Richard Gere joined the San Francisco protests against China on Tuesday.
The actor/Buddhist spoke passionately in front of hundreds at a pro-Tibet rally last night. But he is also urging that groups not disrupt today’s six-mile Olympic Torch relay along San Francisco Bay.
Said 58-year-old Gere: “It is the legitimate right of every Tibetan to struggle for their freedoms and rights, but on the other hand, it would be futile and not helpful to anyone if we do something that would create hatred in the minds of the Chinese people.”
Our thoughts? Should pro-Tibet activists use the Olympics as a forum to send their needed-to-be-heard message to the world?
23 Comments
I agree!!! What is happening in China must be stopped.
We should boycott!!
He still looks good!!!
No matter how he tries to help or save the world, he will forever be known for shoving a gerbel up his ass during a freak-sexual encounter and running to the emergency room in pain in the mid-70’s. For those of you too young to know what I’m talking about, look it up. It’s Hollywood legend (and very true).
What doofus.
http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/celebrities/a/richard_gere.htm
URBAN LEGEND-
Richard Gere and the gerbil
The rumor that started all this fuss goes something like this:
Several years ago, “they” say, Richard Gere was admitted into the emergency room of a Los Angeles hospital with foreign object lodged in his rectum. Some say Gere was alone when he arrived, others say he was accompanied by a friend (e.g., former love interest Cindy Crawford). In any case, an x-ray was taken and it was determined that the foreign object was a gerbil (either alive or dead, depending on who tells the story). Mr. Gere was rushed to surgery, where it took an entire team of doctors to extract the animal from his behind. Some variants say the gerbil was found to have been shaven and declawed; others claim the animal had been placed in a special plastic pouch. Still others insist the poor creature was Gere’s own beloved pet (appropriately named “Tibet” in this variant). In any event, when the gerbilectomy was done the medical team was sworn to secrecy — unsuccessfully, we must conclude — and Gere went on his merry way, suffering no permanent harm other than to his reputation.
“Is it true?” you ask.
No. Not a shred of evidence has ever been unearthed to prove it. And while Gere himself has never confirmed nor denied it — nor, indeed, spoken of it directly at all — neither has any credible witness come forward in the twenty-odd years this story has been in circulation offering firsthand testimony to back it up.
Because it didn’t happen. It’s folklore.
After the rumor first surfaced, National Enquirer reporter Mike Walker spent months trying in vain to verify it. “I’ve never worked harder on a story in my life,” he told the Palm Beach Post in 1995. Walker came away convinced he was chasing an urban legend.
It should come as no surprise, then, Richard Gere wasn’t the only — nor, indeed, even the first — U.S. celebrity defamed with such allegations.
During the early 1980s, the same rumors circulated about a Philadelphia TV news anchorman named Jerry Penacoli, as well as a linebacker for the Cleveland Browns and various other local luminaries in big cities across America. It was Gere’s misfortune to be the most famous among them.
URBAN LEGEND-
Richard Gere and the gerbil
The rumor that started all this fuss goes something like this:
Several years ago, “they” say, Richard Gere was admitted into the emergency room of a Los Angeles hospital with foreign object lodged in his rectum. Some say Gere was alone when he arrived, others say he was accompanied by a friend (e.g., former love interest Cindy Crawford). In any case, an x-ray was taken and it was determined that the foreign object was a gerbil (either alive or dead, depending on who tells the story). Mr. Gere was rushed to surgery, where it took an entire team of doctors to extract the animal from his behind. Some variants say the gerbil was found to have been shaven and declawed; others claim the animal had been placed in a special plastic pouch. Still others insist the poor creature was Gere’s own beloved pet (appropriately named “Tibet” in this variant). In any event, when the gerbilectomy was done the medical team was sworn to secrecy — unsuccessfully, we must conclude — and Gere went on his merry way, suffering no permanent harm other than to his reputation.
“Is it true?” you ask.
No. Not a shred of evidence has ever been unearthed to prove it. And while Gere himself has never confirmed nor denied it — nor, indeed, spoken of it directly at all — neither has any credible witness come forward in the twenty-odd years this story has been in circulation offering firsthand testimony to back it up.
Because it didn’t happen. It’s folklore.
After the rumor first surfaced, National Enquirer reporter Mike Walker spent months trying in vain to verify it. “I’ve never worked harder on a story in my life,” he told the Palm Beach Post in 1995. Walker came away convinced he was chasing an urban legend.
It should come as no surprise, then, Richard Gere wasn’t the only — nor, indeed, even the first — U.S. celebrity defamed with such allegations.
During the early 1980s, the same rumors circulated about a Philadelphia TV news anchorman named Jerry Penacoli, as well as a linebacker for the Cleveland Browns and various other local luminaries in big cities across America. It was Gere’s misfortune to be the most famous among them.
But enough of this baloney. If you haven’t had your fill of rodents, rectums and Richard Gere, do visit the gerbilling department of the AFU & Urban Legends Archive, where a crack team of urban legend experts labors ceaselessly to dislodge the truth for you. And if you care to bone up on the sorts of things all kinds of folks really do put in their hineys for fun, go (if you dare) to the Rectal Foreign Bodies home page and have a look around. It’s an eye-opener.
I definitely think pro-Tibet, Darfur, human rights, etc. groups should use the Olympics as their forum to get their message across. It is the perfect opportunity to have their voice heard by the world. China does not seem to be using the Olympics for the right reason. They only seem to care about having them seen as a global power, but I feel like the rest of the international community will not accept them unless they allow basic human rights in their country, not only for the Tibetans and other ethnic minorities there, but also for the Chinese people. They have no freedom of speech and everything the government doesn’t agree with is censored. If one challenges the government’s ideals they are sentenced to years in prison and very likely, tortured and brainwashed. It is a very sad situation and I truly hope this will persuade the Chinese government to improve their human rights record.
i think anyone who stands up for freedom and human rights is a good thing!! i’m happy to see some people care!
I think its the best thing to do to get their point across.they are also cleaning up the streets of stray animals(killing millions of them)
just so that china looks good and clean!
what fucking arseholes!
YES, I agree with all of the above. It’s nice to know that people are becoming well-versed with what;s going on and the severity of the issues. China has it’s hands in many sticky, bloody areas of control, not only in it’s own country but in other areas of the world as mentioned above, i.e.- Burma, Tibet, Sudan, Nutty North Korea, to name a few… Theye ask not to make the Games a political thing but this is exactly what they are doing. Their ego is so overblown and sadly feels the need to prove to the world that they are worthy. How sad is that!? The Tibetans could teach them a little something about ego, compassion, the vicious cycle of hope & fear & inner peace, IF the Chinese would just sit down and listen… Bringing attention to China and all it’s mis-guided attempts for world control, is a good thing. The IOC made a very big mistake giving the Olympics to China and now they are paying for that bad decision. The Olympics are about global unity and they are a sad example of that. PLS> BOYCOTT AND PROTEST WHICH EVER WAY POSSIBLE!
He suffers from bush derangement syndrome, has he blamed this on bush too.
Jesus Christ, no… everyone knows the Tibet/China situation… this is a fruitless waste of time and effort and money that will do nothing and nothing will change in Tibet. The resources and effort should be put towards REAL change, this is nothing but a way to massage egos and guilty consciences.
Pillbox, you think standing up for human rights is a “waste of time”? You are such a fucking moron.
Divina… clearly you are the fucking moron, as you cannot seem to read English. May I suggest you find someone who has more than 3rd grade education and comprehension, and ask them to translate my post to you?
After that, you can go fuck yourself on a sharp stick.
Have a nice day.
i don’t know if you guys heard, but the chinese gov’t just freed tibet and darfur because some of some protester on the golden gate bridge.
now really though, tibet should start blowing chinese buses, schools, pizzerias and clubs up with an indoctrinated youth death culture and i bet they’d get some more accomplished…if china left a single one of them alive.
I think the Olympics is a perfect place to get your message across actually. The Olympics SHOULD be a time where people put their fights, predjudices and problems aside for the good of the games, but sometimes the problems are just too big such as the ones in China. I knew this would happen with the Olympics, I just hope nothing crazy happens like it did at Munich. I don’t see a problem with Richard Gere speaking out at all, he has every right to and he’s not doing it in a pushy, rebellious manner either.
I liked him in “Shall we dance”. Great movie.
the olympics are HELD in CHINA. the olympics started in Greece and it has nothing to do with China except that China is hosting it this year. the Olympics is not supposed to be a POLITICAL platform therefore leave the politics out of it and MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS. worry about the troops in Iraq or think about who to vote for this coming election or something. and if you want to protest, protest after the Olympics. let them light the damn torch in peace.
also, don’t get in the politics of other countries. unless you are Tibetan and are directly affected by this.
just my 2 cents.
i agree with pillbox
Anonymous 11:54 I’ve never heard anything so stupid!! If others contry don’t take actnothing will ever change but it’s not bothering you isn’t it? And if you remember when the olympics were given to China it was made clear they had to respect more human rights and even with their own population they are not able to do it.But maybe for you it’ normal when you’re sentenced with 3 years of jail because you wrote 5 articles in wich you critize your goverment
lilyness, yes that’s totally normal.
Anyone who defends China or is against the protests, that means you are against standing up for freedom and human rights. I don’t understand how anyone can defend China’s actions. I’m just glad many people actually do care and are working to make this world a better place. We are lucky that we have a voice because those in China do not unfortunately and we need to stand up extra for them so one day they can be free from the brutal regime.