Olympic torch bearer practices free speech, and forcefully removed from relay

thanks for bring us aware, great job

YOU GO GIRL!!!!! I think it was awesome and I am sorry you were pushed around like that. But that "moment" as you said, was worth it. Way to stand up!
Blessings to you always

I have no problem with what she did, but her attitude about it really bothers me. She seems to be a little too proud of herself, when all she did was pull out a flag. Yes, it shows support, but it doesn't actually change anything. All she really did was give a big "Up yours!" to China.

Merge9, I agree with a lot of what you're saying, but you're just a tad bit cynical. Regarding your first post, if someone pulled out a flag for Iraq, I would feel the same, if not more supportive based on the attitude and intentions of the protestor. Also, I still get pretty upset about what we did to the Native Americans when we came here, how we treated the Africans when we brought them here, and how these people and others are still being treated today. (I don't think it was you that mentioned African Americans, but it's relevant enough.)

You seem pretty smart, and you could maybe change a few things in the world, but you're going to have to have faith in people in order to get them to work with you.

And I think I'm pretty much on the same page as you so far, lifterbaron. Especially with what you've said about Majora and her attitude.

free tibet, free america from their oppressive governments...there is no free speech in america...free your mind

Big ups to you Merge9.. Very well said. TV killed the radio star. And youtube celebs are killing the world.

I think its natural to be an american and stick our noses in everyone else shit. Like we dont have bigger issues in our own homes, wallets and families. Sure, Majora is proud (which im not sure is an appropriate feeling based on the current doings of our own fucked up mess of a country) and "brave." But! Make things count if you are willing to put forth the effort to "change" things in the world. ie if you want to change Tibet and China's relationship, learn every single thing you can and enter forums where discussion is welcome and serious. Americans (most people rather) love to find the easiest "participate in change."

Single moms, minorities in shitty neighborhoods and a handful of gay people go through just as much shit if not more, than any one of the Tibetans. Remember, the only reason anyone of you care about this, Darfur or Iraq is because its on TV.

Yeah - so she says - I have my rights, free speech, my opinion blah blah blah
The point I was trying to make was if everyone expressed their opinion at such inappropriate times we would have no olympics. Now it may just be my cynical Britishness coming out here but the woman looks an attention seeking, inauthentic fake to me.

Merge9 -- I think we are all entitled to our opinion, I just agree with some more than others. In the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, Tommie Smith and John Carlos were shunned for standing up for their moral convictions as well. By shining a light on the immoral practices here (against African Americans) in our own country they brought the discussion to the world stage.
Let's be honest. The Olympic Games, no matter what country you are from or what games you watch are a display for the world. China is trying to show the world that they are a first world power, and ready to operate and hold dialogue with other first world countries, they should expect someone to shine the light on their unfair practices. As it happens, in the case of the Chinese, their citizens don't usually get that opportunity.
Additionally, Coca-Cola, Samsung, Panasonic, Volkswagen, McDonald's and dozens of other major multinational companies are using the same stage to sell their products. If the purity of sport and competition was all the Olympics were about, I am not sure if as many people would watch.
So, Merge9, I welcome you to our globalized world, where what happens in one country matters in another. As for me, I hope the US sweeps the world in track and field.

yeah - what a hero. If only all the athletes could act like her! if they all did we could screw this whole olympics up for those nasty Chinese and sit back proud what at what a great job we're done shoving their opportunity to proudly present the olympics up their ass. Oh how great and morally right we all are in the west!

That is a great spot on Majora Carter. I have just recently become aware of her and it is great to see how this one person can use her voice and access as opportunity to bring change. I applaud her (and LeahL and Current for bringing this to the attention of more people).

By no means am I attempting to start beef with this girl or the "fight." But seriously. She knew what she was doing was "bad" or "wrong" thats why she hid the flag in her sleeve.

For her to get pissed about something she got in trouble for, knowing she would, thats retarded. Shame on people attempting to make a statement on something so large and serious in comparison to themselves, and act so selfish. Acting unintelligently will not fix a 50 year old problem, or more importantly a problem that has gone on since the beginning of time, all over the world.

Wake up people.

Good for you Majora! We're proud of you!

LOL Taxes..... we aren;t gonna last long enough to worry about that when WWIII begins..... Loving the entertainment before the big shooooo here!!!!

You've done a noble thing Majora, you did great!
You've made many people cry because of your courage and your resistance to tyranny.

Here in America we want to call ourselves a Free People,
and truly be Free.

I believe we have a great solution!
The Solution to Eliminate All Taxation!
Taxation is Armed Robbery.
Taxation is Treason.
Taxation is Totally Unnecessary.

Please visit us at
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http://www.no-debts.com/libertybusinessnews.html

Talking of ignorance - have you any idea how long Tibet has been a part of China? I mean before it's temporary split at the start of the century. A split declared by Tibet but not ackowledged by China - try a few centuries longer than us Brits invaded, oppressed and stole the US from the natives of America. In your mind you consider the US yours now I presume - well this is also the situation with Tibet in most Chinese people's minds. It is and always has been part of their territory.

See this link for some history:
http://current.com/items/88897155_tibet_some_truths_we_don_t_hear

Personally I would prefer we let the Olympics be about sport and I don't really want to watch every Athlete with a political agenda disrupt it at every event. Let's give them a chance to host the olympics without taking every opportunity to sideline it into some China bashing.

merge9, i would actually have to say that most people here on current would still praise him or her for protesting the war in Iraq/Afghanistan.

your right she was given a job to do, and she abused some privilege and trust, but this is not some Orwellian society we live in, if people don't stand up for what they believe in, and stand up in the face of ignorance and oppression, then the world will continue to spiral down into the corrupt hole its digging.

Also I doubt you would put what she did down if it was your family being oppressed.

I wonder how America would feel if they were hosting the next Olympics and the torch was going through some country on it's way to the US and one of the foreign runners given the privilege of running with the torch decides to turn it political and pulls out a flag telling the US to get the hell out of Iraq or Afganistan. I suspect when they took the flag from that person and removed her from continueing with the privilege of running with the torch you would not be ranting so much about free speech violations.

She was given a job to do - she abused the position of privilege and trust she was put in and turned it into a platform to spout her political views and now whinges about how she was removed from the role and her rights to insult the host nation have been violated. She can go wave her Tibetan flag around anywhere she wants but at that moment she was meant to be doing a job.

As an environmental champion, isn't it already a bit weird that she's running around with a burning lump of carbon? Tibet vs Environment is quite the modern quandry.

"She pulled a small Tibetan flag from her sleeve."

Like a political magician. Excellent.

If this could happen in San Francisco, what's going to happen when the games actually begin in China?

I think its awesome that she did that, knowing that it would not be tolerated, either way China is going to continue doing whatever it wants, as long as it stays the kind of communist country it defines itself to be.

"It was worth it", sums it up for me.

Good for her! however the only thing that makes me sad about this, is that with the current situation many people are overlooking other atrocities such as African genocides or the Armenian genocide.

maybe other torch bearers will follow her lead

GOOD JOB!!!!!!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

excellent!!!

kudos to her for doing what most people wouldn't have the guts to do. it IS so worth it.

I know security will be very tight at the Olympic games - but I'm wondering about folks getting together and writing letters (i.e.) F R E E T I B E T on the inside of their t-shirts - or on their body? and then 'showed' their opinion - kind of like the crazy fans do at football games? I can think of lots of stuff to say, but I won't be there . . . FREE TIBET would only take a group of 9 people. Of course you'd have to sit together - and there are probably loads of logistics problems, but someone out there will figure that part out - right?

Right on. Best form of protest I have seen for this torch relay spectacle so far.
And thank you for personally explaining what happened. I saw the news and they glossed over this so quick I was left with a big question mark.

Woot Majora!!

I totally saw that and was wondering what was up ... Way to go Majora ... more people should put themselves out there for Peace!

Upsetting, but not surprising given that the Chinese consulate hand picked the people for the closing ceremony in San Francisco.