Any way, it is over. It is interesting. For the pro-relay folks, you must be happy. Especially for the times when hundreds or thousands of Argentinians running with the flame. It looks as the city of Buenoa Aires is truly celebrity the Olympics. For the pro-protesters folks, there are about 20 pro-Tibet protesters. They were in a shouting match with about few hundred Chinese Argentinians. The Argentina TV station spend only about 10 seconds on this. The Argentina TV station spend almost all the time on the celebrations. There are three water bombs, but it was not shown on the live stream. Don't know whether the Argentina TV station talked about it or not (I can't understand the language).
well, that's sort of expected. it's like us and them mentality. some factions have much less against China.
In countries like the England, France, United States, etc. People are rich (top 10% of world population). The things they often care about are not the things people in third world countries care about. People there care about how to feed their family, how to send their kids to grade school, problems that pertains to their daily lives, not some abstract concept like free Tibet. In fact if you ask people in third world country would they like to have 10% GDP growth per year for 30 years or democracy, I bet GDP will win in a landslide. Not saying Democracy is not good or unimportant, but when you have to worry about your survival, it is much less important to someone who is fed and housed well. Notice how to poor in the United States tends to vote the least even though it effect them the most?
I think Argentina is a democracy. Lets see what happen in Indonesia, Korea, Japan, Thailand, and other democratic yet not western countries.
Argentinians are more susceptible to sneaky Chinese propaganda. That, or they hate freedom and love genocide. Either way they must be borg. No matter what, they are not a free-thinking people. They should deport themselves.
I catch CCTV-5 every now and then, and to be honest, the Chinese government is as much at fault for "bringing politics" into the torch thing as anyone. In fact, the Beijing Olympics in general is being used by many as a political tool. Propaganda everywhere. Which is sad and very annoying. I like the Olympics because it's a chance where I actually watch something besides baseball/football/basketball. But the politicizing of the Olympics is really tarnishing the games. It ends up not even about sports anymore.
that, or latin america experienced genocide by US backed right wing governments =/ . Together we move foward.
I found this guy's take on Argentina, the West and China pretty good. Spoiler <object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YnM1Ee_H2As&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YnM1Ee_H2As&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>
I created this thread to see how does other countries in the relay route looked at the Olympics relay. On Sunday at 7AM, the relay went though the country of Tanzania in Africa. I am definitely not going to get up at 7AM on Sunday. So no live feed. I did find the CNN report on it: http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/04/13/olympics.tanzania.ap/index.html?section=cnn_latest Olympic torch relay cheered in Tanzania DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania (AP) -- About 1,000 people cheered and marched with a team of 80 athletes and a Cabinet minister participating in the Tanzania leg of the Olympic torch run Sunday. art.torch.tanzania.ap.jpg The Olympic torch has enjoyed a smooth relay across the Tanzanian city of Dar Es Salaam. Officials have said that they do not expect any of the disruptions that have hit other torch runs in the world. Kenyan Nobel Peace laureate Wangari Maathai, however, pulled out of the relay in Tanzania to protest China's human rights record. Vice President Ali Mohamed Shein lit the Olympic torch Sunday, passing it on to Cabinet minister Mohamed Seif Khatib who led the relay team from the main train station in Dar Es Salaam, which is Tanzania's commercial capital, to the city's main stadium, about 5 kilometers (3 miles) away. The mayor of Tanzania's main city received the Olympic torch Saturday from a Chinese official and assured him its run through the East African nation would be smooth. Kenyan Nobel Peace laureate Wangari Maathai said, however, she had pulled out of the torch relay in Tanzania to protest China's human rights record. Journalists and Tanzanian sports officials watched as a Chinese Olympic official stepped off a plane Saturday evening and handed the torch over to Dar es Salaam's mayor, Adam Kimbisa. About a dozen riot police surrounded Kimbisa as he received the torch and passed it to be taken to a bus. "It is a great honor and privilege for Tanzania to host this torch. Don't worry, all preparations are all set," Kimbisa said. Major demonstrations have followed the torch's relay around the world on the way to Beijing for the summer Olympic Games. Thousands of protesters angry at China's human rights record have demonstrated. The procession in Argentina on Friday was the most trouble-free so far. Video Watch the Olympic torch relay in Argentina » Secretary-General Filbert Bayi of the Tanzania Olympic Committee said no street demonstrations or attempts to snatch the torch are expected during Sunday's procession through the country's commercial capital, Dar Es Salaam. Maathai, an environmentalist who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004, told The Associated Press on Friday that she had pulled out of the event to press China to help resolve conflicts in Darfur, Tibet and Myanmar. advertisement "I thought the torch will be a symbol of unity, peace and harmony, but as it moved around the world it has become a symbol of disunity. Then I decided to pull out completely," she said. The torch goes to Oman on Sunday.
I believe the relay went though the country of Oman. The only arabic country on the route. There are live feeds from Oman. But I am getting a root canal so I am not able to watch how Oman TV channel covers this events. Anyway, a CNN report on it: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080414/ap_on_re_mi_ea/olympic_torch;_ylt=ArHGRVdOPbdyT.ImEdpymSZBXYh4 Olympic torch in Oman By ZEINA KARAM, Associated Press Writer 48 minutes ago MUSCAT, Oman - Thousands cheered and some danced with traditional daggers along the Olympic torch's path through Oman's capital Monday, a festive greeting that contrasted with disrupting protests elsewhere on the flame's global journey. Under tight security, about 80 torchbearers ferried the flame down into the heart of this hilly Persian Gulf sultanate's capital, passing under historic stone arches and alongside the old souk, before winding along the edge of the Gulf coast against the backdrop of spectacular mountains. The rare carnival-like atmosphere in tightly controlled Oman was a welcome respite for Olympic organizers seeking to avoid protests over China's human rights record that marked torch stops Paris, London and San Francisco. Officials said they expected a smooth relay of the flame on the brief Middle Eastern leg of its 20-nation tour, adding that any attempt to disrupt the parade would be dealt with severely. Oman, a Muslim country at the southern end of the Arabian peninsula with a booming tourism industry, has strong economic ties with China, a major importer of its oil. The torch arrived from Tanzania and was received at Oman International Airport by Oman's sports minister early Monday. But officials waited for cooler evening weather before the festivities kicked off with the torch being lit by Muscat governor Sayyed Al Mutassim bin Hamoud Al Busaidy, and handed over to Sayyed Shihab bin Tariq Al Said, an adviser to Sultan Qaboos bin Said. By early evening, thousands of Omanis and mostly Asian expatriates lined streets to watch athletes and other Omani celebrities carry the torch along Muscat's scenic waterfront. Torchbearers paused occasionally along the 12-mile relay route for performances by men in traditional Arab white robes, some with daggers tucked in their belts, dancing to the beat of drums. Schoolchildren wearing white caps and T-shirts with the words "Beijing 2008" waved small red Chinese and Omani flags. "I've never seen anything like it," said Naser Mustafa, an Omani who brought his 8-year-old son to watch the festivities. "I never expected so many people to come out, this is very rare in Oman." Dozens of policemen were deployed along the torch route, where streets were closed off and parking was banned. An army helicopter hovered overhead. "It's a great honor to have the torch in Oman," Habib Macki, vice chairman of the Oman Olympic Committee, said ahead of the opening ceremony. He said Oman was chosen for the relay because of the "excellent relationship that goes back a long way between Oman and China and the strong economic ties that bind us." Hours later, the festivities culminated with an elaborate show of fireworks and musical performances held at Muscat's Qurum National Park. The Olympic flame, which began its worldwide six-continent trek from ancient Olympia in Greece on March 24, has been met with major chaos and disruptions. The recent relays in Argentina and Tanzania, however, were largely peaceful and without major incidents. The turmoil over the torch relay and the growing international criticism of China's policies on Tibet and Darfur have turned the Beijing games — which begin Aug. 8 — into one of the most contentious in recent history. The torch next goes to Islamabad, Pakistan, and then to New Delhi.
tie22, I think you made the right decision, though it's a tough one. Root canal > Watching live feed of torch relay in Oman
It really pains me as a Chinese to see the protests around the globe againist China in this relay. One side of me is really proud of what China has accomplished, and set to host the largest event on earth to showcase our achievements. This beyond what words could possibly describe. Grown up in the 70's and 80's in China, I saw where China come from after the culture revoltution, the begining of the economic reform and improvment of people's life. We as a nation cannot be more proud and fulfilled that we will be the host nation of the Olympics. China is eager to be accepted by the world again, which repeatedly invaded us, took advantage of us, and left us. The other side of me knows abour Darfur, Tibet, the Chinese human records on and on, things that I am not so proud. But deep inside of me, I know China needs time, and the World needs to give her time, which it deprived from her. China is at the point pallarllel to when colonism seemed almighty, slavery and seragation seemed right, genocide of native amercians seemed inevtable for expansion, even though China is less crude than those. Deep inside of me I know China will improve and will be on the right track to surprise. The World needs to give China an Olympics to reinforce its confidence, not an Olympics that would send China to times that reminds her how alone she is.
YallMean, No one really hates Chinese people. When people criticize the Chinese government, the Chinese posters get angry. However, if you criticize anything about the US government, only a fraction of the US posters care. I think the thing about the US is that people know we have problems and we accept it, we won't deny anything just to make it look 'patriotic'. you are one of the few who admits there are problems. Also the US is made up of more than just white people as another poster thinks. so you have many different ethnic groups who care about different things.
but china is doing the same things that imperialism did. its colonizing the natural resources of the third world. how is that any different than the US in the 20th century? and if its not then pray tell why 'the world' should give china time? secondly while the incredible economic advancement china has achieved is impressive, why can we not at the same time criticize its tyrannical gripe on power and disgusting human rights record?
lol, i think most of us admitted that China has many problems. just that people got caught up in arguing and get pissed sometimes. and in US, there are a bunch of people not as reasonable as you (can't believe i'm saying this ). and Chinese people do care about image a lot. that explains why there are so many posters here. that's just the tradition for heaven knows how long.
