torch-gate

After a few days away from the Lot, it's time for Joe Lotstar to get a little serious for a moment. Yesterday in Paris, protesters scaled the Eiffel Tower in protest of China's human rights record and sabotaged the Olympic torch relay through the French capital. The vehement crowd tried to snuff the torch's flame and grabbed at the torch as if to run in their own direction and right the wrongs of years of Chinese oppression with a silly prank.

Today the torch will relay through San Francisco and reports indicate that major measures are in place to ensure a peaceful relay.

It's sad to me that protesters have resorted to plaguing a proud moment for a selected torch runner to make their statement. Most of these select torch bearers have dedicated their life to their sport or their community (or paid lots of money). Today, their proud moment will be reduced to playing defense and running in fear. In a city full of Chinese Americans, it's equally sad that celebration of the games in their homeland is plagued.

Please do not misconstrue -- I firmly believe that the Chinese government has done the citizens of Tibet wrong and committed several errors in human rights. However, isn't there a way to make your statement without ruining somebody else's moment in the sun?

I think the answer is yes.

"The right to swing my fist ends where another man's nose begins."
-Oliver Wendall Holmes