The Olympic Torch


As all of you reading have undoubtedly heard by now, there has been some turmoil regarding the 2008 Olympics. Apparently China is responsible for some Human rights violations in Tibet, and is accused of being actively involved in the Genocide in Sudan. I've been keeping up with the developing story, as the Olympic Torch relay has been through Paris, and London, and is set to conclude today with a trip to San Francisco, where protesters have gotten a jump on things. The SFO City leaders are encouraging their citizens to get out and protest. Let me repeat that, the City leaders are promoting public and mass protests of the Olympic Torch, a symbol of peace and mutual respect. Chris Daly, who is at the head of the encouragement, said;

"The eyes of the world will be on San Francisco, and, let's be honest, if there is not alarm and there is not protest in San Francisco when the torch arrives here, that too would be news, and that would be San Francisco complicit in the human rights violations that are happening in China and around the world."

Tell me that that's good leadership. Well, I guess if everyone is expecting us to burn down the city, then we had better not let them down. You get the gas, I'll get the matches.
I honestly don't know where I stand on the whole Olympics in China thing. Its probably not the best place for it, given the country's track record. But sometimes I wonder how much these aggressive, spotlighted protests will accomplish. I guess we'll see.

Comments

Anonymous said…
caroline gamache will be in china for the fall semester and is trying to get tickets for the games.

i'm just hoping no one protests china's involvement in darfur/sudan/tibet by blowing something up. what a scary situation.

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