In the name of thousands of cats, PLEASE BOYCOTT THE BEJING OLYMPICS!!

[Jessika]

I didn't say it would be easy not to; in fact I even said it would be hard and pretty expensive. But believe it or not there ARE some companies based solely out of the US. Buy from and support those companies /shrug Of course you won't have the convenience of availability or cheaper prices, but if you're really against China I think boycotting the olympics is the wrong way to do it, because once the olympics are done do you think they're going to care? Do something more long-term

[Lady's Human]

Companies based solely out of the US? Absolutely.

HOWEVER.....

Do we count products made in the US from foreign parts as US made? What about products made in Malaysia from US materials and parts? Boycott either one and the US job market suffers as a result.

Where do they get their raw materials?

source chips? (Hitachi and Samsung control most of the memory chip production)

subassemblies?

Tracing where what comes from becomes a near impossibility.

Embarrassing China during the Olympics brings many, many ugly things into the daylight, and will cause them to lose face. The Free Tibet movement has been ongoing for years, but has gotten more attention lately because of the noise about the olympics.

[Jessika]

Embarrassing China during the Olympics brings many, many ugly things into the daylight, and will cause them to lose face. The Free Tibet movement has been ongoing for years, but has gotten more attention lately because of the noise about the olympics.

OK Now we're getting to something that I do agree with. Bringing things to light DURING the olympics... OK that is another right way to go. Not necessarily boycotting the olympics but using the media coverage to shed light on important issues. This I do agree with

[RICHARD]

Projecting into the future?

What is going to happen when a bunch of protestors show up at a venue?
Outside the Olympic village?
In front of the media centers at the different venues?
In Tianneman Square?

That is where the rubber will meet the road.

You'll have international networks, the protestors and tons of tourists....all armed with the latest video and cell phones.

That is going to be an interesting two weeks. How will the Chinese gov't. react?

Beating the crap outta citizens in front of the world ain't a good idea!
If they let the demonstrators march, there may be heck to pay afterwards.
The world wide coverage lends some sort of protection for them after, but you can never tell with that country.

It's a disaster no matter for China no matter what. The only question is how will the Chinese citizens suffer in the aftermath?