US Jewish leaders call for boycott of Beijing Olympics

[oberliner]

Source: AP

A wide-ranging group of U.S. Jewish leaders plans to release a statement Wednesday urging Jews worldwide to boycott the Summer Olympics in Beijing, citing China's troubling record on human rights and Tibet.

The statement also notes China's close relationships with Iran, Syria and the militant group Hamas.

So far, 175 rabbis, seminary officials and other prominent Jews have signed the declaration, which comes shortly before Holocaust Remembrance Day on Friday, organizers said.

"We are deeply troubled by China's support for the genocidal government of Sudan; its mistreatment of the people of Tibet; its denial of basic rights to its own citizens; and its provision of missiles to Iran and Syria, and friendship for Hamas," the statement reads.

Read more: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iRnjEBdiEfe2kx_h7Af3poParyQgD90BPBFO1

[connecticut yankee]

1. The second paragraph says it all.

I don't think they give a damn about Tibet.

[oberliner]

2. I disagree

I think it is a combination of several different factors for each of the members of the various groups mentioned.

[Pastiche423]

21. I agree

[Behind the Aegis]

22. They don't give a damn about Tibet because they also care about something else?

Talk about faulty reasoning.

[Indenturedebtor]

29. Yes you're right because joos are very crafty and have no souls

My Sisters father in law just flew all the way to LA at 4:00am EST to give a speech about a Free Tibet on the morning of the first Seder... because he doesn't care about the Tibetans. He's just acting on a directive from the jewish collective to throw people off the scent of our world domination plans.

Not everything Israel does as a nation is perfect, and Jews are not evil.

[bemildred]

3. If I was them, I would not want to piss off China.

There is no chance China will be moved by any of this, and they will not forget.

[sandnsea]

4. Give them the Olympics and then embarrass them??

Aargh, let me out of this insane asylum.

[Zynx]

6. At some point I no longer care about the feelings of Hu Jintao and that government.

I'm so tired of our policy of acquiescing to horrid governments and just winking and nodding at them.

[sandnsea]

11. The world gave them the damned Olympics

It's not like Darfur and Tibet are surprises. This is a bunch of bullshit. You don't make progress by humiliating people.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

16. They own us

We have to suck up to them or they'll call in their notes that Fuckface so happily signed over to them.

[Zynx]

20. They are as reliant on us as we are on them.

[cartach]

27. If that's the case

then you must be tired of acquiescing to the chronic complaints of hypocrites who would be well advised to clean up their own "house" first.

[bluestateguy]

5. The Olympics must be de-politicized

And so I reject any calls for a "boycott".

[Poll_Blind]

17. I agree up to a point. What about this torch-lighting ceremony in 1936?

  Again, I agree with what you're saying...but I believe there is real merit in considering the context in which an event happens. In certain contexts the value of the event can be nullified entirely- or turned into a caricature of what it's supposed to represent.

PB

[AlphaCentauri]

23. The real context in which the Olympics are celebrated is that of sport competition not politics

the participants go there to pursuit their own dream.

[Poll_Blind]

7. FLASH: Same group condemns Israel for collective punishment of civilians in Gaza!

PB

[oberliner]

8. What does that have to do with China and the Olympics?

Do you agree with their stance on that issue or no?

[Poll_Blind]

9. Neither China nor the Olympics but the Jewish groups' faux outrage is political, not humanitarian.

  Oh, I think boycotting China is a fine idea, but the Jewish groups' motivation for making the call has a much higher political element than a rightous protection of innocents.

  Selective outrage is no virtue.

PB

[oberliner]

10. I would respectfully disagree

I think that many of those US Jewish leaders are motivated by the latter.

[Poll_Blind]

12. Possibly, but why pack the statement with Iran, Syrians missiles and ties to Hamas as well?

  It's be similar to religious leaders in the U.S. sending a group message condeming Cuba for human rights violations- and then making a big deal to include the fact that the Cuban government is Communist, has close relations with our arch-enemy Russia, and that they once had nuclear missiles pointed at us from their own soil.

  Non sequitur in another other context, except political.

PB

[oberliner]

13. I think for some it is political

I think for many it is not.

[Poll_Blind]

14. I can't disagree but how do you come to choose "some" and "many"? Or is it just a gut feeling? n/t

PB

[oberliner]

15. Anecdotal evidence to be sure

In my experience, I've found that Tibet and Darfur are two issues that the American Jewish community cares very strongly about. Numerous synagogues support a variety of charitable enterprises directed at alleviating the suffering in those areas.

You can call it hypocritical (if you like) that they also (generally) support Israel, but I do not think it is fair to say that their concern for those suffering in the two regions I mentioned is purely (or primarily) for political reasons.

[Poll_Blind]

18. If we were having coffee, this is the point where I'd offer to buy your next cup.

We disagree on some things but I think we both understand where the other is coming from. And in this world, that's as close as one can hope for, generally.



PB

[oberliner]

19. Can't argue with that

Who is the guy in the picture with the coffee? He looks like an actor I vaguely recognize but cannot place.

[Poll_Blind]

24. A man who appreciates a good, excuse me, DAMN fine cup of coffee: Special Agent Dale Cooper.

Dale Cooper

PB

[The Stranger]

25. "Hypocrisie est un hommage que la vice rend à la vertu."

[StevieM]

26. We should boycott the opening ceremony IMO (eom)

[LeftishBrit]

28. That sounds reasonable.

As I said elsewhere, I don't support a full boycott of the Olympics, because other countries have been fully aware of the oppression of Tibet for a long time - long before China was made the host of the Olympics - and they should have refused China's bid in the first place. A boycott now would be unfair to the athletes of all countries who are competing there after extensive training (I might feel differently if this was something new that had suddenly come up). However, I think that it was wrong under the circumstances to allow China to host the Olympics in the first place.