French leader considers Olympic boycott

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

PARIS - French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Tuesday that he cannot rule out the possibility he might boycott the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics if China continues its crackdown in Tibet.

Asked whether he supported a boycott, Sarkozy said he could "not close the door to any possibility." A spokesman for the president said Sarkozy was referring to a possible snub of the Aug. 8 opening ceremony.

"Our Chinese friends must understand the worldwide concern that there is about the question of Tibet, and I will adapt my response to the evolutions in the situation that will come, I hope, as rapidly as possible," the president said during a visit with a military regiment in southwest France.

Sarkozy also said he had told Chinese President Hu Jintao of his concern, asking for restraint, dialogue and the end of violence in Tibet.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080325/ap_on_re_eu/oly_torch_lighting

[Mike Daniels]

1. Meaningless gesture if the only thing boycotted is the opening ceremony

A real stand would be to boycott the entire event. However, to date, no country seems to have the guts to announce that as their intent.

[dysfunctional press]

9. in one sense, it wouldn't be fair to the athletes, either...

but- mainly it's because china now rules the world. the sleeping giant has woken up.

[Squatch]

12. A lot of athletes are already going to "boycott" the opening ceremony

...they don't want to risk overexposing themselves to the pollution, so a lot of athletes are only going to show up to the games the day or so prior to their event(s).

[steven88]

2. Once again the French...

show more morality and courage than we do.

[robcon]

3. Huh? How is it "courageous" to boycott a ceremony?

It's a nice gesture, but hardly courageous.

[steven88]

4. Do you know any politician here who would dare voice such a proposal?

Except mabe Pelosi.

[Mike Daniels]

7. Most politicians would realize boycotting just the opening ceremony

was an empty gesture and wouldn't even pretend that it's some sort of signficant stand of principle.

[steven88]

11. It isn't an empty gesture

The loss of face by China would be a major rebuke to the Chinese

[icymist]

10. I agree with you steven88 except with your choice of pelosi.

The French are showing a type of leadership, even if it's just a gesture. I haven't heard of anyone else having the guts to say anything against the Chinese crackdown on Tibet.... All in all, the whole world needs to see what China is doing to Tibet because the whole world just stood by, doing nothing, when China invaded and occupied Tibet.

About pelosi, she just stands by while the criminals in the WH continue. Pelosi is a talk loudly and do nothing!

[Occulus]

17. Kind of like holding a flag up instead of dipping it in deference to a leader.

No courage necessary.

:eyes:

[Mike Daniels]

6. They aren't doing anything significant

They're boycotting ONE ceremony.

From all indications they seem intent in participating in the actual competition.

Yeah, that shows real morality and courage (sarcasm)

[Ordr]

5. How flaccid.

[LiberalFighter]

8. Just stop having the Olympics.

[Better Believe It]

13. Don't Boycott The Olympics Again!

Let's hope that this growing Chinese bashing doesn't lead to a boycott of the Olympics. The China government intervention in Tibet would merely be an excuse used by right-wingers and some alleged "liberals" to stage yet another political boycott. I didn't support the boycott of the Moscow Olympics and won't support a boycott of these Olympics. And it would not surprise me if progressives in other lands see the hand of the CIA and other government agencies trying to manipulate public opinion using writers and columnists on their payroll.

Before anyone in the United States begins preaching to the Chinese government on non-intervention in Tibet and democratic rights we need to clean house at home first. American government officials giving lectures to the Chinese on democracy and independence is like Jesse James giving a lecture against robbing banks!

[brentspeak]

14. Protesting Chinese brutality now = "Chinese bashing"

Uh, yeah.

BTW, who really cares if you don't support a Chinese Olympics boycott?

[Better Believe It]

15. So You Support U.S. Intervention In Other Nations But Not China?

I'm sure a lot of right-wingnuts would love a boycott of the Olympics just like they supported a boycott of the Moscow Olympics.

So .... do you think the world should have boycotted the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City because of U.S. brutality, interventions, torture and invasions around the world?

Do you think the world should boycott any international sports events held in the United States such as next years World Baseball Classic due to American government brutality around the world?

Now who do you think you are to give lectures to the Chinese on American democracy?

You may not agree with me, but I think we need to clean our own house first before we make demands on others. Our enemy is at home, not in China.

And you'd better hope that a U.S. Olympic Boycott doesn't happen. If it does, you'll be living in a tent (if you're lucky) should the Chinese decide to stop subsidizing the U.S. economy. And a U.S.boycott happens, it will have zero impact on the Chinese government and Chinese people .... except they'll learn to hate Americans more along with the people of a hundred other nations that will participate in the Olympics.

[brentspeak]

16. Read the article: there's other nations that want to boycott the Chinese Olympics

And no, I don't agree with you.

[Better Believe It]

18. Really? Can You Name At Least One Of Them?

I read the entire article and contrary to your claim "there's other nations that want to boycott the Chinese Olympics" I could not find a single nation that has declared it will boycott.

The article did point out that one of the most right-wing government officials in the world (he's to the right of George W. Bush) Nicolas Sarkozy of France, will boycott the opening ceremony. Now there's a real role model for the rest of us!

By the way, they are not called by the Chinese or anyone else the Chinese Olympics .... it's the World Olympics held in China.

You did manage to evade all of the main points in my post.

Do you think the world should boycott the 2008 World Baseball Classic in the United States?

Do you think the world should have boycotted the 2002 World Winter Olympics held in Salt Lake City?

Do you think we need to clean up our own house before we lecture other people in other lands on democracy and non-intervention?

[TheLastMohican]

28. hehe, it will create less competition

and more gold medals for the contenders without US athletes in it :)
So no, I think, people from other nations will not hate it but rather look in disbelief at the stupidity of our politicians once again mixing sports and political agendas.

[spoony]

23. Mate, this guy was in another thread bashing the Dalai Lama

He's completely off his rocker. But I'm sure you noticed that :P

[xioaping]

27. So much hate

I have never seen so much hate. I was on the other forum and they were really bad. Then I come over here and find out it is the same. You sound like them. All Americans it seems hate China. You can not fool me to say it is only protesting. I see your words and others. It is not bashing. It is hate. You just hide behind your politics to create hate for war like American always has.

[Flagg]

29. America hates China ?

lol

Try being French or muslim;

[LiberalFighter]

20. I'm not saying boycott... just eliminate the Olympics period

I don't consider there a need any more. And it doesn't involve amateurs as it use to be or was intended.

[xioaping]

26. I agree no boycott

I agree with you. Thank you for not wanting to boycott the Olympics.

[ckramer]

19. Sarkozy == Bush

He'll get France into troubles.

[Zynx]

24. It doesn't mean he can't be right about something once in a while.

[brentspeak]

21. Today, China is calling for "patriotic education" for Tibetan monks

Yep, I'd say this calls for a boycott of the Chinese Olympics, and not just the ceremony.

[Zynx]

25. Political re-education. Mao would be proud.

[DuaneBidoux]

22. We actually have a conservative leader taking an ethical position here. Since the communists...

have become so important in helping the western corptocracy make money it has been hard to find a right winger that is intolerant of communist repression. Amazing how ethics melt in the face of money.

I don't generally like Sarkozy. I have immediate family in France and they are telling me all the shit he is pulling--but on this one I got to say "go for it."

I think until this Tibet deal is defused we need to put on the pressure in any way possible including the Olympics.