Flaming San Francisco

On April 9, the Olympic torch will make its only North American stop-- in San Francisco. Hundreds, maybe thousands, will protest. But their voices will be muffled. Why? The torch relay organizers are releasing the relay route as late as possible. Permit applications by human rights organizations to assemble in San Francisco have all been rejected. The police will designate "free speech areas" "associated with the route" for protesters. It seems Mayor Newsom has learned a great deal about political freedoms from his Red Chinese counterparts.

China's Latest Export

I believe the best strategy is to place protesters with hidden signs, banners, and flags at strategic positions throughout the city: the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf/the Embarcadero, Lombard Street, and Chinatown. The relay will inevitably pass these landmarks. At just the right moment, the protesters can unfurl their signs, banners, and flags and shout away. The media will love it.

Protectors and Guarantors of Our Freedoms

As a side note, I looked up the torch relay route in China. First, Kashgar has been taken off as a torch stop recently. Furthermore, Lhasa and Mt. Everest continue to be on the schedule. All I have to say to the Olympic organizers and the Chinese government is: Good luck with that.

Original, Pre-2008 Lhasa Uprising Relay Route

CKY