Aspies For Freedom

1936=2008.

Ok. I think I feel very strongly about this. Essentially what is happening is genocide (sterilisation of Tibetans is common) and annexation by stealth. The Tibetan people are being sterilised and evicted from their homes. The Chinese government, for example, actively encourages wealthy Chinese to move to Tibet. Houses become far more expensive and Tibetans can no longer afford it. It really is understandable that people are so angry.

I was listening to the radio a few days ago and there was a speaker on and she said somthing that described this really well, it was:

"A symbol of the very thing these people are being denied of."

there was more before that...  She means, that this torch is a symbol of worldwide peace, unity and freedoom. And the Tibetans are being denied this, so it's rather ironic/ stupid really, that China and everyone are doing the torch thing, but going against what it stands for.

The primeminister/ president of my country is therefore not attending the arrival ceremony, and has to be there at the leaving one but refuses to touch the torch.  The situation is to try to get China to stop it's oppression, but to do so in a way that will not offend China, because it is of great economic importance.

I have spoken to Chinese people (citizens of the PRC) that are entirely candid about it. Many are aware that it is happening. Simple answer? They do not give a ***. The Tibetans have been demonised and dehumanised for too long.

As to the invasion in Iraq? I do not think it was the intention of the Coalition to destroy a people...it was their intention to destroy their country. The Iraq War was an enormous mistake, but I do not know if the intentions were as devious.

Has it occurred to you that the majority of people (working especially) cannot afford the luxury of protest? Many businesses actively discourage it. The assertion that it is "arrogant" is completely erroneous. Yes. Tell that to the people who fought at The Battle of Cable Street. Tell that to the Austrian Social Democrats that actively fought and protested against genocidal fascists. What a ridiculous thing to say. How is it disgraceful? Sometimes violence is a necessity. In this case it most certainly is. You cannot sit there and expect to negotiate, and reasonably, with a fascist dictatorship that is systematically destroying an ethnic group. I'm sorry, but Ghandi and MLK would not have succeeded without the more violent factions.

They can't influence the IOC's decision. It's hardly democratic.

I will. Having been arrested several times in the past I am aware that people take a dim view of protest. For me it is essential. History teaches us that.

I have literally been beaten to the ground by Swiss policeman. I have been tear-gassed. I have been stabbed by a neo-Nazi. No joke.

Honestly, it looks to me like there has been plenty of time to solve the whole China/Tibet thing.  I mean, they have been there since, when, the 50's?

I could be way off on my thinking here, and will probably suffer for it, but does it not seem like Tibet lost and China won?  

I am not sure that what was done to the Native American people was the best thing either, but I do not see anyone from China here protesting about it.

I mean why are they not HERE protesting.  Maybe they cannot protest there, but they can here.  And they can protest there, but they may die for it, right?  Well if you are not willing to die for a cause, is it worth protesting?

And in all reality, what it comes down to is that they do not care.  They care about themselves and their own country.  The Europeans came in and took the whole darn country for themselves.  The Native Americans gave away huge parts of land for virtually nothing.  They had really no choice, they were under duress.  That sounds like the document that Tibet signed in the 40's or 50's, it was under duress so it is not valid.      

In this case, I am not sure I agree.  I think that if what they are saying is true, i.e., the massacre of millions, genocide, an entire country and its people being eradicated at the hands of China, and if they feel that it is that important, I think they should be willing to sacrifice for it, up to their lives.

I think most of the people protesting (NOT ALL) are protesting for the sake of it.  

I heard some man screaming at a lady to go and look at a torture victim from Tibet.  She was there holding a flag and supporting China.  He screamed and yelled at her.  I am sincerely doubtful he was personally invested in the plight of the people from Tibet and was instead part of a "protesting culture" where you get your thrills from attending with large masses of people and yelling and screaming about it.  

But if course, that is just my opinion.  I still think the people of America should stay the heck out of other countries and try to figure out how to care for their own.  We nearly eradicated an entire people and took their whole country just to get the rights to do so, after all.

Nice to meet ya Frank.

Wocka wocka.

The Dalai Lama said he supported the Beijing Olympics and was saddened by recent anti-Chinese protests that marred the traditional torch relay through the streets of London, Paris, and San Francisco. “Everyone knows I support the Olympic Games,” he said, declining to say whether he believed world leaders should attend the opening ceremony scheduled for August 8.

For the full story go to:
http://www.hindu.com/2008/04/15/stories/...881500.htm

I just posted on the thread yesterday because I thought it was interesting that the Dalai Lama supported the Olympics and did not like the protests.  Thought it was a bit ironic.

Anyone seen the Austin Powers movies?  This sounds faintly like the beginning of the description of Dr. Evil's life....

Giggle