We didn't start the fire…

I’m sure you have heard today, the Olympic torch was extinguished three times today during protests in France. Pro-Tibet protestors broke security lines to attack the torch, which is carried by honorary relay runners in the around-the-world relay that kicks off the Olympics which will be hosted by China this year. The reason for these protests is the renewed (and continued) call for independence for Tibet from under the crackdown by China since the occupation following the Seventeen Point Agreement of 1951 that incorporated Tibet into China’s borders. But why are they attacking the flame?

First, a little history. The running of the Olympic flame traces its history back to ancient Greece, commemorating the theft of fire from Zeus by Prometheus, who ran away from the gods to deliver fire to man. And since the games were an honor to Zeus, the flame was kept lit during the length of the games. To honor the original games, the source fire for the flame is lit using a special mirror that concentrates the Suns rays, in essence “stealing” fire from the heavens. After fading from practice for centuries, it was reintroduced in 1928 and has continued ever since.

But what about extinguishing the torch? There has been one prior time before this year when the torch was extinguished prematurely, and that was caused by Mother Nature. No recorded events of protestors extinguishing or causing the flame to extinguished by Olympic coordinators until now, and that is symbolic. This flame, that is to honor the host country as well as the country of the runner currently holding it, is suppose to stay lit from Athens to the site of the games as a sign of peace and unity across the lands. This assault on “peace” rings loudly, and causes people to stop and pay attention to the voices of the protestors. They are not happy with China nor the fact that China is hosting the games.

That has carried across the Atlantic to the U.S. as well. Politicians are calling for the U.S. to skip the opening ceremonies to protest the crackdown on the Tibetans and other inhuman practices by China. Even Hillary Clinton brought this up this week during one of her campaign stops, saying President Bush should not attend the ceremonies. Should he? While the cause of Tibet is in line with the desire of the U.S. to spread liberty across the globe, the Olympic games should be free of politics. This is a once in a lifetime chance for many of the athletes, and we should honor them by standing and cheering them on as they enter the Olympic arena, and that honor includes the President. The Tibet issue will not magically end with the President staying home, nor will it help our relations with China.

Yet for the protestors, the attacks on the flame will most likely continue until it reaches the games, and even then, there might be attempts to put it out. Fortunately, there is a back-up flame that is maintained just in case. My hopes, for all mankind, is that the flame once it reaches the games stays lit in honor of all the athletes, and the protestors respect the hard work and dedication the participants put in to their lives to reach this moment in time.

For some additional reading, check out these sites:
The Conservative Post – “China mars 2008 Olympics”
ABC 7 News – “The history of the Olympics and politics”
The Independent – “Dominic Lawson: Beijing is the right place for the Olympics”
Associated Press – “Clinton: Bush Should Not Open Olympics”
Thaindian News – “British PM rejects Olympic boycott call”

For some additional reading across the web, check out these blogs:
Dutchboy – “Ye olde Olympic Flame”
Polisicks – “Olympic Torch Briefly Goes Out; Who Knew the French had such Balls?”
Disillusioned Words – “Chinese Media Ignores Protests; UK Demonstrates Non-Lethal Protest Control”
The Spitting Vessel – “Protest Pours into Paris”