Watching The Chinese Olympics Opening Ceremony - I'd Totally Just Leave If I Were An Athlete, I Think (1 Viewer)

[rockaction]

I'd have had a very hard time participating over there if I was made to sit through those ceremonies. The head of the ChiComs had the nerve to say that nobody would suffer discrimination over there in a divided world. 

My foot. Then the children singing. I'd be thoroughly creeped the heck out and would just leave somehow. I'm not sure how they're doing it. 

 

[Max Power]

Just dont speak out, your family could suffer.

 

[quick-hands]

I'm just glad Pelosi s husband is getting paid.    She has definitely  been captured.

 

[ekbeats]

Yup.  I agree.  But the other thing I think I saw - the Chinese have passed us as a World power.  They seem to have all the juice.  Technology, economic prowess, sizzle… it was bound to happen, and we let it happen.  I think of Biden and his clueless statement about China being a world power - “Come on man.”  Dumb ###.

 

[moleculo]

Yup.  I agree.  But the other thing I think I saw - the Chinese have passed us as a World power.  They seem to have all the juice.  Technology, economic prowess, sizzle… it was bound to happen, and we let it happen.  I think of Biden and his clueless statement about China being a world power - “Come on man.”  Dumb ###.

Do you think this happened just in the past year?  Things have been trending this way for decades.

 

[The General]

If I am an Olympic athlete I am competing. I would go for the experience of being in the games and to try and win a medal.

 

[jon_mx]

I'd have a very had time participating over there if I was made to sit through those ceremonies. The head of the ChiComs had the nerve to say that nobody would suffer discrimination over there in a divided world. 

My foot. Then the children singing. I'd be thoroughly creeped the heck out and would just leave somehow. I'm not sure how they're doing it. 

The little I watched, it was obviously so communistic.  

 

[jon_mx]

Yup.  I agree.  But the other thing I think I saw - the Chinese have passed us as a World power.  They seem to have all the juice.  Technology, economic prowess, sizzle… it was bound to happen, and we let it happen.  I think of Biden and his clueless statement about China being a world power - “Come on man.”  Dumb ###.

China has not passed us.  China was doing great when they were adapting Western style capitalism.  But now with Xi Jinping, China will go down just like every iron first commie country has done.   It is sad that a country which was trending in a positive direction is doomed to such oppression.

 

[pinkham13]

If I am an Olympic athlete I am competing. I would go for the experience of being in the games and to try and win a medal.

A soldier as a torchbearer? Ya I think the communists showed who they are. As a human being I would protest and say no thanks but that’s just me. We get more communist here in the U.S. everyday so I guess your comment shouldn’t surprise me. The communist experience? No thanks.

 

[The General]

A soldier as a torchbearer? Ya I think the communists showed who they are. As a human being I would protest and say no thanks but that’s just me. We get more communist here in the U.S. everyday so I guess your comment shouldn’t surprise me. The communist experience? No thanks.

Wouldn’t really care if I’m a world class ski jumper or cross country skier or something. I’m there to compete against the best. 

 

[pinkham13]

Wouldn’t really care if I’m a world class ski jumper or cross country skier or something. I’m there to compete against the best. 

I think I’d take a knee and walk out. Make a statement against the war they nearly started with India. They poked them in the eye over it today with the torchbearer. I’d also call them out on organ harvesting among other things. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/china-forcefully-harvests-organs-detainees-tribunal-concludes-n1018646

 

[timschochet]

I’m sorry but this is an absurd premise.  A world class athlete spends his entire life getting ready for this moment. You think he gives a crap about politics? Really? I guarantee you it’s the last thing on his or her mind. 
 

For the final word on this subject I urge anyone to watch that excellent movie that came out about Jesse Owens a couple of years ago, and his reaction to being urged not to compete in Nazi Germany. 

 

[The General]

I think I’d take a knee and walk out. Make a statement against the war they nearly started with India. They poked them in the eye over it today with the torchbearer. I’d also call them out on organ harvesting among other things. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/china-forcefully-harvests-organs-detainees-tribunal-concludes-n1018646

If that were my thing I’d compete then do something. 

 

[Nugget]

Genocide Games ad squashed by NBC

 

[ekbeats]

China has not passed us.  China was doing great when they were adapting Western style capitalism.  But now with Xi Jinping, China will go down just like every iron first commie country has done.   It is sad that a country which was trending in a positive direction is doomed to such oppression.

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The last article is the best one imo, and touches on some of what you are talking about.  I guess the question is - what are the things that make for a Superpower?  Diversity?  Uniformity?  Individualism?  The Collective?

Personally I am very pessimistic on our prospects.  We are way too fractured as a nation and it gets worse every year.  Too much time and energy spent arguing.  

And then there’s the utter ignorance coming from our current President:

Joe Biden  - “China is going to eat our lunch? Come on, man.  They’re not competition for us.”  

 

[Cowboysfan8]

I think I’d take a knee and walk out. Make a statement against the war they nearly started with India. They poked them in the eye over it today with the torchbearer. I’d also call them out on organ harvesting among other things. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/china-forcefully-harvests-organs-detainees-tribunal-concludes-n1018646

If I’m an Olympic athlete I didn’t train my entire life to go to China and make statement against war 

 

[Cowboysfan8]

I’m sorry but this is an absurd premise.  A world class athlete spends his entire life getting ready for this moment. You think he gives a crap about politics? Really? I guarantee you it’s the last thing on his or her mind. 
 

For the final word on this subject I urge anyone to watch that excellent movie that came out about Jesse Owens a couple of years ago, and his reaction to being urged not to compete in Nazi Germany. 

Yeah this

I’m going to compete then spend time in the Olympic village chasing femininis 

 

[pinkham13]

If I’m an Olympic athlete I didn’t train my entire life to go to China and make statement against war 

It takes guts I know. The olympians in 1968 made their statement. I would have to protest too

 

[Cowboysfan8]

It takes guts I know.

Guts have absolutely nothing to do with it lol

 

[pinkham13]

Guts have absolutely nothing to do with it lol

The 1968 Olympians would disagree but ok

 

[timschochet]

It takes guts I know. The olympians in 1968 made their statement. I would have to protest too

The ones in 68 made their statement AFTER the competition was done. 

 

[pinkham13]

The ones in 68 made their statement AFTER the competition was done. 

But they weren’t up against this red monster that organ harvests prisoners were they? At least they protested.

 

[timschochet]

But they weren’t up against this red monster that organ harvests prisoners were they? At least they protested.

The protested the treatment of African Americans in the country they were from, the United States. They were reviled for their protest, much like Colin Kaepernick, regarded as traitors and antiamerican, and for years afterwards shunned. 
If Chinese athletes want to protest their nation’s behavior, that would impress me a great deal. But it’s not the responsibility of athletes from other countries to do so. 

 

[pinkham13]

The protested the treatment of African Americans in the country they were from, the United States. They were reviled for their protest, much like Colin Kaepernick, regarded as traitors and antiamerican, and for years afterwards shunned. 
If Chinese athletes want to protest their nation’s behavior, that would impress me a great deal. But it’s not the responsibility of athletes from other countries to do so. 

Who said anything about responsibility? I said 68ers had guts not responsibility. I also think that one guy in the NBA has gutshttps://www.cnn.com/2021/10/26/football/enes-kanter-nike-china-protest-spt-intl/index.html

 

[Cowboysfan8]

The protested the treatment of African Americans in the country they were from, the United States. They were reviled for their protest, much like Colin Kaepernick, regarded as traitors and antiamerican, and for years afterwards shunned. 
If Chinese athletes want to protest their nation’s behavior, that would impress me a great deal. But it’s not the responsibility of athletes from other countries to do so. 

Hey look …. we agree 100% on something!

 

[ekbeats]

Our moral authority with other countries has been compromised somewhat by the steady drumbeat coming from some in this country that the US is racist, oppressive, and cops are gunning down blacks.  If the Olympics were in the US right now there’d probably be some countries boycotting, at least diplomatically.

 

[The General]

Our moral authority with other countries has been compromised somewhat by the steady drumbeat coming from some in this country that the US is racist, oppressive, and cops are gunning down blacks.  If the Olympics were in the US right now there’d probably be some countries boycotting, at least diplomatically.

The blowing up other counties, ####### with everyone might play a bit of a factor, 

 

[rockaction]

Yeah, I'd already taken into account "trained my whole life for this." That would be stupid of me not to take that into account. 

I'd still leave. Walk. Adios. #### that. 

 

[rockaction]

The blowing up other counties, ####### with everyone might play a bit of a factor, 

Obtusia? Obtusia? Where are thou, obtusia? 

 

[The General]

Yeah, I'd already taken into account "trained my whole life for this." That would be stupid of me not to take that into account. 

I'd still leave. Walk. Adios. #### that. 

Pretty easy for a middle aged, over the hill dude to say. Just saying. 

 

[The General]

Obtusia? Obtusia? Where are thou, obtusia? 

Are you yelling at the tele in your sweats? 

 

[rockaction]

Pretty easy for a middle aged, over the hill dude to say. Just saying. 

Nah. When I was young and fit I would have walked away. Easily. 

 

[rockaction]

Are you yelling at the tele in your sweats? 

Shorts and a Touché Amoré t-shirt. 

 

[rockaction]

If I knew organs were being harvested down the block, I might not have even gone. 

 

[ekbeats]

The blowing up other counties, ####### with everyone might play a bit of a factor, 

Good point General.

 

[ekbeats]

Nah. When I was young and fit I would have walked away. Easily. 

I believe you on this.

Btw - what happened to your Januwary Sifth thread?

 

[timschochet]

Nah. When I was young and fit I would have walked away. Easily. 

So if you were Jesse Owens you would not have gone to Nazi Germany? 

 

[pinkham13]

So if you were Jesse Owens you would not have gone to Nazi Germany? 

Jesse showed that superior race was a farce as he beat their best even before the Olympics. That was a different time and history does rhyme here but not sure why you are finding reasons not to protest this brutal communist regime.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10447673/How-Beijings-2022-Winter-Olympic-sportswashing-propaganda-mirrors-Hitlers-1936-efforts-Berlin.html

 

[timschochet]

Jesse showed that superior race was a farce as he beat their best even before the Olympics. That was a different time and history does rhyme here but not sure why you are finding reasons not to protest this brutal communist regime.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10447673/How-Beijings-2022-Winter-Olympic-sportswashing-propaganda-mirrors-Hitlers-1936-efforts-Berlin.html

I see plenty of reasons to protest it. But they don’t include having athletes, who have trained for this their entire lives, refusing to participate. I think that’s a rather unreasonable expectation. 

 

[pinkham13]

I see plenty of reasons to protest it. But they don’t include having athletes, who have trained for this their entire lives, refusing to participate. I think that’s a rather unreasonable expectation. 

Yeah human rights be damned. Why would any American go to Berlin after the holocaust? Shows we were a heartless government then just like now with the communist Chinese.

 

[rockaction]

So if you were Jesse Owens you would not have gone to Nazi Germany? 

I think when somebody calls your race an inferior race and you have the chance to show them up, you go. 

None of that is happening here. It's just corporatism and communism. 

I don't know. I saw the opening ceremonies the other night and would have left in disgust, I guess. 

 

[rockaction]

I see plenty of reasons to protest it. But they don’t include having athletes, who have trained for this their entire lives, refusing to participate. I think that’s a rather unreasonable expectation. 

Also, my premise is not that I expect it. My premise is that I wouldn't go. 

 

[rockaction]

I believe you on this.

Btw - what happened to your Januwary Sifth thread?

We can remember the Remember Januwary Sixfth thread, I guess. 

It was...merged. 

 

[ekbeats]

We can remember the Remember Januwary Sixfth thread, I guess. 

It was...merged. 

Never forget.

 

[rockaction]

Yeah, I just caught a minute of a Chinese figure skater, born in L.A., representing China and skating alone to creepy music in front of an empty arena. 

Totes pass. Y'all enjoy your organs. 

 

[rockaction]

Never forget.

A fifth of 1/6 on the front page. Too much. 

 

[rockaction]

I believe you on this.

Thanks. I was a little more aware of the world and human rights at that age than most of the athletes here are, which isn't a knock on them. I hope this doesn't come across that way. I'm just surprised not one of them has slipped and spoken out. But unless it were a team sport and for some God unknown reason I qualified (we actually had a kid from our small town qualify for snowboarding) with my only semi-reasonable athletic skills, my feet still woulda been kicking my own ### out of China, and I probably wouldn't have gone. 

 

[Terminalxylem]

I'd have a very had time participating over there if I was made to sit through those ceremonies. The head of the ChiComs had the nerve to say that nobody would suffer discrimination over there in a divided world. 

My foot. Then the children singing. I'd be thoroughly creeped the heck out and would just leave somehow. I'm not sure how they're doing it. 

These are athletes, who by and large aren’t activists (and besides, don’t we really hate when they are?). A good chunk of them are barely adults, devoting the lion’s share of their brief lives to training.

Pretty sure the ones unlikely to medal are just there for the international orgy.

ETA I see others have recognized the get off my yard phenomenon.

 

[rockaction]

These are athletes, who by and large aren’t activists (and besides, don’t we really hate when they are?). A good chunk of them are barely adults, devoting the lion’s share of their brief lives to training.

Pretty sure the ones unlikely to medal are just there for the international orgy.

Yep. I'm not saying anything differently. All I know is I was a total jock growing up. Smaller town, but sort of a standout. Like a fairly serious one. 

I never would have participated in these Olympics knowing what was going on in the world. Not unless I had a team obligation, and I probably would have stepped aside. What I'm saying is that if I wouldn't have, I don't doubt there aren't others feeling it, and I'm surprised nobody just ditched or came out and said something. 

I remember not wanting to wear the American flag on my helmet during the first Iraq War (and what does it tell you about that war and the way it was waged -- and the way I knew that milquetoast President would wage it -- that we needed another) during hockey games. I eventually capitulated, but if you don't think the athletes don't know about what's going down in China, you're mistaken, I think. 

It's surprising to me nobody has rolled with it yet. Perhaps they're under obligation to be courteous to their hosts. I don't know. But nary a peep. 

 

[rockaction]

I guess I think athletes are more multi-dimensional than you all make them out to be. Even the solitary confinement-esque, hyper-achiever ones.