Olympic Torch Extinguished 3 Times (http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/23978408/)

Is it me or have we lost sight of the fact that the Olympic Spirit is supposed to promote peace and to help build a better world? I support the protests against China, they do need some serious reforms, but I can't say that I agree with these attempts to disrupt the torch running.

Thoughts?

My brother told me an interesting thing this weekend about a TV channel in China. He said that on one channel there is an "American" woman behind a news desk (it looks like CNN same fixtures, etc) and they dub over what she is saying but she only reports negative news in the US specifically anything that is about the US gov't or Bush. I'll have to ask him for examples again b/c they are alluding me at the moment.

He said in his opinion he feels it's a phoney set up to look like CNN with a ticker tape scrolling on the bottom and everything... but the ticker again only reports things about the US gov't or Bush. Absolutely nothing negative about China is reported anywhere that he can see (print or TV) on the real CNN channel when anything negative about China is being said or about the Olympics the TV just goes black or some pre-taped segment starts. So, how effective are these protests?

I don't blame the Chinese people, I blame their gov't.

Add some Britney Spears and American Idol, and it sounds kinda like our news; with the bias reversed.

Well, the Olympics have been bycotted many times before, ie Russia during the Afghan war. I think it's an effective way to express discontent at the host's current actions.

And knowing what these games mean to China - I don't think a better message can be conveyed than the torch being extinguished in every country it attempts to pass through.

Hmm, a good point Halo. Hadn't thought it from that angle. But I am concerned that these protestors are throwing things and trying to hit the torch bearers. There's no reason to throw things at a paralympic athlete in a wheel chair. That, in my opinion, deflates any "moral high ground" the protestors might have had.

Hmm, a good point Halo. Hadn't thought it from that angle. But I am concerned that these protestors are throwing things and trying to hit the torch bearers. There's no reason to throw things at a paralympic athlete in a wheel chair. That, in my opinion, deflates any "moral high ground" the protestors might have had.

Definitely agree with this. It's like people who bomb abortion clinics to prove their point. Or like terrorists, I just don't understand the logic.

I would hardly call it terrorism.

I wasn't calling this terrorism. I was suggesting that I don't understand how people feel they effectively demonstrate their points/cases with such strong measures like terrorists. I don't understand the logic. Sheesh.

Unfortunately, logic goes out the window in things like that. :(

Protesters know that if they do not cause a scene they will not end up on the news.

Ah - sorry Fildien.

The only reason I'm behind these demonstrations is that they hit China where it hurts. And it's doing it in such glaring style, I love it.

Stick that up yer arse, China.

Ah - sorry Fildien.

The only reason I'm behind these demonstrations is that they hit China where it hurts. And it's doing it in such glaring style, I love it.

Stick that up yer arse, China.

I agree with you there, but when they start targeting the torch bearer directly, not only are they not hitting China, they are hitting someone that has nothing to do with the things going on in China.

Protesters know that if they do not cause a scene they will not end up on the news.

Exactly.

The goal of protesting is to be noticed, so that your "point" can be spread to others. Unfortunately, the "point" is usually lost when the rights and/or safety of others are disregarded to make a "point".

I think a boycott is a wasted moment. The spirit of the games should transend the current political agendas and let us all see each other as human earthlings again. Maybe give us a moment to laugh or communicate with soemone who we otherwise might call an enemy. ( as mentioned even germany hosted the olympics )

There are to many other ways to protest against China and be heard. Throwing things at soemone who is just a runner is retarded and unsportsman like.

I wonder if the torch is going to run threw Iran I bet they would stone the person to death who hit or threw water on the runner.

I thought I heard Jon Stewart make a reference to the fact that it was Hitler who initiated, or expanded, the running of the torch internationally. It is ironic to think that one of history's worst violators of human rights is being "honored" every four years with this run; and, that this year protesters of human rights violations are bringing violence to those carrying the torch that is a symbol of people of diverse nations coming together in a peaceful manner to compete athletically.

The time to protest China's policies was during IOC's selection of the cities in contention for the honor of hosting the games. I have a sense that they were so concerned about not politicizing the process at all that they decided -- consciously or not -- to choose the least politically viable nation.

I thought I heard Jon Stewart make a reference to the fact that it was Hitler who initiated, or expanded, the running of the torch internationally.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/ee/Olympictorche-Berlin.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_torch

That's right apparently, Bylimet, or at least the fact that it was initiated in modern times during the 1936 Berlin Olympic games (really interesting).

That picture is kind of surreal. It's weird to think of the world-changing war that was to follow just a few years later. My imagination keeps thinking of Indiana Jones hiding in the crowd getting ready for some sort of undercover sneak attack!

Are these even going to be an Olympics? The so called "Spirit" of the Olympics is not going to exist in any shape or form considering all the restrictions that will be placed on the atheletes and those there as spectators. Its going to be more of a "China Open House" geared more towards people looking to invest in China as well as to grandstand the modern China as a world economic superpower and not so much about a global sporting event with the undertones of bringing a few weeks of unity to the world. Granted the moderm Olympics have always been more about money and China is a shining example of a host nation wanting to prove they are a player with enough clout to do what they please inspite of the insignificant opinions of the unwashed masses. Hey, look what we can do with all your money that pours in to spite what opinions you might harbor about our government policies! We have all the gold. We make the fugg'n rules!

Well, alot of the world isn't buying it but it really doesn't matter because:
1) China isn't going to free Tibet and 2) The Olympics are going to go on reguardless. I personally have no plans at all to watch these games because, hey, I care very little for China and I don't want to sit and watch hours of propganda.

The passing of the Olympic torch is a time honored Nazi tradition, its horrible its being interrupted in such fashion.

We just need to put the Olympics back in Greece and leave them there. Skip this geopolitical foolishness altogether.

We just need to put the Olympics back in Greece and leave them there. Skip this geopolitical foolishness altogether.

Agreed. My only concern would be how being the perennial host to the games might affect the Greek-Turkish squabbles, and if that could be disruptive, or if it could actually help to improve relations through some cooperative effort.

Would definitely improve the area's economic footing.