Certainly fewer overall, since China won't allow them in its borders. Don't know about the torchbearing phase.
Well, at least in Iraq, the torch would be escorted by grateful Iraqis, praising America for bringing Freedom.
Alternately:
They'd just be protesting our kick-ass frictionless swimsuits.
You're too good for envy, World. Respect yourself.
And the strings would barely be visible.
4 meant for 2, but i guess 3 works too.
you all listen to NPR right now? you should be.
you all listen to NPR right now?
And slack off during working hours on my employer's dime? Perish the thought!
Screw that, KR. Stick it to the Man!
Oh shit, I'm self-employed.
Stick it to the Client!
9: Murat Kurnaz on Talk of the Nation, I'm guessing.
It's very clear that the Chinese people see this as their moment in the sun; at the very least, it's sad to see that spoiled.
That being said, I feel like the pro-Tibet protests around the world have ranged from creative/daring (Eiffel Tower) to weirdly violent (trying to tackle the torch runner -- how's that going to help?!) As an American, I hope that we can show the world what weird, gonzo, fantastic civil action is all about. USA!, baby.
More! We can kick China's ass every which way!
(trying to tackle the torch runner -- how's that going to help?!)
Some of us are not so much supporters of Tibet as we are opponents of athletics.
Is there a country in the world that does not have some aggrieved minority to disrupt the majesty of the Olympics? Plus, what the hell did they expect? The modern Olympics has always been political theater.
Plus, what the hell did they expect?
I don't know, assuming "they" references the CCP leadership. But sometimes I read their press releases and think, "Man, if I had no conscience, I could make a fortune as a PR consultant."
I was referring to the Chinese leadership, but it strikes me that the IOC could have foreseen this as well. I think that both committees believe their own bullshit.
11:As an American, I hope that we can show the world what weird, gonzo, fantastic civil action is all about. USA!, baby.
A wave of outraged blog comments followed the torch across America.
I think that both committees believe their own bullshit.
Such is the nature of committees. And politicians.
That's the definition of a good committee, isn't it?
Some of us are not so much supporters of Tibet as we are opponents of athletics.
Let's not forget opponents of fire. We gotta put that shit out.
Just watch and see if the mainstream press mentions that the olympic torch bearer was tackled by Rhinos.
it's a big tent, all are welcome
except athletes
Just watch and see if the mainstream press mentions that the olympic torch bearer was tackled by Rhinos.
Are they the same RINOs that stopped the vote count in Florida, low these many years ago?
we are opponents of athletics.
Did you have a negative experience with an athletic supporter, felix?
the athletic supporter by itself wasn't great, but it was the fire that really made things problematic
the athletic supporter by itself wasn't great, but it was the fire that really made things problematic
I infer that the old "rub atomic balm in someone's jock strap" prank was not unique to my junior high school.
21: Did I miss a joke or did someone actually have paper mache Rhinos?
Rhinos are known for their instinctive urge to trample out athletic activity.
I went down to try to see the torch go by, but I ended up standing around for 40 minutes or so waiting in vain. When the pro-China protesters (and there were a surprising number out there) and the pro-Tibet protesters started marching towards each other, then INTO each other, then shoving each other, I figured that was my cue to leave.
(For the geopolitically-inclined: the pro-China side walked into the pro-Tibet side and shoved first.)
11: When the torch for the 2004 Summer Olympics reached the Eiffel tower, the bearer bringing it back to the ground by zip line got stuck half way, and remained in that position long enough that I got bored waiting and left. I can't find any documentary support for my claim at this time, especially the part about my boredom.
30: That's pretty funny. You'd hate to be the guy, though.
I'm actually impressed at the delicacy of the idea, currently gaining ground in the EU and elsewhere, to boycott the opening ceremonies. It manages to say "You'll have to do better than that" without saying "Fuck you and the horse you rode in on," which nobody in power wants. And it will resound, since all the vainglorious trappings of the Olympics impinge on Chinese national pride.
That might work Minivet. I think I gave up on the olympics in general a long time ago.
Well, surely athletic competition for national pride is better than some alternatives. Think Eurovision song contest, or the colonization of Africa.
Sure, it's better than some alternatives. You're assuming you need an alternative.
I will not hear of anyone slandering Eurovision.
I think we can all agree that Eurovision is better than the First World War.
I had Chinese students writing about how glorious and consequential the Beijing olympics were going to be back in, oh lessee, early 2005.
It's just that emotional investment in the Games that makes China so vulnerable to these protests. If the Games were in the US and people were protesting the torch, most Americans would, I suspect, be all "eh, what are you going to do?"
I think we can all agree that Eurovision is better than the First World War.
A little better than the Somme, a little worse than Verdun.
I am not impressed by boycotts of ceremonies or the Games when the countries involved are just fine trading and investing.
I'm watching the coverage on CNN's live feed with the sound off on my desktop. I don't think they could have beat the weirdness of the London photos with the platoon of blue-clad Chinese commandos surrounding the torch runner, but no, SFPD's phalanx of motorcycle cops does the trick.
I think we can all agree that Eurovision is better than the First World War.
Eurovision offers limited opportunities at best for profiteering.
The 1908 Olympic Games were originally scheduled to be hosted by Rome, but the 1906 eruption of Mount Vesuvius caused the Games to be relocated to London.
These Games were much better organized than the previous regularly scheduled Olympic Games (they were even the first to have an opening ceremony), yet they were marred by politics and nationalism. Britain's recent refusal to give Ireland its independence caused Irish athletes to boycott the Games and caused contestants from the U.S to not dip the American flag to the British royalty during the opening ceremony (a tradition the U.S. continues to this day).
According to this source, the Frenchman who thought up the revival of the Olympics felt that France had gotten its assed kicked by Prussia because of a lack of "vigor" in her soldiers. Playing fields of Eton, and all that.
AP: The planned closing ceremony for the Olympic torch at San Francisco Bay waterfront moves to undisclosed location
Excellent. I will distinguish the torch with my cold, cold breath.
Eurovision is better than the First World War.
Serbia has had better luck with the former, that's for sure.
I think we can all agree that Eurovision is better than the First World War.
The First World War killed more people and had more mud.
Eurovision had Terry Wogan and infinite boredom.
I suppose I had rather Eurovision, if I have to choose. At least there are snacks, and enough drink to make the worst music seem okay.
caused contestants from the U.S to not dip the American flag to the British royalty during the opening ceremony (a tradition the U.S. continues to this day
I did not know that. Was that an official US gesture or spontaneously done by the athletes? Also, when you say the US continues the tradition, do they not dip the flag to anybody, or just not to the Royal Family?