The Olympic Torch in San Francisco
After covering a big Pro-Tibet rally all day Tuesday (and getting a rare sit-down interview with Hollywood’s most famous Buddhist, Richard Gere) we were rather surprised yesterday morning to see the all well-organized Chinese and Chinese Americans who turned out in much larger numbers to welcome the Olympic Torch, and celebrate China’s emergence as an economic and political power.
For all the talk about protesters, the Pro-China groups had remained fairly silent — until yesterday, when they gathered at Justin Herman Plaza with banners and bullhorns and prepared performances. Some were there as part of the city-sponsored closing ceremonies for the Eternal Flame.. but here’s how it ended: They threw a party … and the guest of honor didn’t show up. It was confusing when officials changed the relay route at the last minute … and unnerving to stand in the middle of the crowd, not very happy to hear me report that the whole event been moved several miles away.
Many were angry, many were heartbroken, and with good reason. But for some lucky city slickers who happened to be walking along San Francisco’s Marina Green … they saw an historic sight, free from protests and politics: A torch, held high by Americans… runners chosen for excellent reasons… celebrating the Olympic spirit.
(PHOTO: AP, 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch, over San Francisco torch relay rally)
Tags: Olympics, San Francisco
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Based in San Francisco, Claudia Cowan mainly reports on major news on
the west coast, but has traveled as far as Jerusalem on assignment for
FNC. She also covered the highly publicized trials of Scott Peterson
and Michael Jackson.
As with most things regarding San Francisco, we know what to expect and nothing is surprising. The whole thing was a disgraceful act of cowardice. Fearing that China would see anything of what tolerance of peaceful protest means in free democracy, fearing to experience any sort of real discomfiture by our great trading ‘partner’, the brave leaders chose to slink through the city streets and pretend and announce a successful ‘torch run’. It was quite possibly the most ludicrous and publicly embarrassing event that I have ever had the sense of shame to experience.
It accomplished the exact opposite of what the stout hearted leaders pretend to try to accomplish. Is not the pretense projected by these knaves and liars (ie politicians) to have China strongly aware of our collective condemnation of its horrible human rights record? What will China see of this disgrace? America is scared to death of a few protesters with Tibetan flags? My God, they were chanting! There could be an incident … even though I didn’t realize there were so many cops in the whole of California.
We should now degrade ourselves further by having the national leaders boycott the Opening Ceremony.
How utterly brave. How utterly stupid.