Boycott the 2008 Olympics

Subject: Boycott the 2008 Olympics Thu Aug 07, 2008 11:22 am

Boycott the 2008 Olympics here.
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Subject: Re: Boycott the 2008 Olympics Thu Aug 07, 2008 9:01 pm

OK

I am boycotting them

Anyone Else?

Subject: Re: Boycott the 2008 Olympics Thu Aug 07, 2008 9:35 pm

Subject: Re: Boycott the 2008 Olympics Fri Aug 08, 2008 6:35 am

Thanks Catbox

Subject: Re: Boycott the 2008 Olympics Sat Aug 09, 2008 8:53 am

And we'll just overlook the MURDER that just happend at the Games!
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There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971

Subject: Re: Boycott the 2008 Olympics Sat Aug 09, 2008 8:54 am

Subject: Re: Boycott the 2008 Olympics Sat Aug 09, 2008 8:56 am

U.S. Coach's Father-in-Law Fatally Stabbed

BEIJING -- A Chinese man stabbed the in-laws of the U.S. Olympic men's volleyball coach, killing one and injuring the other while they visited a Beijing tourist site near the main venue where Olympic competitions began Saturday.

The victims were Todd and Barbara Bachman of Lakeville, Minn., parents of former Olympian Elisabeth Bachman -- who is married to men's volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon -- according to the U.S. Olympic Committee. Todd Bachman was killed.

The assailant also stabbed and injured a Chinese tour guide with the Americans. He then committed suicide by throwing himself off a 130-foot-high balcony of the ancient landmark the Americans were visiting, the 13th century Drum Tower, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

Xinhua said the injured tour guide was also a woman.

The U.S. Olympic Committee said two family members of a coach for the men's volleyball team were stabbed at the Drum Tower by what local authorities indicated was a "lone assailant." It did not identify the coach or the victims.

"They are deeply saddened and shocked," Darryl Seibel, a spokesman for the U.S. Olympic Committee, said of the volleyball team.

He said the two victims "were not wearing apparel or anything that would have specifically identified them as being members of our delegation" or as Americans.

The U.S. Embassy said it believed the attack was an isolated act and not directed at Americans or foreigners, given that the Chinese tour guide was also hurt.

"We don't believe this was targeted at American citizens, and we don't believe this has anything to do with the Olympics," embassy spokeswoman Susan Stevenson said.

The killing was a rare instance of violent crime against foreigners in tightly controlled China, which has ramped up security measures even more for the Olympics.

The attack shortly after noon at the busy tourist site darkened the mood at the games the day after a spectacular opening ceremony had set an ebullient tone after years of nervous buildup.

Beijing's communist leaders are hypersensitive to anything that could take the shine off the games, insisting issues such as China's human rights record, harsh rule in Tibet and ties with Sudan should not be raised at the sports event.

China's Foreign Ministry had no immediate comment on the attack.

Xinhua identified the attacker as Tang Yongming, 47, from the eastern city of Hangzhou. It said Tang attacked the two Americans and their Chinese tour guide on the second level of the ancient tower, then leapt to his death immediately afterward.

Seibel said it was "too early to say" whether security would be stepped up for the U.S. team. But some athletes were already thinking about it.

Jennie Finch, a member of the U.S. softball team, said her heart skipped a beat when she heard about the attack, but she was undaunted.

"I'm here with my husband and son, so it's not easy. But we're living our dreams and we're not going to live in fear," she said. "We're going to go out there every day and enjoy every day and celebrate it."

U.S. Ambassador Clark T. Randt visited the victims at a hospital in Beijing to convey the condolences of President Bush, who is in Beijing for the first days of the games.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families," Bush told reporters. "And the United States government has offered to provide any assistance the family needs."

"It is impossible to describe the depth of our sadness and shock in this tragic hour," said USOC Chairman Peter Ueberroth. "Our delegation comes to the games as a family, and when one member of our family suffers a loss, we all grieve with them."

At the scene, police blocked off streets leading to the Drum Tower, which is just five miles from the main Olympics venue in China's capital. They cordoned off the area with yellow police tape while officers collected samples from the tower and the street below.

Some details of the attack, including the motive and weapon used, were not immediately clear.

Attacks on foreigners in China are extremely rare. A Canadian model was murdered last month in Shanghai -- police said she had stumbled onto a burglary.

In March, a screaming, bomb-strapped hostage-taker who commandeered a bus with 10 Australians aboard in the popular tourist city of Xi'an was shot to death by a police sniper.

Shanghai and Beijing are still safer than most foreign cities of their size. Punishments for crimes against foreigners are heavier than for crimes against Chinese, and citizens are not allowed to own guns.

Even so, the U.S. government now warns Americans against muggings, beatings and even carjackings, especially in the nightlife and shopping districts of large cities.

Built in the 13th century, the Drum Tower is one of few ancient structures still in fast-developing Beijing. Drummers pounded their massive instruments on the hour to let people in the imperial city know the time.
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Subject: Re: Boycott the 2008 Olympics Sat Aug 09, 2008 9:22 am

Subject: Re: Boycott the 2008 Olympics Sat Aug 09, 2008 9:34 am

Relative of US Olympic coach killed in Beijing

By ROHAN SULLIVAN, Associated Press Writer

BEIJING - A Chinese man stabbed the in-laws of the U.S. Olympic men's volleyball coach, killing one and injuring the other while they visited a Beijing tourist site near the main venue where Olympic competitions began Saturday.

The victims were Todd and Barbara Bachman of Lakeville, Minn., parents of former Olympian Elisabeth Bachman, who is married to men's volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon, according to the U.S. Olympic Committee. Bachman's father was killed.

The assailant also stabbed and injured a Chinese tour guide with the Americans. He then committed suicide by leaping from a 130-foot-high balcony of the ancient landmark the Americans were visiting, the 13th-century Drum Tower, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

Xinhua said the injured tour guide was also a woman, it said.

The volleyball teams is "deeply saddened and shocked," said Darryl Seibel, a USOC spokesman.

He said the two victims "were not wearing apparel or anything that would have specifically identified them as being members of our delegation" or as Americans.

The U.S. Embassy said it believed the attack was an isolated act and not directed at Americans or foreigners, given that the Chinese tour guide was also hurt.

"We don't believe this was targeted at American citizens, and we don't believe this has anything to do with the Olympics," embassy spokeswoman Susan Stevenson said.

The killing was a rare instance of violent crime against foreigners in tightly controlled China, which has ramped up security measures even more for the Olympics.

The attack shortly after noon at the busy tourist site darkened the mood at the games the day after a spectacular opening ceremony had set an ebullient tone after years of nervous buildup.

Beijing's communist leaders are hypersensitive to anything that could take the shine off the games, insisting issues such as China's human rights record, harsh rule in Tibet and ties with Sudan should not be raised at the sports event.

China's Foreign Ministry had no immediate comment on the attack.

Xinhua identified the attacker as Tang Yongming, 47, from the eastern city of Hangzhou. It said Tang attacked the two Americans and their Chinese tour guide on the second level of the ancient tower, then leapt to his death immediately afterward.

Seibel said it was "too early to say" whether security would be stepped up for the U.S. team. But some athletes were already thinking about it.

Jennie Finch, a member of the U.S. softball team, said her heart skipped a beat when she heard about the attack, but she was undaunted.

"I'm here with my husband and son, so it's not easy but we're living our dreams and we're not going to live in fear," she said. "We're going to go out there every day and enjoy every day and celebrate it."

U.S. Ambassador Clark T. Randt visited the victims at a hospital in Beijing to convey the condolences of President Bush, who is in Beijing for the first days of the games.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families," Bush told reporters. "And the United States government has offered to provide any assistance the family needs."

"It is impossible to describe the depth of our sadness and shock in this tragic hour," said USOC Chairman Peter Ueberroth. "Our delegation comes to the games as a family, and when one member of our family suffers a loss, we all grieve with them."

At the scene, police blocked off streets leading to the Drum Tower, which is just five miles from the main Olympics venue in China's capital. They cordoned off the area with yellow police tape while officers collected samples from the tower and the street below.

Some details of the attack, including the motive and weapon used, were not immediately clear.

Attacks on foreigners in China are extremely rare. A Canadian model was murdered last month in Shanghai — police said she had stumbled onto a burglary.

In March, a screaming, bomb-strapped hostage-taker who commandeered a bus with 10 Australians aboard in the popular tourist city of Xi'an was shot to death by a police sniper.

Shanghai and Beijing are still safer than most foreign cities of their size. Punishments for crimes against foreigners are heavier than for crimes against Chinese, and citizens are not allowed to own guns.

Even so, the U.S. government now warns Americans against muggings, beatings and even carjackings, especially in the nightlife and shopping districts of large cities.

The Drum Tower is one of few ancient structures still in fast-developing Beijing. Drummers pounded their massive instruments on the hour to let people in the imperial city know the time.
_________________
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971

Subject: Re: Boycott the 2008 Olympics Sat Aug 09, 2008 9:42 am

Yeah Right

Subject: Re: Boycott the 2008 Olympics Sat Aug 09, 2008 2:04 pm

Why not start the games off with a killing while we're at it.

Subject: Re: Boycott the 2008 Olympics Sat Aug 09, 2008 2:17 pm

Nothing will surprise me, especially over there.
_________________
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971

Subject: Re: Boycott the 2008 Olympics Sat Aug 09, 2008 2:53 pm

I'm still trying to figure out why they would hold the summer Olympics in a place where the air quality is so bad. With all the outdoor sports they have you would think they would have it in a breathing friendly place. I feel sorry for the runners.

Subject: Re: Boycott the 2008 Olympics Sat Aug 09, 2008 3:08 pm

I moved the murder info to the boycott thread since it is reason why the games should be boycotted and/or not in China.
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Subject: Re: Boycott the 2008 Olympics Sat Aug 09, 2008 5:52 pm

I was wondering what was going on. I didn't remember posting in here before.

Subject: Re: Boycott the 2008 Olympics Sat Aug 09, 2008 8:52 pm

Subject: Re: Boycott the 2008 Olympics Sun Aug 10, 2008 4:42 pm

An American pastor is vandalizing Chinese hotel rooms with anti-Chinese writing. This worthless moron should be ashamed of himself and thrown in jail.

While I don't support Chinese politics vandalism is a crime, period.

His congregation supports him showing they're all morons, too. A criminal is a criminal. End of story.
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Subject: Re: Boycott the 2008 Olympics Sun Aug 10, 2008 4:54 pm

I'm confused... why are you boycotting???
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Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona. ~ George F. Will

Subject: Re: Boycott the 2008 Olympics Sun Aug 10, 2008 4:55 pm

Subject: Re: Boycott the 2008 Olympics Sun Aug 10, 2008 4:56 pm

Oh....
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Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona. ~ George F. Will

Subject: Re: Boycott the 2008 Olympics Sun Aug 10, 2008 5:20 pm

Subject: Re: Boycott the 2008 Olympics Sun Aug 10, 2008 5:22 pm

Subject: Re: Boycott the 2008 Olympics Sun Aug 10, 2008 5:25 pm

Subject: Re: Boycott the 2008 Olympics Sun Aug 10, 2008 5:25 pm

Beijing is worse than Detroit

Subject: Re: Boycott the 2008 Olympics Sun Aug 10, 2008 5:26 pm

Subject: Re: Boycott the 2008 Olympics Sun Aug 10, 2008 5:28 pm

I do!

China is a rogue, evil nation!

They should never have been awarded the Games

It is a Travesty

Subject: Re: Boycott the 2008 Olympics Sun Aug 10, 2008 5:30 pm

Well US are still in the competitions and I will continue to watch the olympics despite the fact that china sucks.
_________________
Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona. ~ George F. Will

Subject: Re: Boycott the 2008 Olympics Sun Aug 10, 2008 5:32 pm

Subject: Re: Boycott the 2008 Olympics Sun Aug 10, 2008 5:33 pm

Go.... U.S.!
_________________
Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona. ~ George F. Will

Subject: Re: Boycott the 2008 Olympics Sun Aug 10, 2008 5:36 pm

Go gs78 Boycott go team