The Olympic Torch, Protests and San Francisco

When I first heard of people protesting at the Olympic torch ceremonies and parades as a statement to the Chinese government, I wasn't sure of my feelings. A part of me thought, is this the right forum? But the more I thought about it, the more it became crystal clear that this is exactly the right forum as the Olympics, the event itself is a unifying event. An event of long tradition and prestige that focuses on the best parts of humanity, human capabilities, a natural and healthy spirit of competition and high standards of excellence and talent. It is also one place where all the countries of the world come together in this spirit of play and friendly relations. Is China, a country that oppresses the people of Tibet, funds military action of an oppressive regime in Burma, and supports genocide in Darfur the place that represents a friendly and hospitable place to host all nations of the world at the Olympic games? I think not.

I want to make it clear that I am NOT anti-Olympics or anti-Chinese. Quite the contrary. I am a huge fan of the Olympics and I have no qualm with the Chinese people. I have issue with the actions of the government of China and its policies toward some of it's own people, Tibet, Burma, and Darfur. Not without mention its demand for energy without regard to the need for conservation of natural resources. I would say I similarly have issue with the actions and policies of the Bush Administration, beginning with the stealing of the 2000 election. But it should be noted that the governments of a country are not the people of the country. I think one can be a patriot to your homeland, a lover of your culture and heritage and still be extremely critical of those to tarnish the reputation of the nation via fearful and violent actions toward other humans and nations of the world.

So I left work today and marched down to the Embarcadero hoping to see the torch show off my Free Burma tee shirt and carry a Another Actor for a Free Tibet sign. My friend and I walked the entire length of the embarcadero route to the end of the route where the ceremony was held and were there was a police barricade. We waited there, hopeful of seeing the torch and peacefully, yet pointedly watching, signs in tow. We soon discovered the torch had been re-routed and we weren't going to see it. A reporter from FoxNews approached me and my friend with a camera and began to ask our thoughts on the re-routing. I think they were expecting an angry and emotional nonsensical reply. In my nerves, I wasn't sure I'd articulate intelligently but I answered the question similarly to what I said here. I said I think it's sad we can't see the torch. SF isn't anti-olympic, we are just here to make a point that the atrocities committed by the Chinese government and military against Tibet, and funding to the Burmese regime are not acceptable and we don't think China, given their stance in world affairs is a suitable place for a unifying event such as the Olympics.

A few feet later another reporter asked "Do you think this is a victory that they rerouted the torch?" I shocked him with my reply that I thought it was sad and shameful and reiterated again, that we need to stop polarizing and simplifying things down to the place where people are judged by the actions of the government.

After that we trailed down back toward the ferry building and found other protesters who told us of the torch bearer who took out the Tibetan flag. It seemed a victory to me. In the words of Pastor Martin Niemöller, we cannot afford to be silent:
First They Came for the Jews

First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.
Pastor Martin Niemöller