Here’s another Tammy Poll. The first one on McCain’s VP went really well, so I thought I would try it again as a way 1) to find out what you’re up to and 2) so we can all get to know each other better. This one explores if you’re watching the Olympics and why or why not. You can vote for one, and only once, but you can change your vote if you need to for some strange reason. Thanks for voting!
Oh, and for those of you newbies who may not be familiar with Tammy Radio and Blog adult code–Echo Sierra stands for a rather crude suggestion, with Echo standing for “Eat.” Get our drift? This way, your kids can participate without being faced with my (our) bluntness 🙂
I’m surprised so few are watching. There are 86 heads of state present. This is historic.
Ok, now I’m conflicted. I watched the opening ceremony to see Lopez Lomong carry the American flag into the stadium. I got a warm, fuzzy feeling. America is good, and Lopez is inspirational. It was even more enjoyable since I’m sure it annoyed the heck out of China. I have no intention of watching any more, though I do wish our athetes well. I don’t see my situation reflected in any of the choices!!!! What to do, what to do!? 😉
I screwed up the link yet again. The picture I was trying to post a link to is here. Sorry!
It’s been a hard thing. You want to watch the Games to cheer on the athletes, but you also know about China and what’s been going on there since 1949. So, which is more important, watching the Games for the sake of the athletes or not watching the Games for the sake of those who are continually oppressed day after day in China? Ultimately, I decided reluctantly not to watch the Games.
In case you wish to be reminded of what China has been doing, check out the blog posts by Bridget Johnson under the headline “Beijing 2008: Dissident of the Day”. Here’s the web address: http://blogs.rockymountainnews.com/bridget/
I am watching. Two things that I have watched every 4 years since my first memories are presidential debates and the Olympics. I love the games and the athleticism and nationalism that they represent.
I watched the opening ceremony tonight, and it was very impressive. The torch lighting was the best one I’ve ever seen.
I hate communism and the government of China, and I don’t buy this “one world” crap. But I do give credit to the Chinese people: the artists, scientists, and athletes who made this program possible. Beijing should have never obtained the bid and I worry about the safety and health of everyone there, but the protests should have been 8 years ago when they received it. Agitating about it now is about as effective as a “save Darfur†t-shirt. I also admit to being happy that Bush and Sarkosy were there to support our athletes. I know this is not the opinion of this blog, but if everyone else is too put off to watch, I’ll be the Tammy peep reporter on the Olympics. I feel too strongly about them to turn them off.
As many have pointed out here and elsewhere, the Olympics have degraded much over the years. Yes, America is still great and to watch the Stars & Stripes being marched into the stadium would have been inspirational, but, there were other things needing done. And I’m not much of a summer sport person, at least not the running, jumping kind of sports. More bicycling stuff. I absolutely watch the winter games, never miss them. Lots of good memories there, Dorothy Hamil, Christi Yamaguchi. Yes, there are good memories, too, of some summer Olympic Games, Mark Spitz, Carrie Strug jumping with a broken foot. Those are exceptions. I may take a glance or two at the games, but life doesn’t stop during the games. Things still have to be fixed/maintained; go to work, church, etc. “Tempus has a way of fugiting”, as my mother often said.
If nothing else, it was the opening ceremony that should have been boycotted. Instead it was one of the most watched events in history. Autocratic regimes are very adept at the powerful imagery of spectacles featuring masses of people in perfect rows and columns moving with impeccable precision. We are one. The same.
Chinese artist Ai Weiwei refused to attend the opening ceremony, even though he helped design the Bird’s Nest Stadium.
I did see part of the opening ceremony. Truly spectacular. I will try to separate the athletes and their moment of glory from the grim horror the host country has brought to millions. I will watch some of the events but feel guilty.
I’ll be watching…there’s nothing to be gained from punishing atheletes that have been training a lifetime for this moment because you disagree with the practices of the host country. The American thing to do is to go in there and kick ass left and right to show the rest of the world “this is how we do it in the free world, baby”.
It’s the stuff from which such hostoric moments as Jesse Owens four gold medals at the ’36 Berlin Olympics are made. Who knows how many of those moments were lost by Carter’s decision to boycott the ’80 Moscow games (a decison that showed no guts; the gutsy move would have been to send atheletes to compete and win, not punish them to grandstand a political disagreement).
I could not watch the Games now if I wanted to – our TV died a week ago – YEA!!! I think I wouldn’t be able to watch in good conscience anyway. We strongly support the persecuted peoples in China and Tibet, many of whom are religious believers. You may learn more about the persecuted Christians at Persecution.com here:
http://www.persecution.com/
Lots of people know about the Tibetan Buddhists, followers of the Falun Gong, the democracy movement, or virtual slave laborers. I feel it’s important to back up our beliefs and support them with action, so we don’t buy Chinese goods if possible, do support people and ministries finacially, and even have the proverbial bumper stickers and T-shirts. And I don’t keep quiet ;D
NO, China can go eat … well.. Schmidt.
Let me just say this. Most people I talk to would never guess that I do indeed KNOW JACK SCHMIDT, he has really good uh, lettuce & maybe radishes. So, EAT SCHMIDT!!
Not watchin’. First time in my memory I’ve gone without the Olympics. As a kid I kept an olympic medals scoreboard each time. The winter games are my favorites. I can’t change the world, I have no influence on most things. I think that every time we hold our nose and look the other way, we legitemise in some small way those we overlook.