I don't think the Olympics should have been granted to the Chinese, but now that they will be held in there I think a boycott would be a missed opportunity. Staying home won't change anything and will simply taken as insult. Instead, the President and anyone else who cares about Human rights should take every opportunity to state politely but bluntly that China's disrespect for Liberty and Justice for its people and those of Tibet and Taiwan is unacceptable.

Competing in and watching the games need not require complicity in China's crimes. In fact, this may be the greatest opportunity in a generation to speak truth to a tyrannical power. The games may yet offer those who value freedom the best chance to reach through the government stooges in control of the Chinese media to the people, to let them know that the world is not oblivious to their plight.

The whole concept of the Olympics is stupid. Why should I cheer for someone because they happened to be born in the same country as me? It is this type of nationalistic thinking tha causes problems in the world. When we start thinking of people as individuals, as humans, then we'll be accomplishing something.

Thus everyone should boycott the Olympics, I sure will.

I think a boycott (which is incredibly unlikely, unless the chinese kill a few more protesters) would just sour relations between everyone for a little bit, and then everything would go back to normal; the economic consequences are just too large for anyone to try anything serious.

As such, China is in the uncomfortable position of having to smile and put up with the world's scrutiny. I think that if we leave this summer with a more open media in China we'll achieve more than just diplomatic grandstanding. How that can be achieved... I don't know. I think active protest on part of spectators and athletes, especially in hard to censor ways, would be most effective.

That said, I see no harm in our leaders of state not attending the opening ceremonies.