I have an Olympic question...could use others thoughts, thanks!

[seeker777]

Of course I cannot make sure everything in my house was produced fairly.

Yes you can, but it takes allot of work.

But I try when I can - I try to make sure I pay a fair price for my clothes by buying them from ethical shops; I make sure I pay a fair price for my food and that that fair price gets passed on to the growers.

It sounds like you try when it's convenient. imho.

Sure I can't be perfect, but I would rather try and fall short than take the attitude of "it's not possible, so why even bother."

What are you doing to in regards to your concern about Chinese human rights abuses, other than suggesting the Olympics be boycotted?

 

[hannahfievel]

I've read quite a few honest and to the point questions and answers.

Of course if things were as they shoud be...we wouldn't even have to discuss the autrosities that are throughout the world...so for me...since I and no one else here is gonna take control of CHINA...I think we can at least PRAY FOR THEIR PEOPLE...who knows..maybe one day....someone new will come into power and change the ways of their government. Who knows what could happen with prayers?

I do think that the Olympics should have been in any other nation and why China was picked...that would have been a conversation in which I wish I could have been a fly on the wall! But, I know our Lord sees it all, and those in power will have much to answer for...and I'm glad I am not in their shoes, AMEN!!!

And, sadly we all do know this...with the powerful...it is "always" about the bottom line...ain't it folks? So, we can and should do our best to "try" not to glorify a nation who cares nothing about their own. They even walled off some of the city...so westerners can't see...we only see the new stuff they did since they got the job.

It's just all around sad...but like I said...God knows what's up...and HE WILL DEAL WITH IT ALL ONE DAY! And, hopefully soon.

And, why won't China talk about Dafur? Are they one of the countries, like ours too...helping that whole senerio play out? Which..btw...really disgusts me to the core of my soul..I've seen enough sadness from there to last in my memories forever, and if I think about it all...I could cry me a river for those people. for our whole world, amen, hannah who is not worthy any day of the week.

PS I'm just glad He loves me, you all, and the rest of the world and has the power to subdue all the evil, which one day HE will, and yay...we will all live happily ever after without fear of anything, amen. That ONLY LOVE WILL SHINE ONE DAY, AMEN!

 

[Robbie_James_Francis]

No, indeed.

More to the point, exactly whom would a boycott benefit? All it would do is help us feel all smug and noble for not participating. I can't see any particular advantages for the people of China. It's not like the Chinese government is going to say, "Oh gosh, the UK and the US are refusing to participate in the Beijing Olympics. I guess we'll quit all that 'human rights abuse' nonsense we've been carrying on with."

The fact is that we still outsource our production of all sorts of goods to China to take advantage of their cheap labour, so it'd be pretty hypocritical to get our knickers in a twist over human rights abuses by the Chinese government anyway.

I see what you mean, but to me it's the principle of the matter. Ideally, we should all be protesting on the streets against the Chinese regime and boycotting all Chinese products. But unfortunately it simply isn't realistic for us all to do that. But that doesn't mean we have to add support, however small, to one of the most evil regimes in the world.

You may be right that it's partly about our own feelings, but frankly I can't sit and watch volleyball and think of anything other than the unfathomable horrors that one sixth of the world's population live in thanks to the Chinese government...not to mention the millions more in Burma and Darfur.

It makes very little difference now whether we watch it now or not, but I simply can't stomach it.

 

[seeker777]

I've read quite a few honest and to the point questions and answers.

Of course if things were as they shoud be...we wouldn't even have to discuss the autrosities that are throughout the world...so for me...since I and no one else here is gonna take control of CHINA...I think we can at least PRAY FOR THEIR PEOPLE...who knows..maybe one day....someone new will come into power and change the ways of their government. Who knows what could happen with prayers?

Nothing, China is a society that is 5500 years old, they dwarf Christianity and have kept Christianity ( for the most part) out of their way of life.

I do think that the Olympics should have been in any other nation and why China was picked.

Even North Korea or Iran?

..that would have been a conversation in which I wish I could have been a fly on the wall! But, I know our Lord sees it all, and those in power will have much to answer for...and I'm glad I am not in their shoes, AMEN!!!

So, we can and should do our best to "try" not to glorify a nation who cares nothing about their own.

40 million Americans are without health insurance, how many millions of Americans live below the poverty line? Look what America has done to Iraq! Glass houses....stones, don't chuck em'.

I could cry me a river for those people. for our whole world, amen, hannah who is not worthy any day of the week.

Remember, the U.S. was an ally before and remained an ally after Saddam Hussein gassed his own Kurdish Citizens. Glass houses, stones, keep em' in your pockets. How many Iranians and Iraqi's slaughtered each other while the U.S. was an ally of the Iraq regime?

PS I'm just glad He loves me, you all, and the rest of the world and has the power to subdue all the evil, which one day HE will...

Sadly, I think you'll be waiting a long, long time for divine intervention. If God wouldn't stop the holocaust or the 1 million Rwandan genocidal slaughter 8 years ago...just what does it take for God to intervene?

 

[cantata]

Another good option if you want to help out: I buy most of my clothes from charity shops these days. There's something rather nice about buying clothes from Oxfam that were made by the very people that Oxfam helps. Kind of a slap in the face to Gap et al., and you can save a lot of money as well. You should see some of the designer clothes I've picked up for under £10 from charity shops!

If you can't find what you need from charity shops, try shops like American Apparel, who, although not perfect, are certainly heading in the right direction: although they do outsource some of their labour, their Chinese employees, for example, receive the US minimum wage. (Source.) I find them particularly useful for underwear, which unsurprisingly I don't really want to buy second-hand. A quick search online for "ethical apparel", "ethical clothing", "ethical underwear" &c. will get you plenty of results, but it has to be said that buying ethical clothing can be an expensive business. Sometimes you do have to choose your battles.

Oxfam are a great source of information about how to shop and live ethically.

 

[Robbie_James_Francis]

Another good option if you want to help out: I buy most of my clothes from charity shops these days. There's something rather nice about buying clothes from Oxfam that were made by the very people that Oxfam helps. Kind of a slap in the face to Gap et al., and you can save a lot of money as well. You should see some of the designer clothes I've picked up for under £10 from charity shops!

If you can't find what you need from charity shops, try shops like American Apparel, who, although not perfect, are certainly heading in the right direction: although they do outsource some of their labour, their Chinese employees, for example, receive the US minimum wage. (Source.) I find them particularly useful for underwear, which unsurprisingly I don't really want to buy second-hand. A quick search online for "ethical apparel", "ethical clothing", "ethical underwear" &c. will get you plenty of results, but it has to be said that buying ethical clothing can be an expensive business. Sometimes you do have to choose your battles.

Oxfam are a great source of information about how to shop and live ethically.

I always get as many clothes as I can from charity shops. I love it...I save money cos it's cheap, I give money to a good cause and I don't give money to companies that support sweatshops. It's win-win-win

 

[cantata]

I always get as many clothes as I can from charity shops. I love it...I save money cos it's cheap, I give money to a good cause and I don't give money to companies that support sweatshops. It's win-win-win

Exactly! And you can find some incredible stuff that you wouldn't be able to get elsewhere, into the bargain.

 

[mpok1519]

look at it this way; if the US gets to invade countries for their oil, I suppose its okay for China to murder monks.

I'm being facetious, but, lifes pretty sad.

 

[Robbie_James_Francis]

look at it this way; if the US gets to invade countries for their oil, I suppose its okay for China to murder monks.

I'm being facetious, but, lifes pretty sad.

I have been wondering when the monk-murdering or Tibetan flag-burning will be on. Guess which fascists are going to get gold?

Sorry, my cousin I live with has been watching it, and I'm used to making her feel bad about it. As soon as I can find one I'm going to get a Tibetan flag to drape over the telly while it's on.

 

[stan1980]

Sorry, my cousin I live with has been watching it, and I'm used to making her feel bad about it. As soon as I can find one I'm going to get a Tibetan flag to drape over the telly while it's on.

I don't see the point in trying to stop your cousin enjoy the events. Having said that, most the events in the Olympics are about as exciting as watching paint dry so I don't blame you for not wanting to watch them.

Say what you like about China though, the opening ceremony was very, very impressive, apart from the tedious amount of time it took to parade the athletes... and I'm not normally very impressed by these sorts of things. I guess no one quite puts on a show like a communist dictatorship does.

 

[LittleNipper]

Okay this morning I awoke to hearing about the Olympics. Just a few days ago..I watched a primetime special about China and its foreign policies, and somethings, well many things I have read online about China, and they were NOT nice things that they do in their country.

Now, my question is this: Should we as a country, along with others....really be participating in the Olympics in a country who is not what they are showing us on tv? Some of do still remember "how their people are treated, and have you read what they do to Christians in China"? I'm just kinda wondering if anyone else thinks about these things.

And, is it just and right to condone some of the things their government does to others just to participate in sporting events? Hmmm....

Well, I will be waiting to hear what others think, or maybe it is just me? I dunno. I just would like to think that we could be a better influence in the world than we are being...opinions anyone? Thanks, hannah

Certainly! And while there pass out free Chinese Bibles, tracts, Christian music tapes, and religious books. Act polite, be kind, and make lots of Chinese friends ----- be a PAL!

 

[Maren]

Certainly! And while there pass out free Chinese Bibles, tracts, Christian music tapes, and religious books. Act polite, be kind, and make lots of Chinese friends ----- be a PAL!

I'm afraid you wouldn't be able to bring that material into the country. News sources have reported that visitors are not allowed to bring more than one Bible into China (which is actually a loosening of their normal policy). I can't imagine they would allow religious tracts or tapes at all. There are even articles that claim no Bibles were going to be allowed in the Olympic Village, though this rule appears to have been rescinded when the various country's Olympic organizations complained.

 

[stan1980]

I'm afraid you wouldn't be able to bring that material into the country.

So it's not all bad in China then..

 

[HannahBanana]

So it's not all bad in China then..

And giving your citizens the freedom to own a Bible makes a country "bad," how, exactly?

 

[stan1980]

And giving your citizens the freedom to own a Bible makes a country "bad," how, exactly?

*sigh* it was a joke. whoooosh

 

[HannahBanana]

*sigh* it was a joke. whoooosh

Sorry. I'm just quite on-edge right now. Everything is offending me. It really sucks, to be honest.

 

[stan1980]

Sorry. I'm just quite on-edge right now. Everything is offending me. It really sucks, to be honest.

No worries

 

[LittleNipper]

I'm afraid you wouldn't be able to bring that material into the country. News sources have reported that visitors are not allowed to bring more than one Bible into China (which is actually a loosening of their normal policy). I can't imagine they would allow religious tracts or tapes at all. There are even articles that claim no Bibles were going to be allowed in the Olympic Village, though this rule appears to have been rescinded when the various country's Olympic organizations complained.

So I take what I can take (many Chinese can read English) and I give it to someone there that GOD leads me to. And see, their government has backed down --- even if just a little. The reality is that such regulations appear unreasonable because they ARE unreasonable. Anything that gets the general public to think!