Comments on: What to Look For as the Olympics Kicks Off

By: Sarah Rolph

Sarah Rolph — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 14:47:33 +0000

As it happens, Mr. Samford, I am not much of a watcher of television, beyond special events and nature shows. In general I am with you on the topic of going for a walk.

But I honestly don’t understand your implication about the actual point here.

What good do you think it would do for me to not watch the Olympics? They are shown on broadcast television, which doesn’t cost me anything, so I’m not giving money to any of the sponsors or to the Chinese government by watching the show.

Where are you writing from, Mr. Samford? You seem to have quite a disdain for Americans.

By: Fred

Fred — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 15:53:03 +0000

“If Kristof’s version is correct, it would support the suggestion that the crackdown was aimed, … at the unorganised elements who sought to join them or otherwise to take advantage of the demonstration.”

Well. That makes it all ok then doesn’t it?

By: newly

newly — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 03:03:14 +0000

Jeepers. It’s a bit late to turn off the TV.
Perhaps if the IOC didn’t award the games to a totalitarian police state in the first place the Chinese government wouldn’t be able to use them to promote nationalistic fervour domestically, while window dressing their repressive policies for the western media.
When the games are over expect the Chinese Communists to revert to type, while claiming greater legitimacy for its political system as a recognized international entity.
The games are meant to go to a city, not a nation.

By: I can has Olympics?

I can has Olympics? — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 02:56:55 +0000

“MacDonalds? Looks like this thread’s leftist troll hails from the future Islamic Republic now called ‘Britain’.”

Wrong and wrong. It was an innocuous misspelling, nothing more. I’m about as leftist as George W. Bush, and about as British as Peking duck. But then facts were never your strong suit — anyone who disagrees with your anti-China prejudice is a “leftist troll” by definition. Ha!

As I said: the right wing idiocy on China is as idiotic as the left wing idiocy on Guantanamo, the War on Terror, etc. Both the left and the right have their strategic blind spots, borne of ignorance, and this is one of them (a blind spot notably shared by many on the left — including the vile Pelosi). Thankfully Bush knows the score and refuses to pander to the raving loons frenzying over the bogeyman that is China.

By: kabud

kabud — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 02:06:29 +0000

the war in Georgia already started

vice speaker of Russian Duma already accused Saakashvili of been Hitler

russian propaganda already accused USA to be behind Saakashvili `aggression`

So YOU, TV VIEWERS will wait until the will hit YOU right between your buttocks to realize it?

Or when your children will start dieing from BUBONIC PLAQUE that russian-china union developed for you?

very well…

but why others hgave to suffer from USEFUL IDIOTS?

By: Kirk

Kirk — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 00:27:43 +0000

I am not so pickled in ideology that watching or not watching TV is non-violent social protest. I enjoy the Olympics, except for the nauseating, didactic personal stories by NBC. Athletes have been training for this all their life; I honor that.

What you should protest is all the other pap on TV. TV is a vast smorgasbord for the dumb masses.

By: Xixi

Xixi — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 23:43:44 +0000

I doubt the Chinese will embarrass themselves as much as the Democrats will embarrass themselves in Denver. I’m saving my popcorn for that.

By: pch1013

pch1013 — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 21:25:00 +0000

I still reserve the right to watch any events in which American or other non-Chinese athletes are expected to do well, just for the sheer pleasure of watching the Chinese lose.

“outsourcing of American jobs actually increases pollution.”

Indeed. And some of that pollution ends up right back here in the USA. Some of the smog we see here on the West Coast originates in the Pearl River Delta and elsewhere in China, all so we can feed our addiction to going into debt so we can buy cheap crap at Wal-Mart.

By: kabud

kabud — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 20:48:30 +0000

John Samford:

MUCH RESPECT!

By: John Samford

John Samford — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:30:00 +0000

“I don’t think turning off my TV is going to help anyone in China.”

Sarah, the first 3 words are correct, after that it drops off rapidly.
The facts are, you aren’t willing to give up a small amount of pleasure to do a great amount of good. You are more concerned with your own gratification then the misery of a few hundred million Chinese.
As an American you have a right to be a mean and selfish person. As you exercise that right, you will increase the enmity and selfishness you receive in return. Maybe one day you will figure it out. Then again, maybe not.

Just to be snide, the person most helped by turning off your TV will be you. Go for a walk instead.

“Seeing a murder on television… can help work off one’s antagonisms. And if you haven’t any antagonisms, the commercials will give you some.”
Alfred Hitchcock
British movie director (1899 – 1980)

“It [The television] is an invention that permits you to be entertained in your living room by people you wouldn’t have in your home.”
David Frost

“The great thing about television is that if something important happens anywhere in the world, day or night, you can always change the channel.”
From “Taxi”