Olympic Torch Relay in San Fran -who is protesting?

[Kamala]

Originally Posted by wxwax

Why do you think China is hosting the games?

Its their turn!

[Plan B]

Kicking the press out of Tibet is inconsistent with hosting the Olympics. Most people involved in sport know this in their hearts but choose to ignore it.

NBC, although an Olympic sponsor, cannot send a broadcast team to Tibet. They don't appear to give a shit either. All the International photo agencies have been chased out of Tibet.
What's more there are severe restrictions on press movement while in China to cover the games.
I believe in the Olympic movement but China should not have been awarded these games and the current Olympic Committee admin should be fired for their incompetence and greed.

Total Fiasco.

As far as protests go, why the fuck do the cops care if someone blows out a stupid symbolic flame? Instead of doing the bidding of the Chinese the police should just let the protestors douse the thing instead of getting all wiggy - and violent - about it.

[L1gunman]

Originally Posted by wxwax

And sometimes because public opinion can have an impact on world affairs.

and lets not completely overlook the possibility of hooking up with cute little hippie chicks during demonstrations.

[freaking RT]

Originally Posted by Kurt

This notion of politicizing the Olympics is interesting. I have very mixed feelings about it.

On the one hand, the whole point of the Olympics is supposed to be about transcending international political differences to focus on our common humanity. That is a noble idea and one worth pursuing.

On the other hand, regimes inevitably use the Olympics to score political PR points on the international stage to enhance their legitimacy. That is the cynical reality of the Olympics.

I suppose regimes that try to score PR points by hosting the Olympics should not be surprised when the detractors of those regimes use the Olympics to score points of their own. If you feel a regime ought to be shamed into behaving better, what better venue is there, and why should they get a pass and be allowed to promote their vile selves without being challenged?

Still, I won't be protesting. I support the games for their potential to bring people and cultures together politics notwithstanding.

jeebus, not going to take your duct tape sign down and demand a free Tibet??? wtf? come on, you demand chaos in Iraq with a US troop withdrawal, wtf? yet, you have no problem with China's policies.

[KingRat]

London:





Paris:





San Francisco:

Well, your cops aren't usually as gentle as ours.

[freaking RT]

[Misery Goat]

Originally Posted by freaking RT

Free Iraq!

[scrdvr]

So hundreds of atheletes around the world train and pratice for years to qualify to compete against others from other countries and their symbol of that grand gathering is someone carrying a torch.

Whats the problem? Did Tibet get disallowed from entering competitiors?

Whats with folk not happy about China's treatment of Tibet, Hijacking an event they did not train for and apparently don't give a damn about.

I see boycott and protest everywhere, where are the Olympic results? Who won....sheesh.

Next time there is a international Bike race, just invite all the Tibet protestors to take the attention.

scrdvr
so who got the golds?

[Gorilla King]

Originally Posted by chewie

London:




San Francisco:

Well, your cops aren't usually as gentle as ours.

those look like French cops.

[Mike Butt]

Originally Posted by Misery Goat

Free Iraq!

Free Slow Motion

[wxwax]

Originally Posted by L1gunman

and lets not completely overlook the possibility of hooking up with cute little hippie chicks during demonstrations.

I didn't think you were this shallow.

[Mike Butt]

Originally Posted by wxwax

Made for some good songs.

[wxwax]

Originally Posted by scrdvr

So hundreds of atheletes around the world train and pratice for years to qualify to compete against others from other countries and their symbol of that grand gathering is someone carrying a torch.

Whats the problem? Did Tibet get disallowed from entering competitiors?

Whats with folk not happy about China's treatment of Tibet, Hijacking an event they did not train for and apparently don't give a damn about.

I see boycott and protest everywhere, where are the Olympic results? Who won....sheesh.

Next time there is a international Bike race, just invite all the Tibet protestors to take the attention.

scrdvr
so who got the golds?

Are you this naive?

Chinese officials had originally hoped that the torch relay would serve to highlight China’s triumphal emergence as a global power. But it has turned into a high-profile venue for protesters angry over the Chinese crackdown in Tibet, intolerance for political dissent, environmental degradation and other issues.

It's a gift-wrapped opportunity to turn China's propaganda against itself.

I love that the British PM is having to defend himself and his country's response to China's human rights abuses.

I love that the Olympic committee, for the first time ever, is considering changing the torch route and cutting it short.

To twits like L1 who question the value of public demonstrations and of propaganda, ask yourselves why China is hosting the games in the first place. Think it doesn't see the importance of image?

[wxwax]

Originally Posted by Mike Berlien

Made for some good songs.

Changed the course of history, you lightweight.

[skwidd]

Originally Posted by chewie

San Francisco:

Well, your cops aren't usually as gentle as ours.

You must be kidding, or confusing SF with LA.

So long as you aren't mowing down pedestrians, running red lights, or parking in the bus zone, you can pretty much do any fucking thing you want to in SF.
I pretty much run around town like it's a giant motocross track.
Even during the war protests that get out of hand, the cops round up only those they absolutely have to and do so very gently.
They'll set up a remote booking station in one of the pier buildings, load up only those they have to onto city buses reserved for the day, process them, and then dust them off and send them out the side door.

There have been homeland security cars and suv's in front of the federal building and a few others the last couple of days, but spray painting some stupid shit and blocking traffic is usually about as far as any of these guys go.