US disappointed Olympics didn't open China more

266 Comments

inactive, on 08/25/2008, -15/+91And if they don't demonstrate more respect for human rights, we will abduct them by extraordinary rendition and torture them, and if that doesn't help, we'll invade their country without provocation and kill millions of them. Well maybe not the last part, we only do that to countries that are incapable of fighting back. So far anyway.
Merendino, on 08/25/2008, -8/+46"Our hypocrisy knows no bounds."

Thank you Doc Holiday.
repins, on 08/25/2008, -6/+42well that's because if you applied for a permit to protest you where arrest and sent to a "re-education" camp.

http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-Olympics/idUSSP ...
bitterscream, on 08/25/2008, -50/+80None of the doom and gloom stories about protestors being beaten or athletes passing out because of the pollution have come true. The US will never be happy. Lets face it, they are scared ***** because they are about to become dwarfed by China. For the first time China has won more gold medals than them.
CanaryMBurns, on 08/25/2008, -1/+29Oh yeah and I'm sure that China is hanging their head in shame, China doesnt give a ***** what the U.S. thinks
hasslinthehoff, on 08/25/2008, -17/+41At least China is consistent. The U.S. should probably shut up b/c it can't seem to make up its mind... are we a totalitarian regime under the guise of freedom and democracy or a democracy with totalitarian tendencies?
FreddieD, on 08/25/2008, -3/+25Our government gets pissy at any country that doesnt do just what we want them to do, whether you're talking about something big like China's human rights record or something smaller like Sweden's digital IP laws.

If we don't like them bad enough, we just find ways to liberate their people.

My country has many great attributes, but I'm fairly sure I speak for the majority of americans when I say that I am not proud of the fact that we have to stick our nose into everybody else's business.
peaceninja, on 08/25/2008, -1/+23It looks like I'm being buried anyway so I am going to finish a thought I have. I hate Condoleeza Rice, she is not a diplomat by any definition. She is a sabre-rattler like the rest of them. I put her in the same pool of people as Mahmoud A-man-of-Jihad or whatever the hell his name is.

I also despise Laura Bush, taking such a smug, back-seat passive role during her husband's administration. At least her daughter Jenna traveled to Latin America and wrote a book about it. I expected a lot more from a first lady whose primary background is in education, but I guess even big oil companies can lobby the morals out of the Bush family.

While Karl Rove can snub judicial committees and Dick Cheney says "so?" to the American people, I do not have any remorse for those voters who kept this administration in office. I am a registered republican and I did my job to vote democrat in a republican state in 2004 to reel in the Republican's power-grabbing antics, to no avail. I don't even think it's worth my time to vote in this upcoming election. I don't mind a recessional economy, but if the government keeps losing transparency and taking away constitutional liberties in the name of "Security for Merica", then by God I am going to move to another country and expatriate. I don't want to be part of a country that thinks my very mundane views are a risk to national security. Why on earth are the American people so blind to the very early stages of Fascism?!
trer, on 08/25/2008, -4/+24The economic rise of China scares the United States because China has the military strength to back themselves and they are not content to become America's "controllable" Asian economic powers (e.g. Japan, Taiwan, Singapore) that have no military of their own. The United States is worried because China will NOT be "America's bitch". Just like at your local playground, the bully doesn't like it when someone stands up to him.
peaceninja, on 08/25/2008, -14/+33STFU US Government, and give me back my rights! We are no longer a beacon of light for the rest of the world. Foreign governments are increasingly highlighting how we treat our sick and our homeless. Can we please focus on what's important domestically and stop calling the kettle black?
Dymphna, on 08/25/2008, -0/+15While I generally agree with you, what's with all the red scare? Red is always going to be the colour of China, regardless of communism or no. It's a colour that bodes fortune and good luck in Chinese culture, nothing to do with communism.
shutaro, on 08/25/2008, -21/+34That sounds like communist talk to me...
viciv, on 08/25/2008, -1/+12stop worrying about the chinese, believe me, a lof of them are enjoying their lives.
munwaal, on 08/25/2008, -1/+12I've been living in Shenzhen, China for the past 2 and a half years. I had all sorts of preconceived notions about what it would be like before I came here. I was surprised to find that most of those notions were dead wrong. The people here are really happy, and when you ask them, they confirm it. All of the people that I've spoken to have told me that they're proud to be Chinese and they're fiercely proud of their country. Also, crime is almost non-existent here, so they must be doing something right (being South African, I know all about crime). I'm not saying it's perfect over here, but a lot of the things that the rest of the world give China ***** for (like internet censorship and human rights) they're guilty of committing themselves.
normalkid0615, on 08/25/2008, -1/+12Is China sitting on Oil?

CHINA HAS WMD's
FeloniusMonkey, on 08/25/2008, -0/+10You're on a 1st grade writing level.
thedogfatherx, on 08/25/2008, -0/+10Hahahaha....thanks for the laugh this morning.
egeo2000, on 08/25/2008, -3/+13If something needs to be changed in a foreign country, it's up to the people in that country to stand up and do something about it. A couple protesters from Europe and eight from America isn't going to bother China in the least; a mass protest of hundreds of thousands of their own people may get their attention though.
philwalsh, on 08/25/2008, -1/+10The US relies on China too you know, not just the other way around.
Dymphna, on 08/25/2008, -1/+10The US would get their goods from...where then?
kemp34, on 08/25/2008, -3/+12That would not be a win.
Dozernotz, on 08/25/2008, -0/+9@Rahodeb

I think the point is that China's human rights record doesn't have anything to do with the Olympics. And that a lot of Americans are kind of embarrassed that the US would be calling out anyone on human rights abuses while we're running a well-documented prison camp in Cuba.

What's amazing is not that there are Americans who are criticizing their government for it. What's amazing is that there exists some so-called Americans who are too nationalist to believe such criticism is reasonable.
yfph, on 08/25/2008, -0/+81988 Seoul

"The anticipation of the Olympic Games intensified world scrutiny of Korea during a time of political crisis. As political demonstrations emerged in June 1987, the possibility of jeopardizing hosting the Olympic Games contributed to the June 29 declaration which issued President Chun out of power and led to direct elections in December 1987.[citation needed] The desire not to taint the Olympic Games with military dictatorship and riots served as an impetus for Korea’s transition to democracy."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1988_Summer_Olympics# ...
jrbrewin, on 08/25/2008, -0/+8indeed. america couldn't be more hypocritical every time they comment on china's human rights record. Here's an idea. America, stop trying to fiddle in everyone elses affairs, you're not wanted.
Dymphna, on 08/25/2008, -9/+17Wow, a non-negative comment about China being dugg up? Much respect.

Yes, it was a great olympics for China, and they did manage to host quite possibly the best Olympics ever. For them, and for other people too. This was a great show for China, but the US managed to put out a strong showing too. As did many other countries. It was good for everyone all around

Still saddened by Korea's archery loss though, I was rooting for them.
Wonderama, on 08/25/2008, -1/+9"For the first time China has won more gold medals than them. "

So let's see, all it takes is the most medals in the Olympics to achieve world domination? Your reasoning is impeccable, sir.
ZackScott, on 08/25/2008, -3/+10China is filled with beautiful people of all sorts of styles, and yet the government may not be the fullest way to the hearts of man. I know deep in my brain that if the government there were more representative of the people, then it would be better. But no, instead they have the red scare, but not the red scare that we have. They are seeing scary red whereas we saw imaginary red. Maybe we saw infrared? Was it more than met the eye?

I just hope one day their people will take more of the government because China really could become something greater. With all of those people, I'm sure there are talents that could lend themselves to everywhere, and maybe even space. Imagine a Chinese Space Force (CSF).
pintomp3, on 08/25/2008, -0/+7"Uh.. What 'rights' are being infringed on?" habeaus corpus. perhaps you've heard of it.
"Why didn't those veterans, you know.. GET JOBS?" it's tough to get hired when you are missing limbs or have PTSD.
Myztry, on 08/25/2008, -0/+7@Rahodeb. You have a good point.
And on that same point, as an Australian, I ask America to do better...
I really can't understand how Bush got elected, much less got a second term...
toconnor, on 08/25/2008, -0/+7It is like the girls that think they can change their "bad boy" boyfriend. It never works.
peaceninja, on 08/25/2008, -0/+6@bainfu: saying "we are not as bad as the worst countries" is absurd and completely misses the point of my argument, i want our country to be a beacon to the rest of the world, and if we start throwing bits and pieces of the constitution into the fire then we lose so much credibility. i love america for what it was, mostly for what it is, but i won't love it for what its becoming. i hate this administration, they do not admit to mistakes and they suppress truth. there's a fine line between admitting to a mistake and showing unwavering leadership. i dont even think i'm talking tough, in fact i think my views are pretty mundane. i can only hope that this administration is taking all the steps necessary to keep the united states a powerful and influential peace-making machine in the 21st century, but I don't see much evidence of this being the case 8 years so far into this century.
Dozernotz, on 08/25/2008, -0/+6@macbookpromat

"nuking massive cities to cut off their supply of men being the only strategy that could actually defeat that country."

Do you really consider that a "strategy"? Does "mutually assured destruction" not ring a bell?
Hetman, on 08/25/2008, -0/+6Tell that to black people and women.
pseudononymist, on 08/25/2008, -1/+7we're actually sore over getting fewer, but who's counting...
Dymphna, on 08/25/2008, -1/+6This.

Most countries that have developed into great democracies or republics have done it *drumroll* by themselves. If the people don't want it, it won't happen. You can't bring democracy to a country at gunpoint, or by telling them that they should live like you do. There's some middle-eastern country that is a lovely example of this. Though I can't think of what country could POSSIBLY have had democracy forced on it, can you? I mean, they were so welcoming of us as liberators.

It quite frankly isn't our business to take every other countries' problems to heart. Especially when not everyone knows the full story outside the country. Like the people who chant 'Free Tibet' without even knowing about the Tibetan slaves that China actually abolished, making a lot more people more free than they were before. Now, if China starts to undergo revolution and asks for outside help (like we asked the French), that's a different story.
sklter84, on 08/25/2008, -8/+13Misleading title, it's mostly about the 2 British arrested protestors.

About China, I think most people found their fears of people dropping dead from the air quality and people being and arrested left and right were unfound. The place is relatively "normal" and people just live their lives quite peacefully. If anything China seems pressured to try and appease and impress the world stage.
stealthc, on 08/25/2008, -2/+7Individualism is the beginning of harmony. Only when all of us are free to act can any of us enjoy real cooperation. Communism is not just another socioeconomic model. It is rooted in coercive force. Its mother is envy and its father is hatred, and it only exists at the point of a gun.

No government that harvests the organs of the homeless, forces abortions and persecutes religious minorities has even the slightest legitimacy. It is a criminal gang, not a government, and I applaud the Chinese freedom fighters who continue to resist, even when no mention is made of them on any media.
calenerd, on 08/25/2008, -5/+10The US is sore over the fact they got less gold medals than China.
inactive, on 08/25/2008, -0/+5There is nothing wrong with the one child policy.
Mier, on 08/25/2008, -0/+5If China doesn't care what the US thinks then I guess it's ok for the US to tell the world to ***** off as well.
repins, on 08/25/2008, -5/+10none of the above, we are a Representative Republic, not a Democracy

.....but still Totalitarian just the same
Fuzi, on 08/25/2008, -0/+5 and in turn they nuke us... millions will die on both sides.
peaceninja, on 08/25/2008, -0/+5@SecureXeC: so this poignant example of your grandfather is supposed to be a compelling argument? Not all veterans come from your grandfather's background. i can come one poignant example of my own, but instead i think it's pretty clear you are making a sweeping generalization that all the homeless veterans can simply buck up and get a job.

i'm all about objective, critical thinking, whereas you are using some sad ad hominem arguments against me ('whiny *****'...what is that even supposed to mean? I am not supposed to voice my opinion?).

Where I think you start to make a point with the libertarian perspective that we cant decide where the government should intervene and where it shouldn't, i think that "GET A JOB" is way oversimplistic. I argue the government can be doing a lot more domestically to provide education and opportunities to americans, this is a better way to fight foreign dominance than the route we're going. if this means i am a whiny ***** then i'll gladly whine while nero fiddles watching rome burn.
Dymphna, on 08/25/2008, -1/+6Michael Phelps maybe, but last I checked, the US didn't gold medal as much (the standard by which most of us countries rate olympic standing) as China.

Not that it's necessarily about the medals, all the athletes performed amazingly, shattering WRs left and right.
TigerStar337, on 08/25/2008, -4/+8Many western media keeps criticizing the Chinese government for its rejection of "western values". But, very few of them understand why the approval rate of the Chinese Communist Party is higher than 85% in China. My explanation is that maybe the value of Communism fits the Chinese people. I believe that there will be no fundamental change in Chinese political system in the near future.

As we have seen from the opening ceremony, the core value of the Chinese culture is HARMONY while that of the western culture is INDIVIDUALISM. The difference between the Chinese social system and USA social system is rooted from the difference of their culture.

I would suggest western media to refrain from preaching western values in front of the Chinese. The Chinese rarely teach Americans to carry their parents with them when they take a holiday. This is because the Chinese like harmony and respect Americans, American culture, and the choice of Americans.
shutaro, on 08/25/2008, -0/+4***** the RIAA!
CasinoJack, on 08/25/2008, -2/+6The US media alters its ranking system accordingly to ensure the USA is always highest. ESPN for example,

2008 - by total - http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/medals
1896 - by Golds - http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/fanguide/hi ...
vexingmodstwo, on 08/25/2008, -0/+4Because it's true?
peaceninja, on 08/25/2008, -4/+8you must be one of those 'armchair' bush administration apologists. why dont you try getting detained an airport for a few hours each time you fly internationally and come back and call me a whiny *****. do you realize how many veterans are living in the street? if by "putting themselves there" you mean "joining the military and getting totally screwed over by lack of benefits", then you are absolutely right. kudos to your trailblazingly insightful point of view.
bitterscream, on 08/25/2008, -2/+6You should go there. Any city, and I don't mean major, is larger than most American cities. Money is everywhere and most are happy. Go to any American city and you can find people complaining about the government. You can find homeless people everywhere.

If they wanted another revolution they would do it. But they don't. They just want to make money and live life happy like they are.
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