who think just like you, assulted the person carrying the torch. But, you think it's okay because of the mesage they were sending. Like I said, they were being violent and they are somehow supposed to be against violence?

you obviously think it's okay to attack a guy or girl because they happen to be carrying a symbol.

~Everwrong

Nobody attacked the torch bearers they merely tried to either A) Put out the Torch or B) Grab the Torch.

Then they got beaten up themselves which Spud assumes yer perfectly okay with.

When you speak, Everwrong, can you actually taste the FAIL?

Spud always wondered.

Be Well.

/Back from lunch. A yummy salmon salad thanx fer askin'.

"LIPZODIAL"..Listen hear Genius, any objective reporters from across the pond admitted that the American Boycott of the Moscow Olympics did indeed hurt the Russians effort, and the Americans boycott did hurt them economically. As I said it was not clearly the ony reason but it help bring the Russian system in question. I didn't just say that those who were there said that, so FUCK OFF!!!!!

FUCK OFF!!!!!

Posted by celisary at 2008-04-07 03:46 PM | Reply |


Say something else that's crazy!

Spud, you are, without question, the most immature loser on this board. Between your 'fail' nonsense and your 3rd person writing your stupidity shows thru brightly.

And yes, they deserved to have the shit beat out of them. Look at any self-defense law and also look at the definition of assault and you will see that both of these occured in this situation. If someone poured water on my head while I was jogging on a public street, you're damn right someone else is within their rights to pummel that person in protecting me from being assaulted.

"If someone poured water on my head while I was jogging on a public street, you're damn right someone else is within their rights to pummel that person ..."

While certainly an understandable reaction, you would be incorrect in assuming you would be within your legal rights. Under the law your reaction must be proportional to the initial action.

Which bearer got attacked dip shit?



Who had physical harm done to them?

Again,

I can only hope that one day you and people like you learn the difference between extiguishing a ceremonial flame and wounding and killing fellow human beings because of differences!!!

Oh, and:

Man, you are a dickwad.........

If someone poured water on my head while I was jogging on a public street, you're damn right someone else is within their rights to pummel that person in protecting me from being assaulted.


Well DickWad, THAT didn't happen.

Manypaths, look up the definition of assault so you can stop sounding like an idiot.

Many,
Did you see the t-shirt link?
I'm going to get me one of those and see if some dirty long hairs take offense...

Some demonstrators threw themselves at the torch, and at least one tried to snatch it away during the 48-kilometer (31-mile) relay. Another tried to put out the flame with a fire extinguisher.


Now, fist tell me how this isn't assault? Secondly, in response to an equal reaction, I guarantee you that any court would see how a person could be in fear for their own safety in this situation and a reaction of self-defense would be warranted.

What are you so thrilled about anyway, manypaths? Why are you so protective of those who would use physicality against an athelete, not to mention the one relayer who was in a wheelchair? Why are you so interested in seeing these people attacked?

And excuse me for using an example of water being poured when in fact it was a fire extinuisher being sprayed.

Just a few short years ago the right would have been angrier than the left that we are participating in an Olympics in Beijing. Unfortunately for the Chinese their government is still as repressive as it was then, as we see of late in Tibet. It does appear that the welfare of American corporations influences many on the right who somehow think they are standing for principle when they stand with the corporations who stand with the Chinese government. As they say, politics makes strange bed fellows.

Nixon's Fault(tm)

also:

the only government with the guts to back up their convictions here are, oddly enuff, the Germans under Angela Merckel.

Posted by dethspud at 2008-04-06 05:24 PM

What's so odd about that? They also back up their convictions vis a vis Scientologists, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Another tried to put out the flame with a fire extinguisher.


Could you please point out exactly where you THINK this happened?

"Numerous protesters, some armed with fire extinguishers, were taken away by police"

Nobody attempted to spray anyone with a fire extiguisher.

You should really quit lying about it......I don't care how good it makes you feel. Lying is wrong and makes you look stupid.

And yes, they deserved to have the shit beat out of them

~Everwrong

You are SUCH a fascist fuckstain.

Be Well.

If you're walking down the street and I take your fanny pack (because you're gay) would I be a protester?

Posted by 101Chairborne at 2008-04-07 02:05 PM

No Chairpoodle, you would be adding to your fanny pack collection.

Nice Gaydar, Bitch.

"Protesting is Wrong.

War is Right."

- Everlong

I guess I will never understand the stupidity of such a mindset...........I can live with that.

And yes, they deserved to have the shit beat out of them

~Everwrong

You are SUCH a fascist fuckstain.

Be Well.

Posted by dethspud at 2008-04-07 05:58 PM | Reply

COUGHCOUGHCOUGHCOUGHCOUGHCOUGH
COUGHCOUGHCOUGHCOUGHCOUGHCOUGH
COUGHCOUGHFUNNYTHISCOUGHCOUGHC
OUGHCOUGHCOUGHCOUGHCOUGHCOUGHC
OUGH

It is an assault, plain and simple and in Spud's rarely humble opinion it justifies almost any kind of response up to and including violence.

Having his church taken away from him is certainly a nice start here anyway.

Spud sincerely hopes his bus full of losers gets stalled on some railroad tracks at just the right moment.

That would be funny! ^_^

Be Well.

Posted by dethspud at 2008-04-06 09:20 PM | Reply


You are SUCH a fASCIST &*^^^(&&((^^

Larry Mohr

Could you please point out exactly where you THINK this happened?

"Numerous protesters, some armed with fire extinguishers, were taken away by police"

Nobody attempted to spray anyone with a fire extiguisher.

You should really quit lying about it......I don't care how good it makes you feel. Lying is wrong and makes you look stupid.


I coied and pasted it right out of the article. Following are the exact words right out of the article.

Another tried to put out the flame with a fire extinguisher.

Now, either you can't read or you're just a flat out dumbass. Well, I already know you're a dumbass.

This could start WWIII... the only thing keeping China at bay thus far is their need to rehab their world image in order to garner more orders from WalMart and Dell. If the wheels fall off the Summer Olympics wagon, we could be in for a major Chinese temper tantrum.

Try reading the article again, manywrongroads. I have no reason to lie or to make something up. I never do that for the purpose of making my point. You have done nothing but call names and defend the actions of those who were NOT protesting peacfully. I support, fully, the rights of anyone to protest, but if they touch another person in the process, whether it be with their hand or if they throw something or spray an extinguisher at them, then have forfeitted their rights as a protestor and then become a criminal and should be treated as such.

I'll post it again for you. This is copied straight from the article.

Some demonstrators threw themselves at the torch, and at least one tried to snatch it away during the 48-kilometer (31-mile) relay. Another tried to put out the flame with a fire extinguisher.


THREW themselves at the torch, at least one tried to SNATCH it away, another tried to PUT OUT the flame. These brave protestors even accosted a woman in a wheelchair who was carrying the torch. Now, what part of of this is not physical? Like I said, protest all you want and I'm all for it, but the second you use your body in a forceful manner towards another person you deserve to be pummled and should expect no less.

So, manyerrors, why don't you go find a lady in a wheel chair to beat up on. It sounds as if you advocate that type of behavior.

The Olympics are supposed to be about everyone - including the bad people - finding common ground through athletic competition. People who buy Chinese made goods every day pick this opportunity to protest? Seems more like attention seeking behavior than honest outrage.

Personally I find the protests hilarious, with San Francisco promising to be an absolute blast to watch. These people actually think that China gives a shit about what citizens of any country think about their foreign policy...

"""I agree with Spud, and I am right wing. Boycott those bitches, it looks terrible to support anything that country does. All they do is threaten whoever they need to to gain whatever they want. Tibet, Tawain, US."""

Don't boycott, you mostly penalize the athletes. If you really want to do them in, protest at the official ceremonies, each time they give a medal, opening closing, etc...wear a swatch with the saffron color or whatever...hard to contain and difficult to suppress in the media.

Guess what a peaceful protest with no arrests gets you.......NO WHERE, change has only followed people getting hosed, dogged, beat and arrested. Change is a chaotic and crazy thing.

Colonial Americans never should have dumped that tea in the harbor, that was against the law. Attacking the British troops was assault.
--any number of rightwing asshats

Although I do agree with the concept of boycotting Chinese made goods. But it's hard to even find non-Chinese made stuff. And they do make a good cheap Ukulele.

The thing is... Tibet is no better or worse off then any other part of China. Yes, China invaded Tibet. Then Tibet invaded surrounding territories. Then some monks did some stuff. Then the Mongols did stuff. Then Tibet did more stuff and asked China for help with someother stuff. Then more war happened. And the Tibetan government in charge at the time WHICH DID NOT CARE WHAT THEIR PEOPLE WANTED, finally lost and had to scat to India. And now Tibet, (which has had pretty much only improvements in infrastructure since then according to those Tibetans I've spoken with) is part of China.

And it's no better or worse there then any other part of China. As it was under the government there before. The people there don't really care one way or the other.

Most people have no idea WTF is going on over there at all. They just know the Dalai Lama says so, and he can _never_ be wrong. Doesn't matter that the people there suffered under the old rule more then they do now. Or that the people there now are as content as your average Chinese. EVERY area of China was once independent. Now they aren't. So? Worry about China's human rights issues at large, not about what some power-hungry and burned Buddhists want.

The whole Free Tibet movement is just as pointless as the Free South (USA) one. The wound is just more recent. All this Tibet junk is muddling the real issues.

SO-
You wouldn't be Chinese, would you?

Oh and yes, they should leave the Torch alone. That's supposed to be a symbol of unity and... stuff. Did anyone stop to think that being NICE to China, instead of damning them, might be a way to effect change just as efficiently as bombing them would be? It helps to pursue all avenues, not just one or two. The Olympics location is a heck of an olive branch.

Wait a sec. We're "bombing" China, or even discussing it?

WTF, O?

S

While certainly an understandable reaction, you would be incorrect in assuming you would be within your legal rights. Under the law your reaction must be proportional to the initial action.

Posted by SanAntonioRogue

since we are talking reciprocal.. how about if i hold them down with my foot on their throat and urinate on their face?

As for protesters.. fine to protest just like in grade school keep your hands to yourself.

For the record china blows. That is one country that we will be at war within 50 years.

"Did anyone stop to think that being NICE to China"

obviously you have no concept of hegemony.


Being "nice" is what obama is doing to obtain the brass ring and fool the white masses that he "cares"

Bullshit, Gottruth, change happens all the time all around us without violence. I agree that some changes that are made or will be made in the future will take a little violence to help them along but it's not in every case. The only reason you brought up being hosed was obviously MLK and it will never be known just how far he brought the process along by acting like he did. If it were just Malcom X and the Black Panthers, MANY more black people would have died and civil rights may have taken a lot longer to be fulfilled. People in this country have a tendency of not liking to be forced into something whether it be thru violence or whatever.

Also, fine if you want to protest with physical violence, just be ready to pay the price for it and don't bitch and cry when it happens.

Hey, check out the dumb fuck!.........

"What about the repressive dictatorship we live in now in the US, who has illegally invaded Iraq and Aphganistan?"
Posted by Lipzoidial at 2008-04-07 09:04 AM


NICE !

illegal invasion of Afghanistan, huh??
know anybody that was executed on 9-11?
I guess not!
how bout the invasion of Normandy? illegal?
how bout the bombing of Dunkirk? Illegal?
Your parents must have hurt you real bad emotionally or otherwise to make you such a self-hater! you're so hateful and distrustful of acts of self defense and self preservation. I bet you don't shower often, or wash your clothes, at all, really.
probably hate everything that is conventionally considered "normal" and "nice" right?