This guy has made a very good point.

Look at our own countries first before we start to protest about the human rights situation in Tibet. Not that we should totally ignore but the thing here is, like what a friend of mine Oisin mentioned, "... most protestors do not know what they are on about." (Referring to the protesters worldwide, who doesn't even know what exactly the Dalai Lama wants.)

Not that I am pro-China or anything but there are indeed alot of protesters out there who have no genuine cause in their loud protests. Tell me, what do you know about living in Tibet? What, how and where do you know about the Dalai Lama? What do you know about living in China? What are your opinions about religious rule? If you think that a Christian/ Islamic government isn't the ideal form of government, then why is a Buddhist government an exception? If you don't know, can't answer, then leave it to the Tibetans to voice out their unhappiness. They shouldn't wait until now to protest, they should have done that a long time ago. A friend of mine Matt went to Tibet a year and a half ago with his brother. His guide told him when they were alone that there were many things about Tibet that he wasn't allowed to say during his tours. He could have easily gotten black listed and have his life ruined forever because Tibetan spies for the Chinese government are everywhere (bus drivers, fellow tour guides etc...) because of the rewards one can get when they send in a name to the authorities. Now instead of co-operating with the Chinese government, all Tibetans could have been united and not let greed got to the better of them a long time ago. Why wait til now?

Seriously... and anyway China has been internationally recognised for the infringement of human rights for a long time now. Why even bother to put them on the list that allowed them to be elected as the host country in the first place if the Olympic Committee was really concerned about issues regarding human rights? Why didn't anyone protest then, why now, when the Tibetans are voicing out? They didn't do shit only to the Tibetans, they have done much injustice to a hell lot of human right activists and journalists in their country. Comeon people, do not protest just because it is a trend to. Do not protest just because it makes you feel better. Do not protest just because you feel sorry for the suffering Tibetans and because you are a human rights activist.

You should have done so earlier, when China was listed as the nominated country. That is, if you really do care about human rights issues and its association with the Olympic Games.

Seriously.

And to the protesters in the Western front... not that I am sceptical about your intentions, but I suggest that you also take a good look at the care tag of your clothes, the 'Made in..." label on your furniture, electronic gadgets and check with the tiling company that you hired to tile your bathroom floor. I am sure that most of what you own while you are protesting, are all made in China. So what is the talk about boycotting China? If you are really serious in practising what you preach, then get the tiles removed immediately, dump your 'Made in China' belongings into the trash, burn them or whatever. Do not be such a hypocrite.

Sorry, just my 2 cents.