I am sure that many Americans are celebrating (along with me) that Phelps has broken the gold medal record at the Olympics and won 8 golds in one games. This is truly an amazing event and something that has never happened before and may never happen again in our lifetimes. I was reading an article about it on Sports Illustrated and Phelps said this "Nothing is impossible." Of course that is a powerful statement, but to me this seems like the time where it really applies, not just to US swimming but to politics as well. Read More »
Reinstate the visas of all athlete's, or CANCEL the 2008 Olympic Games due to prohibited political intervention by the host nation.
China was warned to not interfere with the games. Yet, they restricted the freedom of the international press, until they were given a final ultimatum by the IOC.
Now, China is revoking visas of any athlete who has any outspoken political views on Civil Rights, either in China, or their allies in the Sudan.
Again and again and again we forget the lessons that were taught to us by the greatest examples: Ghandi, Jesus, Mother Teresa.
Everything good or evil begins with the power of one. Ghandi, a small man in a loin cloth brought down the British Empire.
We each have the power within us. Great leaders are those who by example can awaken the realization of that power of one in others.
I smile at all the hoopla about insisting that Bush and other world leaders boycott the Olympic Games. Will that stop the games? No. Will that stop the millions of people from all over the world going to China to spend money for the event? No.
No world leader has that kind of power. The only people with that power are the athletes themselves and the fans. But are they willing to make that sacrifice? Are they willing to give up their dreams for the glory of a gold medal to make the world a little bit better? Are fans willing to stay home?
These are the people with the power, not world leaders.
Castor: "I've arranged for the trial to take place in the courts."
Claudius: "I don't think that's such a good idea."
Castor: "Better to try him in the courts than in the Senate by my father."
Claudius: "In the courts, your father can manipulate things behind the scenes. In the Senate, it's all on display."
Claudius' wisdom might hold true here as well. Read More »
once again several days late and several dollars short, barack obama is now (yes, only now) calling for a boycott in beijing. hillary clinton had already called for the boycott, as most of you know. and the pattern continues......
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gFoMtSF-HqsXYoZqN41MK-mHtKPAD8VUNO1G0
she's on this morning, i am not sure when. she'll be talking about her call to boycott the opening ceremonies for the china olympics and recent changes in the campaign. turn on abc right now!!
i say hell to the yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! no, you cannot deny tibet!! no, you cannot send your poison products here!!!! no, you cannot refuse to let people observe easter!!! no, you cannot continue the genocide in darfur!!!! f china!!! and the truck she rode in on!!!
i think the united states should refuse to participate in these olympics. good for steven spielberg for backing out.
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=3052&art_id=nw20080214101603319C658500
Meet Mr. Hu Jia.
Mr. Hu is an average citizen of the "Peoples Republic of" China. He and his wife Zeng Jinyan live in an apartment with their beautiful newborn daughter, Qianci. Like many people of the world, Mr. Hu blogs on the internet and uses modern telecommunications tools such as Skype. Unfortunately, in the "Peoples Republic of" China, he is not free to do so without the risk of harassment and arrest from his government.
Read the rest at: Wide Awake In Hoserland
"Amnesty International Charges that China's Important Reforms are Marred by Increasing Repression"
Despite significant reforms to the death penalty system and new rules for foreign journalists in China, there is little evidence of improvement in other areas of human rights related to the Olympics. In fact, there has been increasing repression of human rights activism and domestic journalism, said Amnesty International today.
In its latest briefing, "People's Republic of China: The Olympics Countdown - Repression of Activists Overshadows Death Penalty and Media Reforms," Amnesty International assesses China's continued progress towards
its promised human rights improvements ahead of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. The organization found that the Olympics is apparently acting as a catalyst to extend the use of detention without trial, at least in Beijing.
"The new extra layer of judicial review for death sentences and the relaxation of restrictions on foreign journalists are important steps towards better respect for human rights in China," said Catherine Baber,
Deputy Asia Pacific Director at Amnesty International. "Disappointingly, they have been matched by moves to expand detention without trial and 'house arrest' of activists, and by a tightening of controls over domestic media and the Internet.
"The failure to ensure equal rights and freedoms for both foreign and domestic journalists smacks of double standards - China has yet to meet its promise to ensure 'complete media freedom' for the Olympics."
An overriding preoccupation with "stability" and "a good social environment" for the hosting of the Olympics appears to inform this approach. While such concerns are understandable for any country holding
such a major international event, policies and practices must be founded on respect for rule of law and human rights, or they risk fueling further
discontent.
For the complete article click the link below
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