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starroute

(12,977 posts)

65. Boycotts are a very blunt weapon, but there are alternatives

Thu Aug 1, 2013, 02:47 PM

Aug 2013

A unilateral boycott by the US would be particularly lame. Unless a concerted boycott by all the Western nations could be arranged, I think it would fall flat.

However, other possibilities come to mind. One would be putting pressure on NBC to incorporate the issue in its Olympics coverage -- for example, through background profiles of gay athletes that emphasize their orientation.

Another might involve focusing on the sponsors and corporate partners of the games. Here's a page of listings from the official website: http://www.sochi2014.com/en/team/partners/

Coca Cola, Dow Chemical, GE, McDonalds, Panasonic, Samsung, and Visa are all among the partners. The list of official suppliers mainly consists of Russian firms but also includes Microsoft. All of these are potential pressure points. And it might be useful to get on-the-record responses from them right now.

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What's your take on a potential boycot of the Sochi Olympics in Russia re: gay rights? [View all] WilliamPitt Aug 2013 OP

Pro MotherPetrie Aug 2013 #1

I had a hard time with this writer because of his upfront agenda to demote Harvey Fierstein Bluenorthwest Aug 2013 #2

A boycott would fail. former9thward Aug 2013 #3

John Carlos: "if you stay home, your message stays home with you." No boycott. chimpymustgo Aug 2013 #15

I am ambivalent corkhead Aug 2013 #4

boycott. cali Aug 2013 #5

Have the US delegation wear these in the opening ceremonies: geek tragedy Aug 2013 #6

I like this idea GiaGiovanni Aug 2013 #28

Boycott. forestpath Aug 2013 #7

Pro-boycott. nt LWolf Aug 2013 #8

I'd much rather see a gay athlete kiss his/her partner at the medal podium Newsjock Aug 2013 #9

I'd rather see something like this again: jberryhill Aug 2013 #10

+ a gazillion bank bailouts and 10x the combined Walton fortune! leftstreet Aug 2013 #12

I was originally for a boycott... one_voice Aug 2013 #37

I have long since stopped caring about the Olympics. bemildred Aug 2013 #11

We went to the Olympics in China, also with a repressive government. Jim Lane Aug 2013 #13

This is where I'm at as well - the Olympics ought to be separate from internal and petronius Aug 2013 #140

I pay almost no attention to the Olympics, MineralMan Aug 2013 #14

Support it NoGOPZone Aug 2013 #16

when in a foreign country, you obey its laws. larkrake Aug 2013 #17

I will assume you have no idea about the scope and content of their laws. Because your comment Bluenorthwest Aug 2013 #18

of course jury voted 2-4 to keep it, but homophobia totally doesn't exist here nt geek tragedy Aug 2013 #27

+1 mitchtv Aug 2013 #56

What an absolutely disgusting response. n/t BeeBee Aug 2013 #19

Kind of like Jews could stop being religious while in Berlin 1936? nt geek tragedy Aug 2013 #23

Or they could wear crosses, and carry Bibles, and pretend to be Christians. Vanje Aug 2013 #129

AUTOMATED MESSAGE: Results of your alert geek tragedy Aug 2013 #26

Disgusting. Did you know we are more than just about the sex? Behind the Aegis Aug 2013 #29

289 posts over 7 years, one of them this steaming pile. Obvious troll is obvious. nt stevenleser Aug 2013 #96

But if those laws are evil, you can express disapproval by not going there. Donald Ian Rankin Aug 2013 #36

Bullshit! one_voice Aug 2013 #43

"politics do not belong in the olympics"? Are you kidding me? truebrit71 Aug 2013 #48

Your bigotry is noted. backscatter712 Aug 2013 #50

I have a feeling if you were potentially going to be jailed for being you gollygee Aug 2013 #94

I suppose I could just stop being gay, or Black, or Jewish, or whatever, if I was participating in msanthrope Aug 2013 #95

I can't tell you what I think of what you wrote or I will get in trouble with a jury. Let's just say stevenleser Aug 2013 #97

"gays and snowden"? wth does snowden have to do Cha Aug 2013 #111

Being gay is not politics it is who we are. hrmjustin Aug 2013 #120

I've been "non-sexual" for years. Vanje Aug 2013 #128

Hence the point of the boycott: not going to Russia. NYC Liberal Aug 2013 #132

This isn't about politics. It's about basic human rights and about the repressive totodeinhere Aug 2013 #137

Man, fuck that noise. Gravitycollapse Aug 2013 #147

the latest warning to gays comes from their sports minister - it's official Russia policy bigtree Aug 2013 #20

I think we should do what gay Russians would like, LuvNewcastle Aug 2013 #21

I am for a boycott! hrmjustin Aug 2013 #22

Absolutely for it n2doc Aug 2013 #24

If we could boycott the 1980 Olympics over the Soviets being in Afghanistan... AngryOldDem Aug 2013 #25

I'd support it. Cali_Democrat Aug 2013 #30

If you limit the olympics to countries with good human rights records, you destroy it. Donald Ian Rankin Aug 2013 #31

The big difference Bradical79 Aug 2013 #44

The host country, or their equivalent of Rick Santorum? Donald Ian Rankin Aug 2013 #57

Yes. That's what politicians do: shoot their fat mouths off. randome Aug 2013 #117

well you also are then only assuming Human rights violations began in 1950 or something La Lioness Priyanka Aug 2013 #58

No, I'm assuming that ones in the past don't matter. Donald Ian Rankin Aug 2013 #60

oh, that's a good point. however i still think america would be on the chopping block due to gitmo La Lioness Priyanka Aug 2013 #61

On the subject of incoherence, do you mean "on" rather than "off" the chopping block? :-) Donald Ian Rankin Aug 2013 #62

yes, i meant on. i am sure most americans/westerners do not see their own sins as equally terrible La Lioness Priyanka Aug 2013 #68

The difference is this law is being used as a threat to participants and vistitors to the games Bluenorthwest Aug 2013 #91

However DonCoquixote Aug 2013 #145

No, you don't. 2ndAmForComputers Aug 2013 #70

A games excluding most non-Western nations would not be the Olympics. N.T. Donald Ian Rankin Aug 2013 #78

How about limiting it to places where the athletes and fans won't get arrested gollygee Aug 2013 #99

Ditto. Donald Ian Rankin Aug 2013 #146

Prior to the stement made by the RUssian lawmaker, I was against a boycott. Behind the Aegis Aug 2013 #32

To boycott or to overwhelm? moondust Aug 2013 #33

A boycott by the USA not so much. LiberalFighter Aug 2013 #34

Why should the athletes pay for political issues? liberal N proud Aug 2013 #35

A boycott over gay rights? Won't be over that nadinbrzezinski Aug 2013 #38

There will be no boycot B2G Aug 2013 #39

It'd have to be organized personal boycotts, not a state boycott. backscatter712 Aug 2013 #49

Boycott, and organize some huge events outside of Russia. n/t backscatter712 Aug 2013 #40

Here's a thought; maybe they could have winter games at LuvNewcastle Aug 2013 #52

Opposed LordGlenconner Aug 2013 #41

I'm not going. n/t cherokeeprogressive Aug 2013 #42

WOW. You were going to go, but now you won't go because of Russia's crackdown on gays? Cali_Democrat Aug 2013 #46

As the father of a gay, soon to be transgender young adult... cherokeeprogressive Aug 2013 #47

You could be arrested also HockeyMom Aug 2013 #54

As someone else noted if these were anti-christian laws the olympics would have been moved already.. truebrit71 Aug 2013 #45

I'm against a boycott. bluedigger Aug 2013 #51

I don't know what would be best. This thread has some interesting ideas. ZombieHorde Aug 2013 #53

I'm with John Carlos on this one. No boycott. Show up. DinahMoeHum Aug 2013 #55

i agree show up mitchtv Aug 2013 #59

you are making too much sense olddots Aug 2013 #143

Leave these young athletes alone. Boycott something else. These young people southernyankeebelle Aug 2013 #63

I think I agree with you. n/t BlueCheese Aug 2013 #83

I don't think the American flag should be there... roamer65 Aug 2013 #85

If my kid was there he/she would be marching under the american flag. Period. southernyankeebelle Aug 2013 #106

It's all up to the USOC and the President Obama. roamer65 Aug 2013 #142

And what do you say to the gay athletes? 'You takes your chances, don't call for bail'? Bluenorthwest Aug 2013 #88

There are gay athletes? FreeState Aug 2013 #90

Life isn't fair. If I were gay I wouldn't want my fellow atheletes not go to the southernyankeebelle Aug 2013 #98

Let me review, you say 'Life isn't fair' when asked about the impact on gay athletes but in the Bluenorthwest Aug 2013 #121

This may amaze you, Vanje Aug 2013 #134

These young athletes could be arrested gollygee Aug 2013 #100

Sorry. If I had a young man or lady that was my child who worked very hard for years southernyankeebelle Aug 2013 #102

"Everyone leave their sex drive at home for a week" - ??? gollygee Aug 2013 #104

I know am not going to change anyones mind. You know sometimes life isn't fair. If the Russians southernyankeebelle Aug 2013 #105

What if gollygee Aug 2013 #109

No it wouldn't be ok. But again find another way to boycott. They are already boycotting southernyankeebelle Aug 2013 #114

Did you support the South African Boycott? hrmjustin Aug 2013 #118

"Everyone leave their sex drive at home for a week. It won't hurt a bit." hrmjustin Aug 2013 #115

I can. Bluenorthwest Aug 2013 #122

Yeah, so can I. theHandpuppet Aug 2013 #131

Staggering ignorance. Why don't Black people leave their color at home at the same time? Fearless Aug 2013 #125

What if your Olympian son or daughter Vanje Aug 2013 #136

That's very easy to say when _your_ human rights are secure. (nt) Heidi Aug 2013 #144

Let someone over there try ProudToBeBlueInRhody Aug 2013 #126

But we didn't boycott Beijing? Meh? JCMach1 Aug 2013 #64

Boycotts are a very blunt weapon, but there are alternatives starroute Aug 2013 #65

+1 DinahMoeHum Aug 2013 #67

Aw, fuck. Until this moment, I liked Samsung phones. 2ndAmForComputers Aug 2013 #71

Thanks for the Sponsor list - time to contact them! n/t FreeState Aug 2013 #76

I think millions of people personally boycotting would be more realistic than a state boycott. backscatter712 Aug 2013 #84

If the US boycotted, that's all anyone would talk about during the whole games gollygee Aug 2013 #101

Im all for a boycott, genocide is not acceptable FreeState Aug 2013 #66

This is genocide. Call it what it is. LuvNewcastle Aug 2013 #73

Agree 1000% n/t FreeState Aug 2013 #75

Show up and make a big stink about the stupid law at every available opportunity. Scurrilous Aug 2013 #69

+++ jberryhill Aug 2013 #74

Are the two of you volunteering to do that? I'd very much respect the idea if it was something Bluenorthwest Aug 2013 #93

Definitely pro-boycott. kestrel91316 Aug 2013 #72

fuck russia warrior1 Aug 2013 #77

Do what the British did for Moscow 1980. roamer65 Aug 2013 #79

I say we damn well should do what Americans do - show the hell up The Straight Story Aug 2013 #80

The whole world should boycott these Olympics. Shun that conservative hatehole, and their Zorra Aug 2013 #81

I haven't thought about it a lot. BlueCheese Aug 2013 #82

Read the article WilliamPitt Aug 2013 #87

They're sucking up to the Orthodox Church starroute Aug 2013 #89

Correct. Bluenorthwest Aug 2013 #92

How can you punish the poor workers though? mick063 Aug 2013 #86

Pressure seems to work out better in the long run. Boycotts just seem to agitate and punish adirondacker Aug 2013 #103

This message was self-deleted by its author devilgrrl Aug 2013 #107

That would be a violation of their law and each of them subject to arrest. Bluenorthwest Aug 2013 #124

Johnny Weir should so carry the U.S. flag in the opening ceremonies. KamaAina Aug 2013 #108

I say.. mahalo for Cha Aug 2013 #110

Strongly oppose. Calista241 Aug 2013 #112

I think RudynJack Aug 2013 #113

I can't say I've really kept up with past Olympic events. randome Aug 2013 #116

The athletes do not deserve to be the pawns. WinkyDink Aug 2013 #119

I'd like to see the USOC support individual athlete's decision, publicly. And support ally teammates pinto Aug 2013 #123

I support a boycott. Vanje Aug 2013 #127

Every LGBT athelete should go Fearless Aug 2013 #130

"LGBT Activists Start Dildo-Mailing Campaign To Irritate Vladimir Putin" starroute Aug 2013 #133

Anyone who doesn't think homosexuality should be illegal should stay the hell away. Nye Bevan Aug 2013 #135

Whether there is an official boycott or not, I know one thing. totodeinhere Aug 2013 #138

Strongly support. JoeyT Aug 2013 #139

ain`t going to happen madrchsod Aug 2013 #141

HOLY FUCKING SHIT!!111!1!!1!1! WilliamPitt Aug 2013 #148