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Marriott refused to host Uyghur conference, citing “political neutrality”

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Re: Marriott refused to host Uyghur conference, citing “political neutrality”

#31
post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not a fan of China myself, but there's some evidence[1] that the two Canadians arrested were, in fact, spies. Personally, I'm not sure what to think. But tweets like this from CSIS[2] are certainly suggestive when viewed in a certain light. [1] https://canadianpatriot.org/2021/09/29/michael-kovrig-and-sp... [2] https://twitter.com/csiscanada/status/1441576564374769665

Article written by: > Aidan Jonah is the Editor-in-Chief of The Canada Files, a socialist, anti-imperialist news site founded in 2019. He has written about Canadian imperialism, federal politics, and left-wing resistance to colonialism across the world. Site mission: > With the emergence of China’s New Silk Road (One Belt and One Road Initiative) as a force for global progress, poverty eradication, and peace, Canada…

> as partners in development

Any country that has ever taken on debt from China would like to have a talk with you.

Re: Marriott refused to host Uyghur conference, citing “political neutrality”

#32

Amazing how much hay can be made by dropping a single word: “A Marriott refused” vs “Marriott refused”. The text of the article makes it clear that there is no evidence that Marriott as a corporate entity had anything to do with this, ans a corporate spokesperson actually denied that this was policy and as much as said that the local hotel manager screwed up.

There's just as much evidence in the article that it was Marriott as a whole refusing. The original rejection email specifically said: "We consulted the whole matter with our corporate management"

> "Thank you very much for your visit today. Unfortunately, I have to inform you that we are not able to offer the premises. We consulted the whole matter with our corporate management. For reasons of political neutrality, we cannot offer events of this type with a political theme. Thank you once again for your time and understanding."

Re: Marriott refused to host Uyghur conference, citing “political neutrality”

#33
post #30

"Only Nixon could open China". Yes, let's send pallets of cash to a communist country in exchange for plastic toys and other end-manufactured goods. This was exploitation of global inequality was only ever going to help the billionaires.

Amazing how quickly people forgot about the existence of the Cold War.

The cold war was ongoing at the time Nixon did this... just getting going really.

Re: Marriott refused to host Uyghur conference, citing “political neutrality”

#34

Actively refusing is the least passive/neutral thing they could have done. Now they’ve obligated themselves (morally) to refuse Chinese political meeting bookings as well, but we won’t see that happen Opinion: Due to Chinese human rights abuses AND the threats against American business, the US should not attend the upcoming Beijing Olympics

> Opinion: Due to Chinese human rights abuses AND the threats against American business, the US should not attend the upcoming Beijing Olympics In a vacuum, I fully agree with protesting China to the fullest extent; however, if scientists are to be believed, these things (human rights, trade, etc violations) trifle in comparison to the climate change threat, and China has all of humanity by the throat here. We need a…

Am I to understand that you think we need to turn a blind eye to the bad things that China is doing to their own people so that we have a chance of convincing them to stop doing bad things to the rest of the world?

Re: Marriott refused to host Uyghur conference, citing “political neutrality”

#35

Actively refusing is the least passive/neutral thing they could have done. Now they’ve obligated themselves (morally) to refuse Chinese political meeting bookings as well, but we won’t see that happen Opinion: Due to Chinese human rights abuses AND the threats against American business, the US should not attend the upcoming Beijing Olympics

Given the issues with the Olympics in general no one should attend.

Re: Marriott refused to host Uyghur conference, citing “political neutrality”

#36
The USA should make it illegal to kowtow to China like this.

The details of how this law could be structured can be debated, but there has to be a way.

Let companies choose between having US and Chinese business instead of always taking the easy way out.

Re: Marriott refused to host Uyghur conference, citing “political neutrality”

#37

Amazing how much hay can be made by dropping a single word: “A Marriott refused” vs “Marriott refused”. The text of the article makes it clear that there is no evidence that Marriott as a corporate entity had anything to do with this, ans a corporate spokesperson actually denied that this was policy and as much as said that the local hotel manager screwed up.

There's just as much evidence in the article that it was Marriott as a whole refusing. The original rejection email specifically said: "We consulted the whole matter with our corporate management" > "Thank you very much for your visit today. Unfortunately, I have to inform you that we are not able to offer the premises. We consulted the whole matter with our corporate management. For reasons of political neutrality,…

Was that hotel franchised or owned by Marriott? If it was franchised, the "corporate management" is obviously not Marriott.

Re: Marriott refused to host Uyghur conference, citing “political neutrality”

#38

Actively refusing is the least passive/neutral thing they could have done. Now they’ve obligated themselves (morally) to refuse Chinese political meeting bookings as well, but we won’t see that happen Opinion: Due to Chinese human rights abuses AND the threats against American business, the US should not attend the upcoming Beijing Olympics

> Opinion: Due to Chinese human rights abuses AND the threats against American business, the US should not attend the upcoming Beijing Olympics In a vacuum, I fully agree with protesting China to the fullest extent; however, if scientists are to be believed, these things (human rights, trade, etc violations) trifle in comparison to the climate change threat, and China has all of humanity by the throat here. We need a…

This would work about as well as appeasing the Nazis did

Re: Marriott refused to host Uyghur conference, citing “political neutrality”

#39
post #5

This simply makes good business sense. I would wager they would also refuse to host an Al Qaeda support conference.

I always thought of Marriott as being an ethical company. When the ethics and good business diverge is where things are difficult.

Yes, the level of sacrifice is what shows how much intent and merit is behind a standpoint.

Re: Marriott refused to host Uyghur conference, citing “political neutrality”

#40
I keep seeing folks acting like Marriott is afraid to go against China because they would crush them, but I see it just as capitalism at work. When you have to make the most profit all of the time or SHAREHOLDERS will shut you down then you have to bow to any large market that puts up a complaint.
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