DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post

**mr.calisto** · 11-01-2007, 08:01 PM

We should not have boycotted the Olympics in 1936, as that would have had no impact in stopping the atrocities that followed. When Jimmy Carter boycotted the Soviet Olympics in 1980, all it did is make them look stronger than us. When Ronald Reagan came to power, he understood the need to talk in a meaningful way for change based on peace through strength, and change came about. He understood he needed to say "tear down this wall" instead of focus on a "peace in our time" agenda. What's really cynical, capn, is when people opposse the kind of policies that will actually help people but will endorse ineffective policies that make you cool with the hollywood types and the hippies.

The truth is change is already happening in China. It's happening slower than we might want, but the pace is real. I think if we can continue a dialogue with them, they will become democratic. If you travel there, people like us a lot, and they admire Korea as well and clearly aspire to follow that kind of model for their development - directed at first, democratic later on. If the government doesn't give people this wish, they will lose power.

11-01-2007, 08:01 PM	#7
mr.calisto Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 413 Senior Member	We should not have boycotted the Olympics in 1936, as that would have had no impact in stopping the atrocities that followed. When Jimmy Carter boycotted the Soviet Olympics in 1980, all it did is make them look stronger than us. When Ronald Reagan came to power, he understood the need to talk in a meaningful way for change based on peace through strength, and change came about. He understood he needed to say "tear down this wall" instead of focus on a "peace in our time" agenda. What's really cynical, capn, is when people opposse the kind of policies that will actually help people but will endorse ineffective policies that make you cool with the hollywood types and the hippies. The truth is change is already happening in China. It's happening slower than we might want, but the pace is real. I think if we can continue a dialogue with them, they will become democratic. If you travel there, people like us a lot, and they admire Korea as well and clearly aspire to follow that kind of model for their development - directed at first, democratic later on. If the government doesn't give people this wish, they will lose power.
	Quote