April 11, 2008
Tibetan Flag Waving Olympic Torch Bearer from NYC
Olympics planners and San Francisco authorities made many attempts (making up the route as it went along) to prevent demonstrators from disrupting the Olympic torch's only North American appearance on Wednesday, they couldn't stop a torch bearer from the Bronx from expressing her pro-Tibet sympathies.
Majora Carter, a 41-year-old environmental activist from the South Bronx, had tucked a small Tibetan flag up her sleeve, with the torch in the other. The NY Times described her 200-meter run, which was cut short.
Five seconds into her run down Van Ness Avenue, Ms. Carter pulled the Tibetan flag from her sleeve and began waving it. There she was, a mole at the head of the procession.The Daily News quotes Carter, "I was expressing my right as an American citizen using freedom of speech in support of people who don't have it. It just became really clear to me what was going on in Tibet and I wanted to do something. Apparently, I'm not part of the Olympic torch-bearing entourage anymore." While that may be true, later at a pro-Tibet rally, she was welcomed like a rock star, as "people bowed, hugged her, kissed her and cried."She waved the flag for roughly five seconds, until a Chinese guard saw her. He lunged at her. She dodged him. He lunged again and soon wrested the flag from her hand, saying, “Sorry, I can’t let you do this.”
However, another New Yorker in the torch run, a retired FDNY firefighter Richard Doran who wore his helmet in honor of the 343 FDNY members killed on 9/11, said this of Carter's act: "I think it's disgusting, appalling. It violated every paper we signed about the sanctity of the event." Coca-Cola, an Olympics sponsor which nominated Carter to carry the torch, is also unhappy with her actions.
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"I think it's disgusting, appalling. It violated every paper we signed about the sanctity of the event."
did it violate the constitution as well?
free speech ≠ disgusting
Ah, freedom of speech. Good to see that we allow the Chinese Government to enforce decorum in this country. Maybe I am jumping to conclusions, but it was reported that the Chinese Government Intelligence or secret police, were operating among the torch route in Greece. Not sure why that it was allowed to happen on either E.U. soil, or possibly ours.
Oh, BTW, It is not the Tibetans that politicized the Olympics, it's the good old Chinese Govt. who despite their empty promises, have not made good on improving human rights in Tibet, or anywhere in their country. Boycott those f**ks.
Anything that p*sses off both Coca Cola AND China is fine by me. Good for her!
I think it's disgusting, appalling. It violated every paper we signed about the sanctity of the event.
Sanctity?!?!
The olympics are the worst example of 19th century nationalism and romanticism married to 21st century hero-worship and commercialism...
...and not worth the life of one Tibetan.
Let's play a little game of role reversal. What if a bunch of Chinese nationals came to the US and protested the US's treatment of minorities.
The US needs to stop proselytizing its version of "right" and "wrong." Pot and Kettle meet in the US.
Wow, for nike jump siuts to Branding being the biggest part of the cash intake for OHH limp picks.. freedom of speech does't exsist for those without the proper representation at the sponsorship level....
frakin thugs from China assualting a US citizen and taking her rights from her....gotta love how capitalism makes any cause just a bunch of crazies waving their flags........why dont they just pay for effective lobbying..human rights are not for the poor... true personhood rights belongs to the interest with the biggest purses..
besides if the Anericans can claim the lead in human rights after genocide, slavery and now forgo war crimes charges...well if you dont like it ....make money and change it....
Be seriously folks........
R we really 2 poor 2 take back our country & our world?
"I think it's disgusting, appalling. It violated every paper we signed about the sanctity of the event."
how is wearing your FDNY hat any better? People died (still dying) in tibet for fighting for freedom. People died from 9/11 as a result of terrorist attacks. Either way, people died. How is her actions any different than wearing a FDNY helmet?
And what the hell does 9/11 have to do with the olympics?!?! ENOUGH ALREADY!!!!!!!
Fuck Richard Doran and fuck Coca Cola, and big props to Carter for doing the right thing.
GOP, I think you're posing the wrong question. Majora was making a statement from her home country, where she's acting within her rights. There are anti-US protests in other countries all the time; we're not in control of what people do outside the US.
Why all the concern about Tibet?
It is a theocracy governed by someone who was decreed the godhead at birth. What tripe!
Tibet was part of China long before the US was a nation, and it was only 'free' for less than 50 years, from about 1909-1950. It is a province of China, just like Canton or Tsechuan. This is an internal affair. Of NYC secedes from NYS, is that anyone in China's concern?
The monks are parasites. They are fed and clothed by the poor Tibetans who are brainwashed by this religion.
Why are we defending religious leaders who never worked a day in their lives?
There are so many worse situations in the world, and Americans are worried about keeping the Buddhist Pope in office.
Better they were out protesting to end our war in Iraq.
Oh, but I forgot, that is not 'cool' or 'hip'
thefacts: The issue is not the only issue here. The main issue is freedom to practice their religion. They have no real freedom to practice their religion and too boot, they are ruining their culture by dumping Han Chinese in Tibet. Then the Han Chinese get all of the good jobs, while the Tibetans are forced to work all of the shitty jobs. I guess you are not concerned with the facts, just propaganda from the Chinese government.
I could give a flying fuck about religion, but I will protect folks right to practice it, as long as it does not infringe on my right not to practice any religion.
let's all rant and rave and point fingers and china so we don't have to think about the human rights abuses going on in our name by our government and the fact.
a friend made a good analogy, perhaps a bit of hyperbole, but the situation today would be like if all of the dissidents in pre-WWII germany were constantly carrying on about freeing india.
i'm not saying to ignore and excuse human rights violations in china, but look what the US government is up to.
#12
The Tibetans CAN practice their religion. Why do you see so many monks in the protest?
The monks want independence for Tibet (which was never a free country in its history), so they can go feed off the peasants, not work, meditate all day, contemplate their navel, and get fed and clothed by the poor hard-working Tibetans.
Om sweet om.
If you are so concerned about the Hans getting good jobs, you have little to be worried about.
Believe me, there is a lot worse things than that going on in the world.
I have never read Chinese propaganda, but it sounds like you and the other knee-jerks believe the propaganda that Richard Gere and that self-serving shyster, the Dali Lama, have been feeding you.
I understand there are no synagogues in Vatican City, but the Jews have enough sense to know when to demonstrate. Unlike these goofy bleeding hearts who believe the hype the Buddhists have been spouting.
You don't think Bush and the neo-cons are delighted at the bruising China is getting?
Oh, for the record: Screw the Chinese communists.
But at least we know they are creeps.
Perhaps you will educate yourself and see the Tibetan theocrats are no better than the Chinese communists.
freaking bitch.
i wish you folks start looking things at home first. let all the native americans reclaim their lands. let the hawaiians have their kingdom.
france should let Corsica free.
the same goes for the rest of the western powers.
thefacts (14) is comparing Tibet to Communist China?
Creative.
my comment is towards all the none tibetans. the tibetans should protest till their hearts content.
China is going to nuke tibet and do it for the lulz once the olympics are over! hooray. keep upsetting them!
that's great. sanctity, as sponsored by coca-cola.
maybe this is the reason the columbia killer punched that chinese kid. He was protesting china's stance on tibet by punching the shit out of that chinese kid.
I'm with thefacts and Armchair warrior.
And, really, people misconstrue the concept of free speech.
She has the right to express her opinions on Tibet, just not while being torch bearer. And she agreed to these terms. This is not unlike when basketball players are fined by the NBA after complaining about the referee.
Let me rephrase. She has the right to express her opinions on Tibet. But being torch bearer is just a privilege. It was offered and accepted under certain conditions which she violated. This does not violate her right to free speech. This has nothing to do with free speech. Afterall she will not be arrested or prosecuted for her action.
Fuck Tibet.