Canberra, Sydney protests over torch relay

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Expressing an opinion is doing "something".

Pretending that problems don't exist does not.

I don't. I hate communism as much as I hate socialism.

The point is that it is their country for them to do as they please. I have no right to go to China and tell them how to live.

You have free speech and (arguably) a conscience to sympathise with the plight of oppressed peoples.

[Sister Fracas 5]

They came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant.

Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up.

Nowadays everyone seems to have something to say. Don't worry about actually doing anything as long as you speak up about it right. For example, Have a concert about global warming, Problem solved! Protest naked to fight child poverty, Problem solved!..

Now back to reality..

as opposed to criticizing on a forum....

keep up the good work BY

[Heracles 417]

You still haven't addressed the question of who can do as they please.

Not a matter of do. Their style of government is their choice. Not for others abroad to decide. The great thing about China is that nobody will dare challenge them on this, apart from protests abroad..

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

What do you mean "who are you to tell China what they can or cannot do"?

All you need to do is look at the opinions coming out of Tibet.

Will China change because you or anyone else tells them to do so? I'll answer for you. NO

Simple as that..

Well... that might be true if public opinion has no influence whatsoever on the policy making decisions of our elected officials.

You still haven't addressed the question of who can do as they please.

Not a matter of do. Their style of government is their choice. Not for others abroad to decide. The great thing about China is that nobody will dare challenge them on this, apart from protests abroad..

"Whose choice is it" is the question I think.

Who specifically is making the choice? A representative proportion of the Chinese population, or a handful of people in an elite political class?

Clearly the Tibetan people aren't involved in that "choice".

[Heracles 417]

Well... that might be true if public opinion has no influence whatsoever on the policy making decisions of our elected officials.

What are policymakers going to do about it? China will laugh in all of their faces. The ball is in their court..

[Sister Fracas 5]

Expressing an opinion is doing "something".

Pretending that problems don't exist does not.

I don't. I hate communism as much as I hate socialism.

The point is that it is their country for them to do as they please. I have no right to go to China and tell them how to live.

You have free speech and (arguably) a conscience to sympathise with the plight of oppressed peoples.

Having spent time almost 100% surrounded by Tibetan people (oh, yeah, it isn't all greasy hippies afterall) in these protests, at least they get it and appreciate the support. They appreciate that someone outside of their community, cares enough to stand with them. They are very beautiful people.

[Empress of Groovy 373]

You still haven't addressed the question of who can do as they please.

Not a matter of do. Their style of government is their choice. Not for others abroad to decide. The great thing about China is that nobody will dare challenge them on this, apart from protests abroad..

Why is that great?

[Heracles 417]

Having spent time almost 100% surrounded by Tibetan people (oh, yeah, it isn't all greasy hippies afterall) in these protests, at least they get it and appreciate the support. They appreciate that someone outside of their community, cares enough to stand with them. They are very beautiful people.

Stand with them lol. The latest liberal bandwagon.

[Sister Fracas 5]

Well... that might be true if public opinion has no influence whatsoever on the policy making decisions of our elected officials.

What are policymakers going to do about it? China will laugh in all of their faces. The ball is in their court..

You really think they are laughing? They ARE concerned about a worldwide media coming into their country and not being able to keep as tight a control on things as they'd like.

[Heracles 417]

Why is that great?

Because they are not peer pressured into following others.

You really think they are laughing? They ARE concerned about a worldwide media coming into their country and not being able to keep as tight a control on things as they'd like.

No they are shaking in their boots. What will China ever do if the NYT posts a negative article about them. Game over for China.

[Empress of Groovy 373]

Why is that great?

Because they are not peer pressured into following others.

Peer pressure? What is this, junior high?

[Sister Fracas 5]

Having spent time almost 100% surrounded by Tibetan people (oh, yeah, it isn't all greasy hippies afterall) in these protests, at least they get it and appreciate the support. They appreciate that someone outside of their community, cares enough to stand with them. They are very beautiful people.

Stand with them lol. The latest liberal bandwagon.

Laugh all you want; I don't really care. At the end of the day, at least I can say I don't just sit back and hope someone else will try to change things. Maybe things will never change, but that is SO not the point.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Having spent time almost 100% surrounded by Tibetan people (oh, yeah, it isn't all greasy hippies afterall) in these protests, at least they get it and appreciate the support. They appreciate that someone outside of their community, cares enough to stand with them. They are very beautiful people.

Sister, I applaud your activism. I do, I do, I do. Now STFU and be enlightened by the almighty.

Len, the non-greasy protester

[Sister Fracas 5]

Why is that great?

Because they are not peer pressured into following others.

You really think they are laughing? They ARE concerned about a worldwide media coming into their country and not being able to keep as tight a control on things as they'd like.

No they are shaking in their boots. What will China ever do if the NYT posts a negative article about them. Game over for China.

More importantly, what will they do if they can't unload products made there? They don't make their own products, only products for other countries.

[Heracles 417]

I don't really care. At the end of the day, at least I can say I don't just sit back and hope someone else will try to change things. Maybe things will never change, but that is SO not the point.

Either does China. Now that is the point.