Do you remember the stand about a story of james yen, Tell the people a great need for peace in the gornment...as well as i am...There are so many changes since the harmonic tunes made it a name for a familiar cinematic name, hey I am just learning, but been a magnified reviewer, i Found out I am a born critic . Happy Valentines day it is been 22 years of other exchanges and undertakings in different ways of alittle girl story that grown up just recently. Hope you understand the next editorials of old. bye

Victoria Randall, Antioch, , Ca .94509

Chinese media reported Spielberg's withdrawal. Thousands of posts and blogs followed the news. Mostly with one point, BE IT and GET LOST. Some extreme posts even call to boycot his films... Spielberg definietely made himself heard, but for what result?

Ty, Shanghai,

Dear GC,

It actually matters a lot, especially in the long term process of development for any country and the world at large. It's almost 20 years since 1989, in historical terms a blink of an eye, and the real effects of the free access to global information we now enjoy will be felt in probably 50, 100 years.

More to the point, I like to think that a vital lesson has been learned globally after Iraq and Guantanamo, and this because of the freedom of information and expression.

On the other hand, as far as I can remember, denials, sealed mouths and repression of free thought never changed anything throughout the course of history.

What saddens me, is that if you did sit on that square, you missed this point.

Thank you

Luca, Beijing, China

"Western democracies have the means to be self-aware and self-critical. "

Why does this matter an ounce when the end result is the way it is. Irap is such a dissapointing example of how western democracies fail when it needs to work. All the protests within those democracies amounted to what? I would give the so called democracies a little respect if Bush or Blair would stand up as men and apologize for the war. I would give a huge amount of respect if the "means to be self-aware and self-critical" could put these men on trial for war crimes for what they did in iraq.

It's such a shame that democracy has become nothing but a standard excuse for doing exactly the same shameless things that all countries do. When we sat on Tian'an men square in 1989, we thought that the western democracies were better than this.

GC, beijing,

I'm Chinese.But I agree with Mr. Spielberg.He has right to claim protest to Bejing's action to Darfur .But I doubt whether his snub would effect.Thanks to Propaganda Department of state Party Committee , very few people in China will know his snub.

lsdxs, Shanghai, China

To all those below who draw the comparison between China's human rights records and issues such as Guantanamo, the war in Iraq, etc.

May I just remind you that, sensitive as they are, these issues are constantly under public scrutiny within the US and abroad and are not being denied as non-existent, which is the standard Chinese response when their breaches are being denounced.

Western democracies have the means to be self-aware and self-critical. China on the other hand is by no means a democracy, quite far from it, and it's still highly debatable whether they should have been treated to such an unconditional offer to host the Olympics and the values the Games represent.

Thank you

Luca, Beijing, China

I'm a Chinese citizen. Though I too am extremely concerned about human rights in China and Darfur in Sudan, I don't quite get the logic behind linking Beijing Olympics to the genocide.What should I boycott to protest against the American occupation of Iraq?

Yi Ming, London,

Come on, Mr. Spielberg, you forgot China was a safe haven for Jew during Second World War. Is that how you repay the Chinese people? If you indeed have a conscience, show it now. How could you possibily forget 54,000 Jew escaped the killing of Germany so easily?

SHAUTONG CHIN, Waterbeach, UK

Mr. Spielberg is highly respected and loved by 1.5 billion of his fans in China. I am sure he has thought about his decision twice and ready to take action that might hurt feeling of his fans. Yes, he has some leverage on China than other actors/actress. But, he forgot, The Chinese tend to be less responsive to outsiders' pressure when it comes to the national honor (or face). If he truly cares about people in Sudan, he may have the opportunity to push China to do more by working with the Chinese. His decision to quit has given up on his opportunity to help Sudanese, no matter how little help it may come. Hence, we have to wonder if he is just trying to make a public statement and and a show to his Hollywood buddies, or truly cares about people in Sudan?!

Ty, Shanghai, China

Indeed Adrian, let's go further. Let's extend your logic and ban the U.K. for its role in the misery of the world. Imperialism in Africa, idiocy in Palestine, etc.

Let's have an Olympics with Switzerland, Lichtenstein and Andorra. But I'm sure I'll get something on them as well.

JonB, Seattle, WA

Spielberg is absolutely right. China couldn't care less about the situation in Darfur as long as it gets it oil. If we look at how China is pillaging the South American rainforest, or how it is destroying their own people's homes in the Yangtze river just to gain energy sources, we see how their main aim is purely economical. Having travelled extensively around China during my gap year, including a lengthy stay in Beijing I believe it will not cope with the olympics at all. It is a corrupt, selfish place where the government puts money before human rights. The olympics will be a shambles, and although they will try to hide it, the real Beijing will be shown in the media. The Beijing where the hutongs and people's homes are being wiped out to make way for offices. They will see if they look closely the poverty and the lack of life many have there.
I think Spielberg is right to get away at what will be a complete and utter farce of an event

James Tifferton, Birmingham, UK

Are you really suggesting that mistakes of the past should stop individuals like Spielberg from trying to do some good??

Henry, London, UK

Spielberg has done nothing about the 1 million Iraqis slaughtered by his own President Bush, nor did he say anything about the way Israel flattened Lebanon last year, and left 1.5 million cluster bombs in South Lebanon for the kids there to get blown to bits by.

China is not the Sudan, and anyway, the Olympics are supposed to be a politics free zone, and I find these politicians and celebrities who act otherwise disgusting, whatever the stupid cause. I will tolerate "causes" at the Olympics only directly from the disenfranchised themselves, regular people. Otherwise, big shots, let us have some fun, let us have an ESCAPE from your incessent wars and conflicts.

Pauline Moore, Brooklyn, NY

If people want to politicise the Olympics, I think the UK and US should be banned for an illegal war in Iraq which has killed over 200,000 people and supporting the military dictatorship in Pakistan.

Mr Spielberg - look at the crimes of Bush first!

Adrian, Nantwich, UK