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See the original image at dailymail.co.uk —

Olympic athletes forced to sign contract banning criticism

dailymail.co.uk — British Olympic chiefs are to force athletes to sign a contract promising not to speak out about China's appalling human rights record – or face being banned from travelling to Beijing. The move immediately provoked a storm of protest.

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  • nihil, on 02/11/2008, -9/+349Because, of course, we wouldn't want to criticize a corrupt, Communist regime that has a history of violently suppressing any form of protest.
    • satback, on 02/11/2008, -71/+14LOL, another hypocrite. Just wondering have you ever criticized or protest against a country that violated the UN rules, made up stupid excuses to invade other countries and caused hundreds thousands of innocent lives, used baned chemical weapons in Viet-nam & Iraq, used WMD such as those Mother of All f*cking bombs which kills every living lives within miles in Afghanistan, tortured prisoners, spreading & selling weapons all over the world included those dictatorship countries such as Egypt & Saudi Arabia, supported & trained terrorist such as Bin Latin before 911, violated the NNPT rules and helping out the Indian & Jewish who are not member of the NNPT. I think that's enough to described the image of that country; what do you call that "Democracy" regime as.... and somebody is still have the face of mentioning the term -- human right, I think that is SICK.
      • Iconoclast25, on 02/11/2008, -10/+45Does mommy know you were up this late? Or did you simply have an extra hit in your late night ration of Kool-Aid?
        • satback, on 02/11/2008, -38/+4For what ever the reason is, Jewish in the US is giving a hard time to China using their influence in the US government. Israel was victim in WW2 and so as China. During WW2, Shanghai had accepted tens thousands of Jewish refugees when the whole world refused to accept because they afraid of the Nazis. That's why there are still many Jewish still living in China. I know Israel also help out China in some aspects in return. But, for the things that they are doing in the US, it's not going to improve any relationship between the Chinese and Jewish.
          • Iconoclast25, on 02/11/2008, -3/+32"it's not going to improve any relationship between the Chinese and Jewish."

            Somehow the sale of Silkworm missiles and similar munitions to Iran and the various other nations of the region who are eager to see Israel blown into oblivion already probably makes them think the PRC doesn't have their best interests too much in mind.
      • godzillaWax, on 02/11/2008, -5/+39Yet, at least in the US, you can say things like you just did without being thrown in prison. At least in the US, you can practice whatever religion you want without fear of being thrown in prison.
        For all the things you hate about the US, China does the same things and worse.
        • 98percentcogdis, on 03/25/2008, -4/+1Ernst Zundel would disagree with you!
          • ayeroxor, on 02/11/2008, -1/+4That wasn't in the US you *****. And as much as you are a *****, Zundel is (hopefully) 100x more of a *****. Not that what's happening to him is right, but it's still not the US.
          • Chaoticfist, on 02/11/2008, -2/+4Ernst Zundel is a racist piece of *****. He has jailed several times here in canada, as well is more or less nazi scum. There is another piece of ***** living here by the name of Salman Hossian. A university student who is attending the University of Toronto. He has called for terrorist attacks in Canada, as well as for the murder of members of our goverment. He should be deported just as Ernst Zundel was. Such retareded views are not welcome here.
        • Bodhinature, on 02/11/2008, -1/+3Yes, we do have that ONE thing going for us. Except, noone is listening.
        • antonycao, on 02/15/2008, -0/+0Come on, BE REAL! Your ideology doesn't necessarily fit all!!! Chinese has been living like this for over 5000 and we are still prosperous. OK, you can say that I am brainwashed, and I admit it. But AREN"T you??? How can you claim democracy is superior to all? You are just afraid of people who are different from you!
      • Fafnir43, on 02/11/2008, -2/+18Yes, I have. Now please explain why that means /UK citizens/ such as myself, and such as those in TFA, shouldn't be allowed to criticize China. You *****.
      • amenhotep, on 02/11/2008, -2/+1"UK has been doing this since the 1988 Olympic, so, no thats not pro-china, that's pro-authentic Olympic
      • tyzent, on 02/11/2008, -0/+3you know, for a canadian you sure have quite a lot to say about the chinese... it seems like every one of your posts is pro-china and anti-american. i am not suggesting anything... its just interesting to see how stubborn some people are to defend a cause or a people, even if they really aren't being attacked, and likewise to attack a cause or a people when there is no valid reason, other than contempt or repugnance.
      • freeport7, on 02/11/2008, -8/+2Paragraphs are your friend. Fuc*tard cannuck.
        • ayeroxor, on 02/11/2008, -5/+5wtf? does your parents' NetNanny program not let you write out '*****' ?
          • freeport7, on 02/11/2008, -5/+3sorry, that was a fat-fingered mistake on my part. Thanks for catching it, *****.
          • saisumimen, on 02/12/2008, -0/+2Go back to bed, you two.
      • grendelboogie, on 02/11/2008, -0/+7"made up stupid excuses to invade other countries "

        Hmm, Tibet springs to mind.
    • banmaster, on 02/11/2008, -43/+5More like: we wouldn't want to criticize a corrupt, Communist regime that could crush our country like a tiny bug with essentially no effort.
      • mmmmmbiscuits, on 02/11/2008, -3/+21In your wet dreams, Chomsky.
      • Cerebral, on 02/11/2008, -3/+22I'm sorry but this is so not true. While it is true that our country doesn't have sufficient arms to go over there and win, you totally underestimate the American populous when it comes to defending our homeland. If anyone tried to come into this country and take us out (as an army mind you) then I'm sure the willing and able majority of Americans would take up arms and defeat anybody.
        • nstanosheck, on 02/11/2008, -5/+18Umm the story is about Britain, not America!
          • Cerebral, on 02/12/2008, -0/+1The story yes. But the comment I was replying to was not.
        • ericrous, on 02/11/2008, -0/+20Most Americans would gladly take up arms for Britain too. The idea of China "crushing Britain like a bug" while the U.S. just sat back and watched is completely absurd.
        • Iconoclast25, on 02/11/2008, -4/+5Under such circumstances, the UK could count on US support except, likely, the dimocrap party leadership - but playing recordings of those screeching baitches would drive the attackers mad.
    • dsmx, on 02/11/2008, -16/+4Get rid of the communist bit you could be describing most countries in the world
    • amr05h, on 02/11/2008, -2/+43It's at that point where calling it communist would be a misnomer. Totalitarian society if you will...
    • xNIBx, on 02/11/2008, -23/+9China isnt communist. Only americans(with their communism/left/socialismphobia) continue to claim that China is communist.
      • brufleth, on 02/11/2008, -4/+17Agreed. China is more of a super capitalism. The country is literally run by big business. Worker rights, environmental protections, anti-trust laws, etc are all marginalized. It has become a country designed, built, and ruled by corporate interests.

        And before someone makes a "just like the US" comment. It is more like how the US would be if we completely deregulated business and gave even more power to corporations. China is in a lot of ways a good example of what we need to avoid becoming.
        • DanOnTheMoon, on 02/11/2008, -5/+6www.capitalism.org

          Bollocks, go read what capitalism is all about. Socialism, Corporatism with some free market leaning, sure, but no way in hell is China Capitalist. America isn't even really Capitalist, it's a mixed economy with Capitalist, Corporatist and Socialist elements. Real Laissez-Faire capitalism has never been practiced, anywhere, ever.
          • nihilite, on 02/11/2008, -1/+2could that be because the most powerful will always promote or promulgate laws that encourage an environment beneficial to themselves? call it the logical progression of economic darwinism. many peoples' conception of true or "pure" capitalism ironically would require regulation within any society governed by rule of law.
        • texpundit, on 02/11/2008, -1/+1brufleth,

          Actually, China would be more along the lines of Fascism or Corporatism. Not so much textbook fascism (because China clamps down on religion instead of co-opting it like Mussolini did) but definitely more Corporatism. Do some googling. With the market protections, import tariffs and trade imbalance, China is FAR from anything resembling free market capitalism.

          But then again, the US is far from that as well.
        • brufleth, on 02/12/2008, -1/+1Please note I used the phrase "super capitalism." I've yet to see a single word that well describes the Chinese economic situation. Corporatism is pretty close. It reached that point through the domination of capitalistic ideals though. Big business owners became the government or paid off the government enough to gain defacto control or at least to alter the social and economic environment according to their wishes. The motivators were still pretty much greed (good or bad) as they are in a capitalism.

          It seems you guys are assuming that a capitalism would be a stable condition when in fact you're inevitably going to generate super companies which will shape things to their benefit or you get lots of market controls and crutches like you have in the US to some degree. China just leaned more in favor of the corporations instead of the workers because their government officers benefit more from bribes than public opinion.

          Think of the industrial revolution with big the big companies exploiting workers as much as they could. If the government had sided with the companies (which they would have if we started with a government more like Chinas) then we'd probably still be working 70 hour weeks and living in company constructed towns and using company vouchers to buy goods. In the US there was some motivation to listen to the vast majority of exploited workers because they were voting in politicians that weren't as pro corporation. China has no such mechanism to motivate pro worker/environment/etc legislation.
      • ericrous, on 02/11/2008, -1/+8The concern is their totalitarianism, not their economic system
        • davidkeithjones, on 02/11/2008, -6/+3The economic system is not communist/collectivist its capitalism!
          • DanOnTheMoon, on 02/11/2008, -5/+5Capitalism my ass. Go to www.capitalism.org if you don't know what capitalism is really all about. Clearly you don't. Any nation with mobile organ harvesting wagons cannot be a free country. Period.
    • warriormonk, on 02/11/2008, -1/+15You should also know that the Chinese plan to route ALL network feeds through a central government NOC so they can filter and censor the content before it leaves China. I also understand that they have been forcing political and religious prisoners work 10 - 12 hours a day making things like soccer balls for the Olympics. Nice
      • nedzeve, on 02/12/2008, -1/+1Do you have a source for either of these claims?
    • theelectricafro, on 02/11/2008, -4/+12Well if they are the totalitarian model for the rest of the world I could see why we support them so much. Also it is hypocritical to criticize china and still buy their products made with slave labor. Not saying anyone here does that. Just pointing it out.
      • sporg, on 02/11/2008, -1/+12 I assure you almost everyone here does that. Please point out the retail chain which doesn't sell products made in sweat shops and prison factories.
      • antonycao, on 02/15/2008, -0/+0Your government is just trying to avert your attention and blame it all on China. Good job on that!
        BTW, you started from those sweat shops and slave labors, didn't ya? You have accumulated wealth thru those sweat shops and finally become rich. Then you criticize people who are following your suit. Hmmm... very interesting...
    • xatx2, on 02/11/2008, -7/+5like scientology does. ***** scientology and ***** china
      • DevilInPgh, on 02/11/2008, -0/+2Beijing = Sea Org?
      • grimward, on 02/11/2008, -2/+3***** THE RIAA (I'm deeply sorry people, but this seemed liked the pertinent thing to say)
    • cbuddha42, on 02/11/2008, -7/+5No, you wouldn't want your Olympic athletes criticizing the host country right before they leave for the games. The Olympics are about international cooperation and athletic competition, not an open political forum to take shots at the host. Yay for the brits having some dignity and trying to ensure their athletes do not behave like asses.
      • jsmu, on 02/11/2008, -2/+2You simply must stop that crack habit.
      • billybob217, on 02/11/2008, -1/+3So the US led boycott of the 1980 Olympics was a waste as well?
        Sure the Olympics are mostly about athletic competition but it is also a method used by host countries to showoff the grandeur of their country... It has a bunch of political implications that you are not thinking about....
        • cbuddha42, on 02/11/2008, -1/+2If you don't want to go then don't go. If you go then don't be an ass and run your mouth off about the country that is hosting you. Simple as that. Obviously giving the Olypmics to China has social and political consequences, but that doesn't mean the atheltes should be talking about it during the games.
          • billybob217, on 02/12/2008, -0/+0Therein lies the problem w/ most people, they don't want to take a stance... Therefore, countries can continually abuse humans rights...
            As you admit the Olympics have social and political consequences, no speaking out against them only lets the countries continue to do wtv they are doing...
      • antonycao, on 02/15/2008, -0/+0well said. It's as simple as being a good person in real life. But people just won't let their huge ego go...

    • Bodhinature, on 02/11/2008, -2/+10Wow. So, sign the papers and then speak out anyway. Why do British athletes need China's permission to speak?
      • LeanMeat, on 02/11/2008, -2/+0cuz ninjas will raid there house....Chiya-nese Ninjas
      • gh0st3000, on 02/11/2008, -2/+1Because maybe some of them like being allowed to compete in the Olympics?
    • skipdog172, on 02/11/2008, -14/+6I am a bit dismayed by all of the China hate in the comments. Change doesn't happen overnight and by reading most of these comments, nobody seems to be aware of all the changes the country is currently going through, especially with all of the new courts and the largest migration in the history of the world(agricultural workers migrating to cities and working in sweatshops--big quality of life improvements across the board). To think that China isn't making progress on human rights and personal freedoms is laughable and shows how many of you have no idea what is going on inside of China. The middle class is growing, and for the most part, they don't mind the regime. They aren't looking to protest. It is primarily the shrinking lower class that could want to protest. From all of these comments, it almost sounds like many of you would support America "forcing its will" upon China to somehow produce insta-change.

      All I am reading is hate-filled post after hate-filled post. China is changing, NOTHING WILL MAKE THEM CHANGE FASTER.

      When did it become "cool" to hate on China? Yes, protesting a stupid British olympic policy about concerning free speech is all fine and dandy. Yes, we know China is catching up on human rights.

      It is ludicrous for us to boycott the games.
      • dogstar0125, on 02/11/2008, -1/+10If China is changing, it appears to be changing for the worse. Over the past 30 years they've transitioned from a relatively sustainable agrarian economy to a manufacturing economy that is a looming global disaster. They're degrading their own environment to the point where they will have difficulty producing food for their people, and they're now the world's biggest polluter. They manufacture almost nothing but cheap throw-away products, which is an incredible waste of resources.
        • tim04, on 02/11/2008, -5/+1Is the US economy sustainable without the use of outside resources? It's pretty arrogant to assume that China will remain a farming country.
          • dorkslayer, on 02/11/2008, -0/+5The US economy is not sustainable with or without the use of outside resources. And neither is China's. For China to be degrading its agricultural capability in order to move to a manufacturing economy that is highly dependent on world markets, energy and resource prices is nothing short of suicidal.
        • antonycao, on 02/15/2008, -0/+0"sustainable agrarian economy"? Dude, there are 1.3 billion people who wants to live as Americans do. They want to drive gigantic SUVs, live in mansions, single-sided print their documents, having AC in every single room, installing escalators in their gyms.... Oh, and you know what, these images are delivered to China by your Hollywood.

          If you look at energy consumption per capita, guess who's the winner? I don't even care to look it up online...
      • dopke, on 02/11/2008, -1/+3What's ludicrous is for us to be bullied by China. China has no right to be hosting an Olympics when it continues to censor and oppress anything that they don't agree with. Sudan? Taiwan (or in terms of China, it's the Republic of China)?

        And you know why the middle class doesn't mind the regime? Because they've never experienced wealth, and now they are being blinded by it. To them, who cares if pollution is killing our air, at least we have nice houses/cars and food to eat now.
        • tim04, on 02/13/2008, -0/+1that's because it is the Republic of China. Most world powers don't recognize it as an independent nation. And yes that's right, food > pollution.
          • dopke, on 02/15/2008, -0/+0So because most world powers don't recognize Taiwan as a nation, means we should let a communist China threaten them? Taiwan is one of the U.S.'s greatest allies in that region; even though the U.S. doesn't officially recognize Taiwan as an independent country, it pretty much does everything it can to "recognize" Taiwan, short of actually saying it.
          • antonycao, on 02/15/2008, -0/+0that's a very noble thing to do. I support you under the table, but in front of the world, I am still all righteous. That also has happened when dealing with Iraq, Sudan and many many other instances...
            What can I say? Let's play dirty, yay!
    • TsuruchiBrian, on 02/11/2008, -2/+2I would not look down on someone who does not want to use their freedom of speech to criticize an evil government. But to cooperate with that government and actively try to silence people who do want to use their freedom of speech is morally reprehensible.
    • BabyWookie, on 02/11/2008, -4/+2What does being Communist have to do with it?
    • tim04, on 02/11/2008, -5/+1It's true that their human rights is pretty bad, but the Olympics isn't and shouldn't be a medium for political protest. It's about and should always be about individual athletes pushing their individual sports.

      Politically, it's easy to say that communism is bad, democracy is good, but you have to open your mind and see that for every situation requires a custom form of government. To say that a western system of democracy will work for a country of 1 billion people is pretty arrogant. Even the 300 million strong US, which has been using democracy for over a century still has huge problems relating to corruption, underrepresentation, lobbyists, cheating voting machines. Imagine this applied to a country of 1 billion and you can see how democracy may not be the best option.
      • antonycao, on 02/15/2008, -0/+0Over 1.3 billion, to be more exact.
        Few people are open-minded here. They have been educated to think like this since when they were three. Well, as a matter of fact all of us are like that. It's just miserable.
    • Denelson83, on 02/12/2008, -0/+2I don't recognize China as a country *at all.* That area is open for colonization. Same with North Korea, Vietnam and Burma. Totalitarian governments are nothing more than sorry, cowardly excuses.
  • moletimer, on 02/11/2008, -5/+84This is utter madness.
    • fourthmonk1822, on 02/11/2008, -9/+0Yes it is: political_opinion/Information_war_real_casualties
    • d3lta, on 02/11/2008, -1/+12And its all thanks to a clause from the IOC, the same organization that decided to continue with the Munich Olympics for a few days without the least acknowledgment that athletes had been murdered in a terrorist attack. Still, quite a few countries haven't censured their athletes, and this is quite hypocritical stance from Britain, when you look at how vehemently they oppose ties of any sort with Zimbabwe.
    • rufusio, on 02/11/2008, -23/+7No... this is SPARTA!
    • rufusio, on 02/11/2008, -8/+2/meme
    • d3lta, on 02/11/2008, -0/+6It looks like they've backed off and the gag is off http://blogs.reuters.com/uknews/2008/02/11/gagging ...
    • taintedzodiac, on 02/11/2008, -1/+15Madness? This is Beijing!
    • Siraf, on 02/11/2008, -0/+13Madness? THIS IS CHINA!
    • BabyWookie, on 02/11/2008, -1/+2This is blasphemy!
    • taylorjuwig, on 02/11/2008, -0/+10Madness? THIS IS AN OVER QUOTED LINE!
  • Iconoclast25, on 02/11/2008, -6/+51Good for Charles - nice to know he's not just a pretty face riding horses.
  • syroncoda, on 02/11/2008, -14/+142***** *****. why is china, whose military is happy at shooting chinese students (tiananmen square, bitches), hosting the Olympic games? i guess its like when nazi germany did.

    bet you're all proud that your countries have people going to the games.
    • fourthmonk1822, on 02/11/2008, -23/+0Do not count me in on that!
      political_opinion/Information_war_real_casualties
    • Jacob, on 02/11/2008, -2/+19To be honest with the problem my country is having right now this is just another drop in the bucket. I've been planning to boycott watching the olympics ever since I realized it was in China. Now there is this and the whole no bible/religious paraphernalia thing I heard a couple months ago that just reinforce to me why I'm not going to watch any of it.
      • UnterDenLinden, on 02/11/2008, -2/+1I don't think we should deny these amazing athletes the attention they deserve, no matter where they are competing. I'll be DVR'ing the whole thing.
    • Cerebral, on 02/11/2008, -5/+321) $$$
      2) Actually I don't give a rat's ass about the Olympics. I wouldn't lose any sleep if they didn't even have them anymore.
      • mmmmmbiscuits, on 02/11/2008, -6/+22Exactly. Olympics are about as relevant as the Grammy's and 10x teh boring.
      • forgetfulca, on 02/11/2008, -1/+14yes and no. The individuals involved are amazing, the _organization_ is the irrelevant part. It's too bad that the contestants have a choice of 1) shut up, or 2) see the last N year's effort go down the drain.
        • mmmmmbiscuits, on 02/11/2008, -1/+3Since winners are chosen before broadcast, other options would be to not show up at all, or to send your pimp....er manager to receive the award for you. While some of the art may be amazing, the individuals very often aren't. Like most other awards shows it's just an industry circle jerk.
    • HomerS1, on 02/11/2008, -1/+17In all fairness, China won the rights to host the Olympics in the same way as every other host in the past... They bribed the selection commitee better than their rivals.
    • schrankage, on 02/11/2008, -1/+3Because the corporate junta which rules much of the world doesn't give a ***** about human rights, and decided in 2012 they want to have the Olypmics, which are quite difficult to make profitable, on the cheap by exploiting the Chinese labor force. Did you expect anything less?
      • there, on 02/12/2008, -1/+1 That's a really negative outlook. Hitler used the Olympics to make political statements too.

        While some occasionally still use it for political statemetns....the spirit of Olympics is not about politics between nations and cultures...it's about friendly competition between them. In fact even to the Greeks that started them the Olympics weren't about politics. As crazy as it sounds they would sometimes stop wars in progress amongst themselves to compete.... then go back to fighting afterwards.

        There are plenty of other places in the world to make political statements, hate and slander one another, and kill each other. Let's not make the Olympics one of them.

    • frenchi, on 02/11/2008, -1/+5>bet you're all proud that your countries have people going to the games.

      Do you live is a country that doesn't send any athletes to the Olympics?
      only Afganistan, the Pacific island nations of Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, and Tuvalu don't send athletes to the Olympics..
      I'm guessing you're a taliban terrorist.
    • BabyWookie, on 02/11/2008, -4/+4That was over 20 years ago, under a completely different government. Plus, the olympics are all about fostering understanding and cooperation between people, not political bickering between governments. It was bad enough when the US and their lap-dogs boycotted the Moscow olympics in 1980. It's BS.
  • bunkka, on 02/11/2008, -4/+38Ridiculous! Happy I don't live in China
    • cookingboy, on 02/11/2008, -1/+0First of all, it's the British's decision, and China didn't force them to do anything.
      And furthermore, I do realize that it's ridiculous to try to discuss politics on digg, but whatever.
      Really, for most of you digg users out there, China really isn't just another North Korea with 1 billion plus population. It really isn't a country with just oppressed farmers. It really isn't just a country where you see Communist soldiers shooting people on the street. I was in Shanghai this past winter, and guess where I spent Christmas Eve?
      Hooters.
      Yep, Hooters. I know the established bias toward a Communist country among us Americans, especially such a libertarian crowd here on digg. But the world really isn't just black and white. The Chinese government isn't nearly as glorious as they describe it to be in their propaganda, but it also isn't nearly as atrocious as in most people's assumption. We tend to think things are either right or wrong, black or white, 1 or 0, (Such as this article will either be dugg or buried, and I have a feeling it's going to be the latter), but unfortunately, the world really isn't as simple as a lot of us would like it to be.
      For those of you who might be interested in learning more about a subject before shouting your pre-established opinions out, wikipedia is a good place to start.
      Now let the burial begin.
      • antonycao, on 02/15/2008, -0/+0I am so happy that there are open-minded people here on digg.com
        Most Americans knew nothing about what has happened and is happening in China. They are just sensitive to certain words like "communism", "democracy"....
        Ask yourself a question: how many misunderstandings towards Americans do you think an average Chinese would have? Hundreds of them. Then how many misunderstandings do you have towards Chinese? I'd say millions of them. Cuz in China we have Hollywood movies, we have MTV channels, we have coca-cola, McDonald's and even hooters. We know American culture thru them. Then how did you learn about China? Washington Post run by Americans? NYtimes run by Americans? Fox news run by americans?...
        Stop waving your fingers around if your conceptions are all based on assumptions. It's just ridiculous and brain-washed.
  • FeargusMcDuff, on 02/11/2008, -26/+5Seeing as most of our good come from China, and that China is set to be the next superpower in the world, I do not blame my government for seeking good relations with the Chinese.
    • AzureRise, on 02/11/2008, -3/+21I do.
    • d3lta, on 02/11/2008, -1/+16Honor and Glory have quite clearly gone to the dogs, money talks.
    • TheCasablancan, on 02/11/2008, -3/+20I dig Chinese girls. I try to have good relations with them as often as I can.
  • lamiaconfitor, on 02/11/2008, -4/+70I don't care if they are communists or not, but they are corrupt and abuse their people as if Humanity itself does not matter. screw having to sign a ban.
    • PurpleSfinx, on 02/11/2008, -0/+14QFT - Who cares about their decisions on their economic structure - Their government is a bunch of censoring suppressing small minded idiots who I sincerely hope get what's coming to them (read: personal revenge, not war or anything).
      • Cerebral, on 02/11/2008, -1/+6Actually I don't think their government is small minded at all. They know exactly what they need to do to stay in control and I'm sure in private quarters it's a "do as I say not as I do" mentality.
        • jsmu, on 02/11/2008, -0/+1What a laughable post. Censorship of the rabid sort in which China SPECIALIZES is nothing if not small. Small-minded, small-souled. The fact that some of the fascist politicos may have access to porn, lol, is not the point.
          • Cerebral, on 02/12/2008, -0/+1Small soul, yes. But to say small minded would mean that they wouldn't know to keep the people down. It's the oppressors who generally have a very good mind. It's not like our government officials who say "what is that intrar-webs thing again?" They are at least smart enough to put people at the head of their divisions who know what they are doing.
  • daxsymbiont, on 02/11/2008, -25/+2You are banned to "glorify terrorism" in the UK, to "insult turkishness" in Turkey, to suggest assasination of the president in the US, etc.
    • d3lta, on 02/11/2008, -3/+17and to question/deny the holocaust in France, and in Turkey to accept the Armenian genocide etc etc, but these are laws that are followed within the country that declares them. When the international community starts censuring witnesses the world over from talking about their experiences its a whole new ball game...
  • fourthmonk1822, on 02/11/2008, -25/+3Another one:
    ...political_opinion/Information_war_real_casualties
    • SpaceMonkeyZero, on 02/11/2008, -2/+12Can you STFU already? We saw, and ignored, your post the first two times.
      • fourthmonk1822, on 02/11/2008, -7/+1How kind a soul!
        And, if I am not disturbing you too much, why?
        U see, I'm still not much used to DIGG uses, so I posted the comment three times while trying to make it appear where I wanted to. That was disturbing? I'm sorry. But your comment wasn't exactly pleasant, wasn't it?

        And, anyway... It's not off topic. I'm quite devoted to this theme, not a sunday-protester or whatever you unknowingly judge me.

        You fast-downthumbing-and-even-faster-thinking-guys should relax a little and take the time to go a lilttle through the things. It's not all about fast clicking.

        It's serious stuff we're talking about here, and spreading knowledge is quite important.

        Think, between a click and the other...
        • punx, on 02/11/2008, -2/+2You are plenty used to Digg, because you have posted that on every goddamn article I have read. STFU already.
        • skyfire1, on 02/11/2008, -1/+1Butthurt rat bastard.
        • fourthmonk1822, on 02/12/2008, -0/+1Dear mr punx, are you a liar, unable to read or what?
          1) I posted it on this article, and none else. So, you ARE a liar.
          2) Check my profile: I am quite a newbie on DIGG, I wrote 8 comments in total (this being number nine). So, you ARE unable to read.

          According to wikipedia, DIGG community has some issues...

          Yeah, it has.
  • tkcom, on 02/11/2008, -2/+53Mass boycott ensues?
    • tman84, on 02/11/2008, -3/+12I wish the US Athletes had the conviction to boycott. I know we don't have the balls as a nation, but individual athletes should withdraw.
    • bemenaker, on 02/11/2008, -0/+7I'd support it.
    • davidkeithjones, on 02/11/2008, -0/+11Make a call to ANON!!!
  • streetsim, on 02/11/2008, -30/+5I think it's fair. We wouldn't want athletes coming here and complaining about Bush all the time when we already know how much of a *****-up he was.
    • koft, on 02/11/2008, -2/+18I'd think it was great and buy the folks a round of beers. We are free to say what we please here, including our guests. ***** Bush.
      • buddyfarr, on 02/11/2008, -5/+4yeah, especially when our own congress puts up with his ***** and doesn't impeach him.
  • naj0rt, on 02/11/2008, -6/+180A country that blatantly violates human rights should not be rewarded with the Olympic games.
    • daxsymbiont, on 02/11/2008, -30/+3no, US should have olympic games.
      • ukfoole, on 02/11/2008, -3/+25Yep, when I lived in the US, tanks rolled the streets and malcontents were tossed into prison and mysteriously died of odd conditions. I rember fondly when some church hung a "Think Freedom" banner out front and all the priests were rounded up and taken somewhere... wish we knew where, but when that reporter tried to find out, he was shot dead on the street by a uniformed soldier.

        Seriously, try thinking before you open your mouth, I hear it helps to keep you from looking like the lead sipper you are.
        • schumacc, on 02/11/2008, -7/+3You are so full of *****. I call ***** on your comment. Names, places facts or it didn't happen.
          • theNazz, on 02/11/2008, -3/+5If he lived in the US in the 1960's, then no, he is not full of *****. There were national guard tanks on patrol in Detroit, and they had sharpshooters lined up along the freeways taking aim at motorists to make sure they were not going to step out of line. That's not *****, it's a fact.
        • daxsymbiont, on 02/11/2008, -0/+3and what are you, a white blonde british?

          try black african there.
        • fourthmonk1822, on 02/14/2008, -0/+1Some people really doesn't understand irony...
          ukfoole, yours was a great comment.
          A pity too many diggers digged too low and couldn't raise their head from the mud they're immersed in.
    • ukfoole, on 02/11/2008, -11/+34Unfortunately, according to the UN Human Rights Council, the only countries to violate human rights are the US and Isreal. Sure, they are "dismayed" and "urge for action" but the only resolutions they pass are "for end to Israeli restrictions on Gaza Strip" and "waterboarding should be prosecuted as torture". Yeah, the waterboarding is bad and needs to stop but geez, it is a fly next to the elephant in the room.

      Running over Buddist monks with tanks = Ok by us, want to borrow some sarin gas? Here is the Olympics and a big fat check.
      Living in America or Israel = CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY!!!!! DIE PIG DOGS DIE!!!!!!!
      • Tarnum, on 02/11/2008, -11/+7Where are your medications?
      • schumacc, on 02/11/2008, -8/+4Your user name is appropriate. Fool!
      • icebrk, on 02/11/2008, -7/+1Here I thought nations that actually go out of their way to point out how they're free SHOULD be held to a high standard of human rights. This by no means excuses what goes on in China or other oppressive regimes or the lack of action against it, but it's no excuse for explaining away those of the US.
    • isaactwito, on 02/11/2008, -1/+1Then who should?
      • fourthmonk1822, on 02/14/2008, -0/+1What about anyone else who doesn't blatantly (and daily, let me add) violates human rights?
  • Berkana, on 02/11/2008, -2/+77You know what would be a horrible embarrassment to China? Their gray air. Yup. Try to host outdoor olympic events in that air. That's enough reason not to go, IMHO.

    Those of you who feel annoyed at environmental regulations don't know how good we have it here. If you want to see what happens when business collude with government to silence all environmentalists from getting in the way of their profits, go to China and take a deep breath.
    • kravex, on 02/11/2008, -14/+6And who do think owns all those factory's? Try looking at some of your 'home brands' you'll probably find Made in China on them.
      • mmmmmbiscuits, on 02/11/2008, -0/+11Factory produces BrandX ≠ BrandX owns factory.
      • Fafnir43, on 02/11/2008, -2/+8That only demonstrates his point more conclusively - that if there were no environmental regulations in the US, the corporations would bend you over and ***** you like a cheap whore.
      • Tarnum, on 02/11/2008, -5/+4ALL THOSE FACTORY'S
        ALL THOSE FACTORIES
    • superjarvo, on 02/11/2008, -0/+28I have been living in Beijing for almost a year now. I have never been more sick in my life. I am usually sick once or twice a year. Because of the pollution, I am sick once or twice a month (and I exercise and eat healthy). It is horrible. I am happy to be moving in a few weeks (for many reasons, not just the pollution). My wife is a Chinese citizen, and is happy to get the ***** out as well!
    • MrTRiX, on 02/11/2008, -0/+4I went to Beijing on a trip and also noticed very bad pollution. I ended up being sick for a good bit of the trip and I am sure it was due to that. Once I got back to Canada it was so much easier to breath.
    • dood, on 02/11/2008, -1/+2Then after taking that deep breath, consider which presidential candidate would do away with the EPA to allow the states to implement piecemeal rules in collusion with local businesses.
    • Existenz87, on 02/11/2008, -0/+2If you spend a few months in Beijing you'll learn why everyone spits there. To get the black tar out of their lungs and onto the street.
  • daxsymbiont, on 02/11/2008, -27/+8The blatant violation of the US for internation law makes comments coming from there amusing.

    "If the Nuremberg laws were applied, then every post-war American president would have been hanged." http://www.chomsky.info/talks/1990----.htm
  • crackah, on 02/11/2008, -7/+31Welcome our new world super power.

    I honestly would rather America invading and giving "freedom" than china coming and giving what ever they do. Lets hope they dont ay.
    • sporg, on 02/11/2008, -7/+5Then you don't know enough about how Americas Humanitarian Imperialism works.
      • fourthmonk1822, on 02/14/2008, -0/+1You really think you can compare that with China's?
        Really?
  • dakbonsa, on 02/11/2008, -0/+32http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080118/sp_wl_afp/oly ...

    "As of Thursday 15 countries had decided to send a total of 499 people to train in South Korea, including divers from the United States, hockey players from Poland and badminton players from the Netherlands, he said.
    Japan has reportedly attracted about 20 foreign Olympic teams, including a British swimming team and 150 Swedish athletes. "

    hmmmm... what would be the reason why athletes are training in Japan and South Korea rather than in China?
    • Excen, on 02/11/2008, -10/+21what would be the reason why athletes are training in Japan and South Korea rather than in China?

      Bukkake and Dog have more protein than Cardboard?
    • SpaceMonkeyZero, on 02/11/2008, -7/+17I still find it funny that Badminton is an Olympic sport.
      • EtherGnat, on 02/11/2008, -2/+12Have you ever played with anybody who's really good at badminton? I thought I was hot stuff at the game until I got a chance a few years ago to play with people who compete regularly. Regardless of how you play at your family picnics, they are most definitely athletes. How is it any different from Tennis, anyway?
    • fourthmonk1822, on 02/14/2008, -0/+1To avoid chinese venomous food?
      http://www.unmadeinchina.org/contStd.asp?lang=en&i ...
  • tynansanger, on 02/11/2008, -24/+15At least they won't waterboard them if they protest.
    • TotalCarb, on 02/11/2008, -4/+30No they have the fingercuffs.
    • malman4, on 02/11/2008, -1/+27No, they just execute them.
    • sk11, on 02/11/2008, -0/+10At least there're no tasers.
      sarcasm
    • Discerneth, on 02/11/2008, -2/+7They'll do things that would make you wish you were being subjected to waterboarding... Are you really that much in the dark about China's human rights history? We, in the US, are far from spotless, but China is much, much worse.
    • jsuther, on 02/11/2008, -0/+4Yeah I assume the term "Chinese Water Torture" is in no way related to water boarding. It must mean something else.
      • skyfire1, on 02/11/2008, -0/+3It's worse, They fill your stomach with urine and ***** water until it almost bursts then they beat you until you vomit. Then they do it again.
        • nedzeve, on 02/12/2008, -1/+1You've been subjected to both waterboarding and what you've just described? I doubt it.
  • jfsimard79, on 02/11/2008, -13/+3Madness? This is Sparta!
  • Badtastic, on 02/11/2008, -1/+78A country that uses sports arenas to execute its own people should never have been rewarded the olympics in the first place.
    • DevilInPgh, on 02/11/2008, -1/+3You're forgetting that this is the same committee that awarded the games to Moscow. Of course, that was probably in 1974, before Afghanistan and the refusenik movement.

      BTW, the STAND and Free Burma movements are calling this summer's games the "Genocide Games", FWIW.
      • Badtastic, on 02/12/2008, -0/+2Your observation is correct. Keep in mind however, that the Olympics were rewarded to Beijing while the Tienanmen square massacre was still fresh in memory and where public execution venues held at sports arenas were common knowledge, even in the minds of IOC-members. What does this tell us about the ethical integrity of the IOC? What sort of signal does this send to nations where abuse of human rights is common place?

        The Olympics should be used as the "carrot" to reward nations who show progress on this front, a way of welcoming them into the fold of civilized nations that respect human rights, demonstrating to them that by following the rules, prosperity and trade follow. Why do you think some countries (like Turkey for example) are starting to clean up their act, scrambling and begging to join the EU? The world is getting to small and crowded for nations to afford a bad human rights record.
  • LanceStallion, on 02/11/2008, -8/+104If the U.S. did this, they would scream "Big Brother"...China does it, and they say we're respecting their culture.
  • DiggetteUK, on 02/11/2008, -10/+24The passage in the contract has now been removed to protect the athlete's human rights to freedom of speech, they can once again say whatever they want. Buried as inaccurate as after all this is the Daily Mail and if we lived in a Daily Mail world it's all doom and gloom and immigrants would be over running us all anyway.
    • blate, on 02/11/2008, -7/+5The Daily Mail Reality is like a ***** up episode of Lost but with extra stupid
  • 3tcp, on 02/11/2008, -1/+61Who knew that holding the Olympics in a nation with an oppressive, totalitarian government would lead to oppression in the countries that chose to attend?
    • rz8472, on 02/11/2008, -1/+5South Korea was an oppressive, totalitarian state when they got chosen for the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul. But there were mass pro-democracy demonstrations in South Korea in 1987, and rather than crack down on the protesters in front of the world press and face a potentially huge blow to their reputation, South Korean leaders actually stepped aside and allowed a democratic system of government to take over.

      As a Chinese person from an upper-middle class family there, I know that the new rising middle class is for the large part very supportive of the regime and really couldn't care less for democratic action as long as they're making more money than they've ever dreamed of under the Cultural Revolution. This is very different for the rural poor, the sweatshop laborers, and the migrant workers however, and China is doing everything they can to suppress their dissent and prevent another Seoul. They are very afraid of anything - especially protests - that would 'ruin' the Olympic Games, and have taken the following steps to suppress dissent:
      - Actually quietly increasing suppression of dissidents within China while claiming the otherwise
      - Increasing journalistic censorship for local news while increasing freedom for the foreign press
      - Intercepting any rural dissidents before they get to Beijing
      - Requiring Beijing migrant workers to register and make public their political views and orientation

      Unfortunately Beijing seems much more competent at suppressing discontent than South Korea. I have a feeling this will be more of a Berlin 1936 legacy (I mean as a legitimizer for dictatorship; China's foreign policy to (not) Taiwan is not very aggressive and nothing like Germany's) than a Seoul 1988.
  • 5xSTUN, on 02/11/2008, -2/+33I find it appalling and disgusting that any civilized nation would have anything to do with China. It's a repressive, appalling regime, one that needs a grand necktie party thrown for its leadership, yet it enjoys most-favored-nation trading status, while its corrupt and vicious leaders grow richer and richer on the bent backs of the impoverished masses.
    Did you know that it's actually a crime in China to publicize government corruption? There are journalists and editors in prison in China right now for committing that "crime." Appalling and disgusting. How the Olympic Committee could even consider having the Olympics in such a disgusting, appalling, horrible place is utterly beyond me. Apparently the Olympic Committee approves of political dissidents being rounded up and having electricity applied to their genitals.
    • sremick, on 02/11/2008, -2/+5Morals, ethics, and virtues are always trumped by being able to get stuff cheap. Because humans tend to be self-absorbed, greedy bastards.
    • jimchou, on 02/11/2008, -3/+1Um, China may not be the most progressive of societies, they're undoubtedly authoritarian, but it's not one of those countries where the "corrupt and vicious leaders grow richer and richer on the bent backs of the impoverished masses". Standards of living have been rising due to the rapid growth in the economy.

      And while China certainly doesn't have a good human rights record, it's better than that of countries like Saudi Arabia. And I don't think they officially support waterboarding or other torture or export their prisoners to other countries for them, unlike a certain other country I'm sure you could name.
  • boran, on 02/11/2008, -1/+39The only real solution is to boycot.
  • renagadex2, on 02/11/2008, -2/+13China is a terror.
  • mrynit, on 02/11/2008, -1/+15stop the persecution falun gong
    • SpaceMonkeyZero, on 02/11/2008, -2/+6I would respect China if they treated Scientologists half as bad as the Falun Gong...
    • sremick, on 02/11/2008, -1/+4Stop the persecution of the word "of"!
    • cookingboy, on 02/11/2008, -2/+0start learning how to spell
    • eigenweasel, on 02/11/2008, -0/+3"Persecution" is an understatement with regard to China's attitude to Falun Gong.
      The Chinese government *harvests organs* from Falun Gong practitioners. That's sickness beyond even Nazism.

      http://organharvestinvestigation.net/
  • vastrightwing, on 02/11/2008, -15/+8Why not? They can save their comments until afterwards. It's kind of like being invited to someone's house and saying bad things about the host while in their house. Most polite people wait until right after they leave!
    • synyster, on 02/11/2008, -4/+4i was thinking exactly the same thing,
      • punx, on 02/11/2008, -1/+1But the difference is this: If the host was destroying my life, torturing, executing, harvesting my organs, refusing to allow me to speak freely, or in any other way oppressing me, it would be my DUTY to throw a fit and state exactly what I thought of them. Same thing with China. It is the right of every free person to speak whatever they choose, short of threatening someone.
    • diggerine, on 02/11/2008, -0/+2Hey vastrightwing, China did everything it can to win the privilege of hosting this year's Olympics. They wanted to be the host, very badly. So, no, it's not like these athletes are being invited by China. These athletes have, by their abilities, won the right to represent their home countries in the 2008 Olympics, which the Chinese happen to be hosting.

      These athletes are being 'invited', if that is the right word, by the International Olympic Commitee. It is not China's place to invite them. China asked, pled, begged to be host. That does not mean athletes lose their human rights just because they go to China.
    • fourthmonk1822, on 02/14/2008, -0/+1Well put, diggerine.
      Plus, vastrightwing: "polite people"???!!?! You are "invited" (see diggerine's exception on this) at Hannnibal Lecter's house, you discover his doings and... you worry about being POLITE?!??!?!

      Please...
  • tarquell, on 02/11/2008, -0/+24the Olympics are a political stage, and always have been. I am english and disgusted at this.
  • Meccabilly, on 02/11/2008, -5/+10"British Olympic officials have insisted there is no intention to gag athletes from making political comment in China during the 2008 Games in Beijing."

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/7237227.s ...
  • Nocturnalis, on 02/11/2008, -0/+22Why are the Olympics being held in China anyway when they have days called "Blue Sky Days"? Meaning that once in a while they can actually see the blue sky b/c the air pollution is so bad. How are world class Olympic athletes suppose to breath and perform to the best of their ability when pollution gets to level where you see the blue sky as often as you see a blue moon?
  • pamela12345, on 02/11/2008, -0/+12Totally unacceptable. It is a measure of China's fear of any public debate about their appalling human rights abuses that makes them demand silence.
  • manicallday, on 02/11/2008, -1/+10So what are they going to do if you don't comply? Take your medal away? Whatever. That would just motivate me to win one - just so I can wipe my ass with it and throw it back on the table.
  • cdehl, on 02/11/2008, -0/+8Or you could protest subtly: http://www.thecolororange.net/uk/
    • mecenday, on 02/11/2008, -0/+2[orange]
    • mahdaeng, on 02/11/2008, -0/+2The world should have protested by deciding not to hold the Olympics in China in the first place.
  • Riccallo, on 02/11/2008, -2/+9Since this has been posted the Olympic committee has said that they will remove this clause.
  • mlockup, on 02/11/2008, -1/+14That only means that the Olympics should never be assigned to China. You all understand that the spirit of the Olympics has died along with the Ancient Hellenic civilization, and what we experience today is only a symbol for commercial pandaemonium - with, of course, athletic events (so, yes it's still a good thing i guess).
    • isaactwito, on 02/11/2008, -1/+1I really have to disagree. The olympics are an excellent arena for world competition, between the people of the countries, not just national leaders. It's one of the few events in the world that is so all encompassing. Then again, you are on digg, so you probably don't know how much fun sports are.
      • fourthmonk1822, on 02/14/2008, -0/+1While you are not on digg, that can teach us, Uhu?
  • robotfuel, on 02/11/2008, -0/+10If they're against the gag order then why don't all the people who disagree with it not go? That would throw a pretty big ***** wrench into the whole thing if a large number of Olympians decided to give a collective '***** you' to China's government.
    • sremick, on 02/11/2008, -1/+4That would require enough athletes having a conscience for it to matter. Honor among athletes??? You obviously haven't been reading the news for a while.
      • robotfuel, on 02/11/2008, -1/+1I read news stories from all over the world and follow multiple stories across multiple sites to try and get a wider view of current events.

        However I don't read the sports section.

        You obviously haven't been assuming things about people you know nothing about long enough to realize it's ridiculous to do so.
  • thecoolestguy, on 02/11/2008, -0/+10This is outragous.
  • DonkeyTonk, on 02/11/2008, -12/+7***** the Daily Mail.
    Anyways, it's sad that freedom of speech is hindered, but to be fair China has been held together (on the whole) for over 50 years after 2000-3000 years of fighting and blood shed. I'm not saying the Chinese Government are all good but every government around the world treats some of it's citizens like ***** is some respect. The average chinese persons living standards are improving every day and most don't really care as long as they see their lives improving.
    • loquax, on 02/11/2008, -1/+13Please remember that over their 3,000 + year history, China has had times of peace, prosperity, and some semblance of personal freedom (as much as you can have in a monarchy-empire) that lasted longer than the scan 200+ years that we've been around in the U.S. That being said, the past 50 have not been all sweetness and light. The cultural revolution killed, "re-educated," and impoverished MILLIONS in the span of just a few years. Friends of mine who are from China, recount things that will make your blood freeze. Mao was Hitler with a better PR department. The current regime is just now beginning to understand that freedom equates to better economics (and vice versa). I'd like to see the athletes refuse to sign, and if I hear of this happening in the U.S., I'll write my representatives and lodge a protest.
      British politeness be damned. Speak your peace and shame the devil.
      • fourthmonk1822, on 02/14/2008, -0/+1Just one errata: Mao was not Hitler with better PR.

        He was Hitler without a lost World War.
  • sleepbox, on 02/11/2008, -7/+12And the pussy British nanny state/thought police strikes again.
    • charlietuna, on 02/11/2008, -7/+4WTF are you talking about!?
      • mmmmmbiscuits, on 02/11/2008, -1/+5You understand that it was the British Olympic Association forcing this contract on its athletes, right?
        • charlietuna, on 02/11/2008, -1/+4They should represent Australia in protest. Most importantly, the athletes are free to say what they want after the competition.
  • imakeart4u, on 02/11/2008, -3/+17boycott! DO NOT WATCH IT!
    • dood, on 02/11/2008, -0/+1But the sponsors put a lot of work in to writing and filming their commercials.
  • flashback99, on 02/11/2008, -15/+4I bet the Chinese sign a contract so they are not allowed to mention the iraq war and how britain contributes to the death toll or innocent iraqis.
    • mmmmmbiscuits, on 02/11/2008, -2/+13Dude, this isn't the Moral Equivalence Games, it's the Olympic Games. You win a brown medal for your *****, Chomsky.
  • jsayreallen, on 02/11/2008, -5/+4So now eBay is running the Olympics?
  • Angostura, on 02/11/2008, -6/+14The clause is being removed. It was clearly stupid. Marked as inaccurate, which is pretty unsurprising seeing as it comes from the Daily Fail.
  • Bobhuh, on 02/11/2008, -1/+6When you own the world you can get people to do what ever you want. Sadly we've helped them
  • charlietuna, on 02/11/2008, -5/+4I for one only care about that pic of marathon runner Paula Radcliffe. Mmm
    • edebolt, on 02/11/2008, -1/+3that was gross. couldn't she have found a porta toilet or something
      • charlietuna, on 02/12/2008, -0/+1Yeah, I take it back. Whoa. eeech
  • amightywind, on 02/11/2008, -2/+18It is going to be fun watching the commies try to keep a lid on this olympics. This will be even better that the 'black power' games of 1968. Free Tibet! Taiwan independence now! Remember Tiananmen Square!
    • CrazyDave303, on 02/11/2008, -6/+2I listened to rather good lecture from a poli-sci professor (@ UBC in Vancouver Canada) how the life of the average person in Tibet is better off under Chinese rule. There is a lot we are not told about how the monks use to rule the country.

      One of the big things is the amount of tax taken from the average citizen. It's funny how taking away some ones land bit by bit, or harsh taxes that would take life giving live stock is not counted as tyranny.
      • CrazyDave303, on 02/11/2008, -4/+1http://www.michaelparenti.org/Tibet.html

        good reading... if I find more I'll post it. Sorry it's not the popular "truth" but at lest the person that has written this is educated and has studied the situation.
        • CrazyDave303, on 02/13/2008, -0/+1I'm glad to see most people on Digg know more about every subject then those that have done research, the text books, scientist, or those that work in the fields of question. This community has really shined with topics about lightening, astronomy / astrophysics, particle physics, and history.

          I see Digging down my first comments because I have no refrances while talking about factual unpopular topics (not saying what I claim is fact, but that there is facts involved) but digging down this post above goes to show there quite a few people that are closed minded and shun an intellectual point of view(the author not me).

          I think people need to stop assuming they know all the answers, and look around you.
      • CrazyDave303, on 02/11/2008, -2/+2There is no citations on this one, but I don't think it's Chinese written propaganda.

        http://www.escapeartist.com/efam/40/Tibet.html
  • DeFex, on 02/11/2008, -2/+15As long as they don't double park or visit the wrong web site, otherwise they might end up becoming organ donors.
    seriously lets stop buying so much crap from there.
  • kopsy, on 02/11/2008, -6/+5This is bad reporting. British Olympic officials are, in fact, questioning the clause and refusing to hand over the contracts to the athletes until it has been discussed with China. Typical Daily Mail innacurate war-mongering article.
    • mmmmmbiscuits, on 02/11/2008, -2/+9So you're not bothered by the fact that the clause was there to begin with? "Nothing to see here...move along.....these aren't the thought police you're looking for" type of thing?
      • kopsy, on 02/11/2008, -6/+2of course the initial clause is discgraceful. What is equally bad is the tone of the daily mail's piece and the innacurate reporting that the officials have kow towed to china when in fact they have done exactly the opposite.
        • kopsy, on 02/11/2008, -2/+1being dugg down for pointing out that an article is factually innacurate - gee, welcome to digg :)
  • insomniac8400, on 02/11/2008, -5/+4I could understand something saying they agree to follow local Chinese law when in China by not protesting. But why are they going to gag them while they are not in China?
  • jm4847, on 02/11/2008, -12/+14boycott this olimpics and ***** China and its people. Seriously, why haven't they stood up to their corrupt, arbitrary and oppressive regime? They deserve whatever they get.
    No tolerance for a country that shoots people in the back of the head for not paying their taxes.
    • FlagrantDrugUse, on 02/11/2008, -3/+4Boycotting and getting to ***** a billion people at the same time!? My kinda *****' party!
    • HigherLogic, on 02/11/2008, -1/+8>> Seriously, why haven't they stood up to their corrupt, arbitrary and oppressive regime?
      That's a little unfair, especially if you're a US citizen who has had to deal with Bush for 8 years. Others easily say the same thing about us, and it's, obviously, not as easy it sounds.
    • republicker, on 02/11/2008, -4/+5Try not paying your taxes in America. When you resist, you die.
    • ax8284, on 02/11/2008, -3/+2first of all ..*Olympics. Second.. you are an idiot. Third.. Do you have any idea what a civil war with over a billion people would be like? Do you have any idea how the entire eastern world would be rocked if there was a massive rebellion and they were to attempt an overthrow. It's not that black and white, it's not that easy, it's not that simple. Governing a country like china with Democracy OR Communism is an extremely delicate matter, and things are already beginning to get interesting over there with the amount of western influence (thanks internet) on eastern culture. So OF COURSE they are going to ban anyone from sparking some sort of revolution during the Olympic Games. I love how people on the internet are so about overthrowing governments, but would never lift a finger from their keyboard in real life. Lots of people die during civil wars... and just like you're brainwashed to think democracy is great, so they are educated to think their pseudo-communist government is great. but seriously... why haven't YOU stood up to YOUR oppressive and arbitrary regime?
      • fourthmonk1822, on 02/15/2008, -0/+1Get real...
      • antonycao, on 02/15/2008, -0/+0applause
        but sadly not everyone is as open-minded as you are.
    • mandarin, on 02/11/2008, -2/+5Lol, typical redneck response...
    • BEloftyIRONS, on 02/11/2008, -0/+2If you criticize China publicly you maybe more afraid to go to there than the people at Chasers.
      http://youtube.com/watch?v=XFcWC3jPb8s
    • dylangaine, on 02/12/2008, -0/+1wow jm4847 you really sound enlightened. and by enlightened, i mean stupid.
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