China Gets a Break from Protests with Rallies in Support of Olympics
Should it affect your Olympic traveling?
The Olympic torch survived battles with European and American protesters - and moved onto Latin America, where Argentinean officials are worried their street party could turn ugly. Travelers beware.
Peaceful Protest/APAs a precaution, they're mobilizing police by the thousands,
and keeping details of the torch's whereabouts quiet enough that officials
guarding it may not even know where it is.
It's an extreme reaction to extreme circumstances.
And an important reminder to travelers. Any kind of international contact (from events like the Olympics, to personal travel, to chatting over the internet) is an opportunity for scrutiny from the rest of the world.
Not only that, it's an opportunity to demonstrate your feelings about world politics. Pro Tibet travelers will find an open welcome in cities like London and Paris, but need to remember that their actions are always a reflection on personal beliefs.
One potential torch runner has been watching the politics surrounding the 2008 Olympics unfold.
"From the very beginning I thought the torch will be a symbol of unity, peace and harmony, but as it moved around the world it has become a symbol of disunity," Wangari Maathai, a former Nobel Peace prize winner, told the press. "Then I decided to pull out completely."
Travelers who want to support the Olympic Games this year will find welcome in Scotland. About 300 members of the Edinburgh Chinese community are planning to rally in support of China this Saturday, and Chinese citizens and supporters from around the world are lending their voices.
Even the Dalai Lama, the religious and cultural leader of Tibet, spoke out in favor of China hosting the Olympic Games. Like the protestors, he's still against Chinese violence in Tibet, but he's choosing other forums for his actions.
What arenas does politics influence in your life? Do you think about politics when you travel? Will it affect your visit to the Olympics, or watching them on TV?
