The picture above is one that I took on the way back from lunch.
Here at the Bleacher Report corporate office, we are being overwhelmed by the sound of sirens, protestors, and helicopters. There are police officers parked on every street corner, and countless SFPD vans are driving on sidewalks to get to their temporary war zone.
A war zone that exists because thousands of crazy, maverick protesters have turned a peaceful, celebratory ceremony into a "controversy."
They are creating a huge stink because a small group of extraordinary people, many of whom have overcome life-threatening injuries or dedicated their lives to community betterment, are carrying a symbolic torch?
Let's take a quick look at the major "accomplishments" that these protesters have perpetuated:
1. Thousands of police officers, paramedics, and firefighters, who should be out there keeping us safe and responding to medical emergencies, are instead being wasted standing idly on street corners.
2. Extraordinary, inspiring people are being rewarded with a once-in-a-lifetime honor, then being jeered and screamed at for political reasons.
3. A nation in Asia, which has finally woken up from decades of effective-genocide, starvation, misery and oppression, has FINALLY begun to take huge, meaningful steps in the right direction...but is somehow being protested by the world for events set into motion fifty years ago.
Well done, protesters, well done.
You have managed to turn what should be an apolitical and unifying tradition—the Olympic Games—into a stage for your own agenda. It is the ultimate act of imposition. It is the textbook definition of bad sportsmanship.
Those who protest the Olympic Games, be it the schmucks on the street today or our 39th President, clearly do not understand what the event is about, nor do they care about the dreams that they shatter for their own amusement.
The hippies outside our office have probably never experienced life in a wheelchair. Few of them know what it's like to have a child with Downs Syndrome.
If they are anything like the "political activists" I saw in college and still see here in San Francisco, then they are most adept at spending their parents’ money and living off the hard work of others.
But many of the people who have been honored by the Torch Ceremony know what it is like to struggle and face real opposition in life.
Every single person who is out there today jeering the Olympic torch is doing the wrong thing, and it's time for people to stand up and let them know that their selfishness and misguided views have no place in our society.
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6 months ago
Thats not a fair view at all, a ton of those protestors are college educated academics, business people not your pigeonholed liberal, hippies just looking to stir up trouble. And if you idea of "step in the right direction" means censoring internal dissent, changing trade laws to suit yourself, selling shoddy products made with literally NO OVERSIGHT to people around the world (like toxic toys to kids) then you are absolutely right.
Get over yourself and recognize that the protest is against the country hosting the games not the people carrying the torch. What are they supposed to do, go to China and protest? DOn't make me laugh.
from 6 months ago
1. I never said that China was perfect yet, but the country has improved a thousand times over from the days of Mao or the Tiananmen Square massacre. Does China still have problems, especially in regard to censorship? Of course. Did they exhibit poor oversight with regard to toxic toys? Of course — though our government proved no better with FEMA and Katrina.
But all that matters is that they have come a long way, and until somebody invents an "improve everything overnight" switch that you can flick, I say that we should stop trying to rub dirt in their face. There are many countries that are not headed in a positive trajectory. I'll let you name them.
2. If you want to make a real difference in the world, you could begin at home by helping the millions of Americans who are suffering in poverty and have no medical access. There are no shortage of people who suffer daily here in the U.S.A. Start with them. But I guess that working in inner-city schools or helping disabled vets who defended your freedom is not as exciting as making a big goofy scene on television in front of the whole world.
6 months ago
If it's any consolation, those people around AT&T (myself included) got duped. They took the torch to a different starting point and we never got to see it.
6 months ago
Bryan, good job! I really appreciate your courage, wisdom and conscience to speak up for the Olympic game and Chinese people.
6 months ago
YES, THEY ARE...protesting here against the torch is rediculous...if they feel that strongly, go to China and protest at their political buildings...stopping an athletic ceremony in a country half way accross the world is rediculous at the very least.
6 months ago
I think for most people its not viable to go over to China and protest - and, if you look at the treatment of protestors in China and Tibet, not exactly the safest thing to do either.
It sucks for the people carrying the torch, but perhaps if they knew the political implications of what they were doing, they wouldn't have done it. The protestors aren't against them, they're simply sending a message that once again their government isn't representing their beliefs. Of course, a government can't represent the views of everyone - which is one of the reasons why civil disobedience is justified.
It's unbelievable that China was even chosen to host the games, given their terrible recent human rights record. People have the right to show their displeasure at this decision, and the fact that the most powerful countries in the world are just standing by and watching recent events.
Before we condemn 'political activists' perhaps we should consider that Martin Luther King Jr and Ghandi both advocated civil disobedience to reach humanistic goals.
Incidentally, the Olympic torch was originally re-started in Berlin as a Nazi symbol of Aryan resilience, so perhaps its time that particular tradition was put to bed anyway.
6 months ago
Good job! The western politicians and media have been creating troubles and trying to fool everybody in the world. I am so surprised that how unfair and misguiding the media are and how ignorant of the people about the fact and history. China should follow its own route no matter what the rest of world says. For all the criticisms, it's not about human right, it's not for the peace of world, it's not about the protecting evirnmont... it's about how to stop and subotage China.
6 months ago
"You have managed to turn what should be an apolitical and unifying tradition—the Olympic Games"
Really? Like when the United States boycotted the Olympic games in Russia, or when they boycotted the Olympic games in the US? Yeah, the Olympics are never political. Oh, wait no, THEY'RE ALWAYS POLITICAL!
It must be really nice to have such a tunnel vision of the world. Thank goodness people wrote something called the bill of rights so that people have the right of speech, assembly, etc.
from 6 months ago
The Olympics do not HAVE to be political. They have been in the past.
As I mention in the article, it is ALWAYS wrong to use the Olympics as a stage for a political agenda. It's the governmental equivalent of being the jackass who jumps around waving in the background when he sees a news camera crew.
It was wrong when Hitler made the '36 games into his coming out party. It was wrong when Jimmy Carter shattered thousands of dreams by boycotting. And now it's wrong for people to protest China.
Perhaps we should just hold every Olympics in Switzerland, since they don't seem to anger anybody. Oh wait, the world's banking crisis is partly their fault, so perhaps that would be protested.
from 6 months ago
What about Jesse Owens' actions in response to Hitler? Was that WRONG? It was clearly political...
I happen to agree with you that there's no reason the Olympics shouldn't be able to be held in China But one thing you fail to mention in your article is that even if they are doing the "wrong" thing, these protesters outside of our office are exercising their constitutional rights. A mere mention of this fact would have gone a long way in my opinion.
Ahem: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
To be fair, you never suggest in your piece that the protesters should be put in jail. You're exercising you're right to speech in criticizing them just as they're exercising they're right to assemble peacefully on the streets (haven't seen any riots yet at least). Just thought I would point this out.
My honest opinion: I'm not going to take part in this protest, and I think that China is indeed moving in the right direction as a country. That said, I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing for the government over there to get yet another message from the world that they still have a long way to go in cleaning up their act. If protesters can accomplish this through peaceful means, I think we can deal with the noise for today.
6 months ago
The olympic games are watched and supported by people all around the world, not just people who don't have a problem with China. Of course every country in the world has its problems. The Olympic games are about bringing countries together and to say that an international ceremony of the importance of the Olympic games should be completely apolitical is ridiculous not to mention stupid.
6 months ago
shoulda just picked Toronto, Canada for 2008, but no......had to give it to CHINA.....good job IOC!!!!!!
Canadians all over laugh at you IOC!!!!!
Hahahahah
from 6 months ago
Ah, those wily Canadians. So inscrutable, as they sit securely within their fortress and laugh at our helpless machinations.
What are they building up there?
6 months ago
Bryan I completely disagree they have the right to protest the worst olympic awarding in modern history, Its wrong however to attack the torch carrier throw things at that person or shout derogatory things at that person, other than that this is America, its one of those rights we're supposed to have.
Now with thats said Its VERY CLEARLY written in the olympic ledger that the games are there to serve political needs, its the very reason that its attempted to only allow amateur athletes to enter, if it was purely sports driven figure skaters would go pro, after bursting onto the scene. and the olymics would be held every year, for more advertising dollars.
Im sick and tired of "patriotic" Americans eroding our rights just because it makes it harder to get through traffic for a couple of days, or you need that Big Mac just that bad. China's government has improved only in that fact that its image has gotten better fueled by American investment, But it still hasn't changed other than its learned to tolerate us. it still keeps its people impoverished, and in the dark beacuse if it didn't the government would be overthrown. its Human rights polices are despicable, and its pollution levels are to the point were it may affect performance of the athletes in the games.
if you must blame someone blame the IOC, because they are obviously awarding the games to the highest bidders not the most deserving.
6 months ago
The Olympics are a celebration of peaceful international unity. To have the a celebration of peaceful international unity in the capital of a country that builds arms facilities in countries conducting genocide is like having a wedding at black sabbath concert.
Should you protest something that is blatantly paradoxical?
To not, is to imply that there is no paradox.
To imply that there is no paradox is to give worldwide 'rubber-stamped' approval of such actions.
To approve such actions is violate the very purpose of the event.
6 months ago
No surprise this garnered a lot of comments, and I do admire your courage for making them. However, I disagree with your blanket statements about the protesters--I would be out there if I wasn't working right now. Like Blues Traveller once said "If your offended when I demonstrate...hope you don't mind if I control my fate." Most of them are trying to draw attention to the large number of violations that STILL exist in China.
The nation is making less progress than is acceptible and has is still a blemish on the world with its health and environmental violations alone, not to mention their horrible human rights record, and I'm not talking about 40 years ago. They never should have gotten the Olympics.
That being said, I don't agree with protesters who endanger the ceremony, or even cause the torch to go out. Line the streets, chant your phrases, hold your signs, and make your opinion known. How do you represent your view well if you cause mayhem?
from 6 months ago
I think that we agree on most of these points, except that I think China is making more progress than you and some of the other commenters. Oh well, agree to disagree.
I'm not saying that I would ever want to live in China, nor do I think that they are anywhere near the freedoms that their people deserve.
As for pollution, I hear that China is a complete mess. I have no interest in going there myself. Though I think that there are other countries, especially in Europe, who think that Americans are perpetrators of Green Crimes, and we create a slippery slope when we protest countries for their environmental record. We wouldn't want America to lose all future Olympics because we didn't sign Kyoto, or because we are way behind Europe in terms of public transportation.
6 months ago
A couple of points so that we are clear...
I am certainly NOT suggesting that these people don't have the right to protest. Of course they have the right to do it. People have the right to act any way they want if it's not violent. Doesn't mean it's not obnoxious and deplorable. They can protest all they want...
But they do so knowing that they are taking out their anger at the WRONG people... a torch bearer has nothing to do with the political policies in Beijing. It's never ethical to hold one group accountable for the sins of another. And that is what these protesters are doing.
And my other major point, which is that this protest has crippled my city's emergency services infrastructure... nobody can argue against that. I just hope that none of these protesters have any family members who happen to get hit by a car today or robbed in their homes...
6 months ago
Dude, read the comments people leave you. The protests are not directed at the people but what the torchbearers stand for namely that the Olympic Games....THE OLYMPIC GAMES... which should be about marking mankind's progress through sport is being staged in a country that is being universally crucified for being one of the most backward, democracy-stifling, FREEDOM HATING countries in the world. Sound familiar, CHina has more in common with Bin Laden than they do with us.
6 months ago
False information leads to false judgemetn, false judgements leads to wrong actions, wrong actions usually cost a fortune. Now brainwashed people never admitted they were brainwashed untill they see it with their own eyes. Such a deep rooted misunderstanding and hostility had been planted in the heart of innocent American civilians. This is the worst crime ever in human history commited by the news media.
Thank you Bryan for shining some light for the people here. You are brave to step up speaking the truth
6 months ago
Bravo Bryan! I just wrote an article basically saying the same things...that the Olympics don't HAVE to be political. I call for a separation of Sports and State!
6 months ago
If these protestors were so concerned about the human rights issues in the world, maybe they should take a look in their own backyard (Gitmo; a war started on false pretenses; Abu Gharaib; and secret torture bases, anyone?) before they criticize China. We ain't exactly perfect ourselves when it comes to human rights.
That, and the whole idea of Bush protesting the opening ceremonies is half-assed, and I'm surprised it was suggested by someone like Pelosi. Either protest the whole thing, or don't protest at all.
Unfortunately, the real victims in all this are the people who were selected to carry the torch through San Francisco. If there was so much outrage and last-minute changes to the route, why even bother having it come to the city in the first place?
from 6 months ago
I agree but at least we can change that, In China we are all the 1 Billion people of China have if we don't put pressure on them, China can just blackout push propaganda,murder protesters, sweats shop workers, or anyone who questions their government on the street. I'm not telling China that thy have to be Democratic, they just have to respect life. Which they fail to do.
from 6 months ago
There's probably a large majority of protestors in yesterday's rally who are against American human rights violations and probably do protest those (I never assumed they didn't), but mixed in with that crowd (those who protest both Chinese and American human rights violations) were a large number of people who either a) overlook our own violations or b) don't care. Why don't we ever see the large-scale turnout we've seen in San Francisco for protests of the U.S.'s own violations, or for that matter, the amount of media coverage? Its a lot easier to point out other people's problems while ignoring our own.
Not only that, but where the hell was all this outrage (not only in the United States, but in Europe) when Beijing was first awarded the olympics in 2001?
6 months ago
Furthermore, it should be up to the U.S. olympic team to decide whether or not they want to participate in the Beijing Olympics.
6 months ago
Let's be fair, Bryan. Whether you're pro-China, pro-Tibet, or anti-everything, the point is, we got a parade. On a Wednesday.
People were waving flags, pushing signs, yelling and cavorting throughout the streets. Both sides got to spend the day screaming and making a show of themselves. People who weren't a part of it got a hot topic to gossip and speculate about. And now that the sun's setting, everybody gets to head to the bar and talk about how awesome they were.
Isn't that what San Francisco's all about?
6 months ago
Dear Bryan:
I never visited or wrote any blog before seeing your article shown up when I searched on Google for the picture of a disable girl carrying the torch and being attacked in the mob in Paris. So, here you go, this is my first blogging though I work with and sit in front of the computer everyday for the past 13 years.
Your views is right on that China has a lot of things to work on and to improve on such as human rights, freedom of speeches...etc. But China is opening it up daily. However, the MSM and a lot of people in the U.S. or other developed countries tend to forget that hundreds of millions Chinese people have been lifted out of poverty within a single generation.
I do sincerely hope that people do some research on their own through unbiased and published academic researches/articles by SUNY, Harvard, Columbia...etc. on Tibet and its religions, its related with China, how the God-King system related to Tibetan slavery system work, compare Tibet then (before 1950) and now, finding out the facts on China's minority policies, and of course how China invaded Tibet and restricted religion freedom...etc.
America is a great country and we have a sound and solid Constitution that give us all the freedom and rights. We still have our own flaws and problems even though this land was only born for a few hundred years. While China went through thousands of years of struggling internally and externally: 5000 years of closing the country from the outside world, civil wars, two Opium Wars, the Western Powers ransacked the country. That was why President FDR wanted help the Chinese people during World War 2. So, my argument is that people should let the Chinese people enjoy the Olympics. What these protests are doing are only helping the Chinese government to unite the people behind its policies.
Many MSM keep saying that it's the Beijing propaganda and brainwash teaching in Chinese schools to cause current Chinese nationalism. That's totally ignorant, I believe. Citizens of any country love and are proud of their countries regardless races or political systems. That's exactly what the MSM miss the point. What MSM and the protestors are doing is pissing the 1.3 Chinese off more than the Beijing regime. Let's think about that.
Bottom line: this thing is being used by all the opportunitists with different agendas, not just Tibet, Sudan, Burma, human right, environmentlists...etc. What else? Save China for the Chinese??? Silly! I never heard all these same groups protesting or fighting for the people in other war-torn parts in the world that are not related to China.
Please do post a picture of that poor little girl on the wheelchair carryinig the Olympic torch and being attacked. What can any protestors justify such acts while claiming to fight for peace and freedom for all human on earth???
Here is the link to that picture: http://www.disaboom.com/Blogs/daniel502/archive/2008/04/07/woman-in-wheelchair-protects-olympic-torch.aspx
6 months ago
Sorry for the duplicated posts since I kept getting errors posting it. Sorry again!
6 months ago
Apparently, only some people in the west like Bryan are capable of understanding that the billion Chinese over all the world are proud of the Beijing Olympic. We consider it's a dream come true for us Chinese to celebrate peace and harmony with the world despite the differences of our history and culture and current political systems. It's not about the Chinese government, stupid.
Recent events in the west has made one thing clear to the Chinese that there are a lot of arrogant and igorant people in the west who has no respect to the Chinese people and China's sovereignty of Tibet. When you support the "Free Tibet" movement, do you even understand what Dalai Lama stands for? Go read the following interview of Germen researchers titled "Dalai Lama and 911" and get some basics, before you make an educated decision.
http://www.trimondi.de/EN/interv03.html
People like Bryan and the Chinese think that China is moving in the right direction. With its population and economy, China will make a bigger impact in the world for better or for worse. You can choose to join the crowd and media like CNN to push China away while feeling superior and eventually get kick in your ass, or you can respect the Chinese a little more and work with us for a better future. Your call.
from 6 months ago
are you serious?... i can't even form a thought to summon my disgust right now.
6 months ago
Chinese government prohibited screening the movie "Seven Years in Tibet."
Even if the mistake was found in that movie, Americans knows well that tutorial of Dalai Lama was former Nazis. Has not Chinese known such a thing yet? Has not the movie been seen yet in China?
Before you make an educated decision, you watch it. It's just an entertainment movie.
What do you fear?
And "Dalai Lama and 911" was written by The leftism German.
People who were interested in occult principle, and were misunderstanding something.
researchers ? You Kidding.
6 months ago
Felt challenanged or disrespected by the comment? Imagine how I felt over the past few days. All I wanted was to watch some cool sports in the city where I was born and enjoy the games. But no..., we have to give up Taiwan for it (which didn't happen) and we have to give up Tibet for it. What the F@#$! I'm a hot blood Chinese, I ain't given up nothing for this shit.
6 months ago
A hot blood Chinese, whose house was broken for cool little games, would not be you.
If you think that the Olympics is a really cool, what is this official description?
http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/cn/torchbearers/headlines/n214299075.shtml
No one has a right to insult China, but only China officially abuses someone as shameless, and only foolish hippies made criticism material for Fever.
Do we love the silly guys who put around picts and advertise their protest?
6 months ago
China holding the Olympics because it's country has vastly improved.
The country has vastly improved because of the actions taken by its government.
Actions taken to achieve this success include blatant direct and indirect violations of human rights on an international basis.
The Olympics celebration, the Chinese Commusist Party and human rights violations are inseparably linked as a matter of cause & effect.
To deny or ignore that these items are directly linked is irrational.
Moreover, that the Chinese Communist Party does not apologize for, if acknowledging at all, the aforementioned violations, it is implying that these actions are acceptable.
That it is thereafter given the right to host an event celebrating peaceful, international unity and represent itself as a leader in that unity is inconsistent.
The Chinese Communist Party, internally, recognizes this. In response, instead of, at a minimum, apologizing for its actions such that this illogical inconsistency can be eliminated, it is stubbornly and deceitfully trying to use the Olympics to create a brand-strengthening patina to eliminate the concern of such an inconsistency existing in the minds of millions of have not done sufficient research on the issue.
Strong protests are forcing into the international spotlight certain deplorable behavior of Chinese Communist Party and are creating the need for it to acknowledge and correct such behavior. Until such an event concurs, it remains a paradox that the Olympics should be held in such a regime's capital.
To the Chinese apologists out there, are there any of you who aren't ethnic Han Chinese?
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