<!--QuoteBegin-Hauma Hamiddha+Mar 22 2008, 08:02 PM-->QUOTE(Hauma Hamiddha @ Mar 22 2008, 08:02 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->Let us see for all the talk if any nation boycotts the Olympics.[right][snapback]79910[/snapback][/right]<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->I think one can close one's eyes and predict the outcome rather accurately. No government will (with one possible exception maybe, but I doubt even that one). Governmental hypocrisy will be coupled with compliant populations who take their leaders' signal and have no compunctions in watching and 'enjoying' olimpics. Because really, what does a remote Tibetan matter really? As if anyone can even hear any screams emanating from there. If they can't be heard, they didn't really happen, right? (Communitwit rule #1)
If anyone needs a precedent, just look at how many people care about rights of native Americans (let alone their autonomy or reclamation of what is after all <i>their</i> land). For most people Tibet is no more than an opportunity to apply their magnanimous sympathy - oohing and aahing over its plight - when they have time to and when they find it affordable to, otherwise they are conveniently amnesiac about it. "The olimpics can't be missed on such minor grounds as a tiny 'skirmish' in Tibet. That's an 'internal' problem of China, isn't it?" Sure. That makes it all better doesn't it. Am sure telling oneself that is far more effective than any tranquilizer.
What it comes down to is that every unconverted population - Tibetans or otherwise - are entirely alone. They either stand up for themselves and their ways, or die. No one else will (or can) - not even Nehruvian India, which had more conscious Hindus than there are today, helped. The west may mourn the Tibetans with a pretty monument or speech when it's all over (because the west must do so after all - can't compound callousness by ignoring the matter post-events as well) but not lift a worthwhile finger to save or at least stand by them.
Any government that doesn't boycott these olimpics has effectively raised its middle finger at Tibet. So Tibetans have to take their fates into their own hands.
But remember, "there's nothing unPC about the Chinese olimpics. We may watch in complete security of good conscience. Tibet and the coming olimpics are so obviously unrelated. Oh, well, if we must, we might choose to issue a condemnation after the fun of the games is over." Just like so many went to the nazi German olimpics too. (Oh that's right, back then olimpics was used as dawaganda for a murderous totalitarian nation as well. My, how history repeats itself within short spaces of time.) Never underestimate human stupidity. Else it always burns your fingers.
All one can do, and it's not much at all, is not watch the coming crapola beamed to all TVs.
If anyone needs a precedent, just look at how many people care about rights of native Americans (let alone their autonomy or reclamation of what is after all <i>their</i> land). For most people Tibet is no more than an opportunity to apply their magnanimous sympathy - oohing and aahing over its plight - when they have time to and when they find it affordable to, otherwise they are conveniently amnesiac about it. "The olimpics can't be missed on such minor grounds as a tiny 'skirmish' in Tibet. That's an 'internal' problem of China, isn't it?" Sure. That makes it all better doesn't it. Am sure telling oneself that is far more effective than any tranquilizer.
What it comes down to is that every unconverted population - Tibetans or otherwise - are entirely alone. They either stand up for themselves and their ways, or die. No one else will (or can) - not even Nehruvian India, which had more conscious Hindus than there are today, helped. The west may mourn the Tibetans with a pretty monument or speech when it's all over (because the west must do so after all - can't compound callousness by ignoring the matter post-events as well) but not lift a worthwhile finger to save or at least stand by them.
Any government that doesn't boycott these olimpics has effectively raised its middle finger at Tibet. So Tibetans have to take their fates into their own hands.
But remember, "there's nothing unPC about the Chinese olimpics. We may watch in complete security of good conscience. Tibet and the coming olimpics are so obviously unrelated. Oh, well, if we must, we might choose to issue a condemnation after the fun of the games is over." Just like so many went to the nazi German olimpics too. (Oh that's right, back then olimpics was used as dawaganda for a murderous totalitarian nation as well. My, how history repeats itself within short spaces of time.) Never underestimate human stupidity. Else it always burns your fingers.
All one can do, and it's not much at all, is not watch the coming crapola beamed to all TVs.