I just read that the RCMP and other police forces are out in force to protect the Olympic torch from being molested by protesters. The protesters think that the billions spent on the Olympics would be better spent on the poor.
There was even a helicopter in the air above the relay, to ensure that Al Qaeda didn’t swoop down and DOUSE the torch.
This is hysterical. This is the stupidest thing I’ve heard of this week– and we are in the middle of H1N1 hysteria, so that’s an accomplishment.
What is the cost of this police protection? Probably in the millions. Well, here’s a more cost-effective solution: buy more torches and tell the police to go stop people from breaking the law instead. When the protesters try to grab the torch, give it to them. Say, “here you go”. Done. Take another torch out and resume the run.
Probably, the protesters won’t find this any fun and will quickly disperse. Even if they don’t– big deal. Nobody gets hurt and nobody loses any sleep.
I’m not big on big, empty, symbolic gestures anyway, so, as far as I’m concerned, this torch run, which has become ridiculously irrelevant to everything, should be abolished anyway.
I used to think it was kind of cool… until I found out that they don’t even pay the slightest respect to the original purpose or tradition of the run. It has become a joke– a big fund-raising extravaganza, and a way to hype the games and make you think that everyone is all excited by the Olympics even if we can’t possibly afford a ticket (while we pay through the nose, through our taxes, for the facilities for it).