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Utahns oppose Olympic torch protests

"I don't think they believe that China's conflict with Tibet is serious enough that we should boycott" or get involved in disrupting the torch relay, Jones said. "People get tired of international demonstrations."

This is shameful. Monks protesting for the freedom of their country from the Communist regime were brutally murdered by the state as recently as a couple of months ago. What sporting event is more important than their lives? Than their freedom to think, speak and worship as they please. Shame on that 68 percent that oppose the protests.

I recently returned from a short trip to New York City, where I saw protesters demonstrating outside the Chinese consulate. These people, who are fortunate enough to live in a free country are desperately trying to fight for freedom in their homeland, for their families. I think at the heart of the opposition in Utah to their cause is selfishness and racism. For all the talk about freedom and equality LDS church members (of which I am one) spout, none of that matters when it comes to people in a distant, misunderstood land. It's more important that Bush gets to wave at the crowd at the opening ceremonies.

Not all Utah people oppose these protests. Some don't think they went far enough. Stop the torch, let the Chinese know we don't like them or their policies. Get the US to boycott everything the Chinese Communists have, own or make... just like we do CUBA. Hypocricy is the US dealing with China while boycotting Cuba. But hypocracy is just another name for politician.

I totally detest a nation that treats others the way China does. Why shouldn't I? They have no business getting the bid to hold them in the first place. Who cares about China? It's just another form of terrorism, so I believe we need to worry about relations with honorable countries and tune out terrorism.

WWW: Wow, Walker is a Wimp...

You cannot compare the two Olympics and the world events. On one hand, you had Utah blowing it until Mitt came along and everyone got on board, so to speak. You had 911, which united good people everywhere.

No one was watching Tibet get mugged, raped, and pillaged. No one was looking at the films of the Chinese army murdering North Koreans they had caught fleeing North Korea. No one had seen the film yet of Christians being hounded. No one had heard the argument by the Chinese govt. that the Catholic rep. in China was to pay homage to Peiping and not to Rome. And everyone heard and saw Peiping's answer to it all: ignore them, it will go away.

Walker must be good, very good, at his job. He can spin coal into fine garments.

I wonder how he sleeps at night?

Shadow has seen the films, and talked to Tibetans.

China host the Olympic so even though I may disagree with civil rights issue in that country, why not let the Olympic Torch go on its merry way undisturbed? Also for the sake of the athletes who have worked so hard to compete, allow the Olympic Games to proceed with no distractions. That's my opinion...

The reason that Utahns don't like the protests is that anything adventurous and independent has been bred out of them. Respect the boss-man is the credo here.

They weren't talking to. I vehemently oppose China. Sorry if that offends.

It is appalling that my fellow Utahans would disagree in having Olympic torch protest in support of oppressed people of Tibet and within China. If Utahans just reasearched the facts concerning how the Tibetians were brutually slaughered during the Chinaese Communist 1959 invasion in Tibet, the continous China government denial of basic human rights of all Chinaese and Tibetian citizens, they would and should be supporttive of the oppressed people mentioned. Using the torch relay is an excellent venue to give a strong message to China to follow through on their commitments in improving human rights polcies which they declared as a pretext in having the Oylmpics. But yet they are doing the opposite being more brutually oppressive of their people. Let it be known the torch protest is working now that the China government will meet with Dalai Lama representatives. To my Utah friends , do your home work such reading reports of Amnesty International and US State Department concerning China government brutality of its citizens. As a member of the LDS Church I have a moral obligation to be in solidarity of poeple who are denied basic freedoms through out the world.

Mormons for Equality and Social Justice

I think that using the Olympic torch route as a way to protest Tibetan independence or any other issues in China is effective and smart. If you look at the history of China, has there been a more ideal time than now where government officials are trying to put forth their best face for the international community? The Chinese government is paying extreme attention to each leg of the Olympic torch route. It is the perfect time for protestors to voice their disapproval towards government policies. China will want to show that they are modern, open and transparent, and not the bad guy that everyone makes them out to be. They might just change some policies because of the protests. I support the protestors along the route and say,"Bravo, great strategy."

An Energy Solutions talking head parroting about unity at all costs and against dissent? What a surprise.

Utah, you should be ashamed of your arrogant aquiescence to communist domination and human rights abuses...but I guess as long as the flashy Christmas goodies and cheap electronics keep coming from mainland China you're willing to sacrifice a few heathens here and there.

I don't want any protests about the Olympics. Separate protests about China should not tie to the Olympics.

The news needs to show both sides of the rock throwing Tibet protests. That said, I think China should have democratic elections, have freedom of religion (more than they have) and let Taiwan and Tibet go. Of course, there are a billion people over there and it they all decide for that to happen, the government will not be able to stay in power. China, in my opinion, will not exist as it is in 5 years.

Does this really surprise anyone? Just look at Utah. A state where all little boys and girls do what they're told to do, and think what they're told to think. Oh, they deny it of course, but everyone who's lived in Utah know how things are. Do people in Utah even think? Do they realize that China has a terrible record on human rights. That they invaded and occupied Tibet without justification? Maybe people from Utah would be better off with a government like China has.....a communist government by the way for those Utah people who actually read the news and take time to inform themselves. Then the good Utah people could keep doing what they're told, thinking what they're told to think, and they wouldn't have to worry about the bad things in life like dissent, human rights, protest, or being free.

Political Protests Have NO PLACE in the Olympic Games, PERIOD! It is not what the games were designed to be about. They were designed to bring the world together, not separate each other. I strongly disagree with any protests at "SPORTING" events or other Non-Political Events!

Not THIS Utahn! I absolutely support the protests and oppose what the Communist Chinese government is doing in Tibet!

Glad you finally brought in the LDS church. What would life be like in Utah if someone wasn't taking a shot at the "dominant religion?" We, those who respect our church leader, are grateful to be sheep of our Sheperd, Jesus Christ. Calling us sheep is a compliment. That has nothing to do with civil disobedience or demonstrating. China should not be allowed a free ride in the world arena as long as they are a repressive regime with no religious or ethnic tolerance. We should make our voices heard.

I very much agree with Utahns and authority. The Sheeple of Utah always support the actions of authority no matter how egregious. They are the most proud and spineless citizenry in all the nation.
The Sheeple of Utah want so much to be loved by a world that hates them anyway. They are much too hypersensitive about their own image than to be concerned with such trivial matters as the basic civil rights of lowly Tibetans.

So you place more importance on games than on human rights, and the basic American rights of free speech, protest, and dissent. Ever hear the term "bread and circus"? It applies to your post.

Why "Utahns" oppose torch protest? Why not "many" or even "most" of those surveyed?

I fully support the protests and the boycotts---though I'd rather the Olympics never have been awarded to China in the first place. I'm ASHAMED that China is a favored trading partner of the US.

I'm a Utahn and I support the torch protests and I will personally boycott this Olympics.

Population sampling is a joke and is cheap journalism.

I'd be interested to see the exact questions that the poll asked the survey respondents. The lack of their reprinting here makes me suspicious of the poll itself. Most of the people here in Utah I have spoken with are very in favor of the protests. Killing Tibetan monks? What governmental action could be more heinous? I fully support a complete Olympic ban. I personally will not buy any products made by companies supporting the Olympics.