The Route of the Olympic Torch: A ‘Way of the Cross’
April 8th, 2008 by WILLIAM KERN
With the Olympic torch bound for San Francisco, what is the significance of the protesting that beset the torch’s route in Europe? Olivier Picard writes for France’s Les Dernières Nouvelles d’Alsace, “It’s an absolute disaster. A symbolic defeat, politically, ’sportively,’ diplomatically and historically. During this black Monday of the Olympic adventure, everyone lost! The legend, the athletes, China, France, the government, the police, the protesters and even Tibetans. The route if the Olympic flame has become the Way of the Cross for the players and spectators of this event that was meant to be festive.”
Picard concludes, ‘It is a spectacular humiliation for the athletes which alone summarizes the spirit of the host country, which is concerned only with its own prestige. Far from being moved by the protests in the West, it will now reinforce its iron fist over a competition that from the outset, it sought to manipulate. The trap door is closing again.’
By Olivier Picard
Translated By Sandrine Agoerges
April 8, 2008
France - Dernières Nouvelles d’Alsace - Home Page (French)
It’s an absolute disaster. A symbolic defeat, politically, “sportively,” diplomatically and historically. During this black Monday of the Olympic adventure, everyone lost! The legend, the athletes, China, France, the government, the police, the protesters and even Tibetans. The route if the Olympic flame has become the Way of the Cross for the players and spectators of this event that was meant to be festive.
Throughout an entire afternoon, we witnessed live the slow agony of the Olympic magic. The little that was left of the sacred, which had escape the ravages through money and nationalism, the corruption of a universal ideal, went up in spoke last night in the City of Lights. It was a somber destiny for a tired fetish, drained of its soul even before the start of competition to the point that in a bleak omen, it went out on its own several times.
These “technical problems” only added to the ridicule in the eyes of the public and the world. In any case, the usually moving ritual never had a chance. What does it mean that this Olympic symbol of peace was so vulnerable that it had to cross the city with an escort of over 3000 police officers? The drama surrounding its arrival immediately lent the occasion a disturbing, pessimistic, discordant tone. As if Paris was afraid … Had the government intended to give a pledge of servility to China, it would not have acted differently.
The atmosphere of a state of siege, a police force on edge, flashing lights, demonstrators - restless yes, but non-violent ones treated like thugs, banners taken down to avoid offense without regard to the freedom of expression. The authorities, which didn’t want to risk …
READ ON AT WORLDMEETS.US, along with continuing translated foreign press coverage of the torch relay as it arrives in the United States.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 8th, 2008 at 2:04 pm and is filed under Moral Values, Human Rights, Cartoons, Newspapers, Hypocrisy, Totalitarianism, Buddhism, Consumerism, Communism, Tyranny, Freedom of Speech, Minorities, Religion, Cartoon Commentary, Corporations, Civil Liberties, France, United Kingdom, Sports. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
