I didn't like it (in the moment) when Carter ordered an Olympic Boycott in 1980 ......

[Stinky The Clown]

.... but have come to see it as a brave act that was absolutely correct. Carter, already low in public support, did what he saw as right.

The Soviets had invaded Afghanistan. Carter canceled our Olympic involvement.

I think a similar action now, with China, would be in order.

[libnnc]

1. yup.

Agreed.

[AlCzervik]

2. Since China is funding the war i hardly think Dimson will call for a boycott.

[americanyouth]

3. You know...

There are always going to be conflicts in the world. Part of the whole point of EVERYONE'S Olympic involvment is to step back from those conflicts for a while, no matter who or what they effect or who disagrees with who, shake hands with each other, in a sense, and enjoy a worldwide past time. The people protesting China's hosting the Olympics for "peace and justice" are actually destroying the little peace that we as a world community have been able to maintain. Hell, given the situation, China is exactly who we SHOULD have host the Olympics, if nothing but to show them that, while we disagree with their policies, we want to resolve in a peacefull and brotherly manner. By holding these worldwide protests we only prove, once again, how petty we can be, even in an agreed time of peace.

[Hangingon]

4. Welcome! I agree with you.

[spoony]

5. Absolutely. Carter is so piled on by the RW and the media

but he was, and is, a man of tremendous principle and fortitude. And you're spot on about the Olympics.

[trof]

6. I kinda felt the same.

Thought he was being a bit of a goody two-shoes, overreacting.
Now I recognize the guts it took.
And it was the right thing to do.

[aikoaiko]

7. I disagree -- The US boycott did nothing. Did the Soviet bycott change anything?

[LanternWaste]

9. Sometimes (as was the case in 1980)

Sometimes (as was the case in 1980), I believe that our statement of intent was louder than Soviet inaction.

Although it may not have changed Soviet policy, it was an additional (and very loud) way of saying, "we do not condone your actions".

To me, boycotts, strikes, etc. are not merely about winning, or gaining even the most marginal of victories-- they are also de-facto statements of belief.

[LanternWaste]

8. I'm torn.

I'm torn.

I believe that Pres. Carter did an honorable and noble thing, and it was the right thing to do in 1980.

However, in 1933, Jesse Owens made a statement just as loud, just as large and (arguably) just as honorable by playing in the Olympic Games.

Two diametrically opposed stands, yet both leading towards the same statement of intent.

[indepat]

10. And if the US is still in Iraq when the next Olympics come to the state, would such invite boycott

by those opposed to Prue-emotive war?

[Warpy]

11. Some points to consider

First, a US boycott wouldn't stop US tourists from attending the games or stop anyone else. The economic impact would be negligible.

Second, the only people to suffer from a US boycott would be our athletes. That's what made the 1980 boycott such a tragic mistake. It changed nothing. It just deprived a lot of people who had been training their whole lives the opportunity to compete.

Third, the Olympics are non political, despite Carter and despite how odious we think the Chinese crackdown in Tibet is.

Fourth, and most importantly, a nation that started a war on another nation, a nation that unilaterally discarded the Geneva Conventions, a nation with rendition and torture as official policy, HAS ABSOLUTELY NO MORAL STANDING to use to boycott any other nation in the world. People would laugh and they'd be correct to do so should Stupid puff himself up and declare his moral outrage had led to a boycott.

[damonm]

12. Couldn't agree more!

:yourock:

[americanyouth]

13. f**kin' a

"Third, the Olympics are non political, despite Carter and despite how odious we think the Chinese crackdown in Tibet is."

f**kin' a

[Stinky The Clown]

14. On your fourth point ......

..... regarding our (complete lack of) moral standing ...... yeah .... there is that!