Posted on 04/06/2008 9:44:17 AM PDT by charles m
Chinese delegates light the Olympic torch at the beginning of its relay from Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday April 6, 2008. Police scuffled with protesters as Olympians and celebrities carried the Olympic torch through snowy London during a chaotic relay Sunday.
British Prime minister Gordon Brown watches the handover of the Olympic torch at No.10 Downing street during the Olympic torch relay in London
A demonstrator tried to snuff out the flame with what appeared to be a fire extinguisher.
British athlete Paula Radcliffe runs with the Olympic torch along the route of the torch relay in London, Sunday April 6, 2008. Police scuffled with protesters as Olympians and celebrities carried the Olympic torch through snowy London during a chaotic relay Sunday.
Police apprehend a demonstrator, center, who attempts to grab the Olympic torch from TV presenter Konnie Huq, not seen, during her leg of the torch relay in London, Sunday April 6, 2008.
Pro-China supporters wave a Chinese flag along the route of the Olympic torch relay in London, Sunday April 6, 2008.
Chinese ambassador Fu Ying runs with the Olympic torch along the route of the torch relay in London, Sunday April 6, 2008.
Am I the only one out there that thinks letting the Chicoms get involved with the Olympics was a huge mistake?
Since my historical perspective is rather limited, is there any precedent for these happenings?
I don’t think with this much media attention. But the London 2012 Olympics may see a lot of protests too, particularly if we’re still in Iraq by then. It’s been awhile since a major country has hosted the Olympics. The last two were Sydney and Athens, places generally out of public awareness.
Actually, it is turning out to be quite a passive-aggressive move. China CANNOT avoid the PR nightmare which is coming.
The best way to get rid of rats and cockroaches is always to shine the light of truth on them.
I see the ChiComs sent along their own goon squad.
Not at all.
I’m not an avid Olympics follower, and I find it ironic that the very politics that the Olympics tries to avoid beats them over the head every time.
Sometimes I wonder if the larger mistake is our participation...
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People have short attention spans. Who’s going to care by 2009? Tibet will still be under Chinese rule. I don’t see how these protests are at all constructive toward reaching the Free Tibet movement’s goals. Dalai Lama needs to drop this Hollywood PR stunt and get to some hardcore negotiations with the Chinese before he dies, otherwise by the time the next Dalai Lama grows up, Tibet won’t be Tibetan anymore.
Meanwhile businesses are still bending over backwards to promote China. I just saw an Exxon-Mobil commercial in Illinois here set in a very modern looking SHANGHAI, China. And another commercial by GE on aiding China’s rural health care.
Even though attention spans are short, I don’t foresee China coming away from this unscathed...And neither will the likes of GE and Exxon-Mobile.
What a mess!
“I see the ChiComs sent along their own goon squad.”
They are military. No doubt. I can’t believe the Brits are letting them march.
But they got baseball caps on and non-threatening sky blue uniforms! Looks like the Chinese are learning a few pointers on PR. Would’ve been hilarious if they had sent them wearing the green Tiananmen commie uniforms.
doesn't look very snowy -- maybe any snow melted? The streets look wet, unfortunately for the protesters whom police pushed to the ground.
Yes, I agree. But the decision was made knowing what china is all about, so now we all have to live with it. The whole world should have cut china off after what happened in Tinnemen square. I have seen the pictures of the aftermath, they are horrific.
The protesters and such had plenty of time to protest the decision before it got this far.
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Red = blood shed.
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