This morning I became acquainted with the anti- 2010 Olympic movement that is taking hold is some parts of British Columbia, and I must say; it didn't leave a great taste in my mouth.
Its hard to sympathize with people who steal the Olympic flag and dress up as Al-Qaeda members, or those who vandalize the Olympic clock, or burst on stage in "gang-like" gear during and Olympic ceremony. Most of all, its hard to sympathize with a group of people, some of which support acts of terrorism against the Olympic infrastructure.
The CBC News report which I watched interviewed a man whose mental well being was questionable. His grammar was poor, he was not articulate, and he didn't appear remotely lucid. He was definitely not doing the cause any favors with his appearance on the network.
Of course, the CBC loves the Olympics, so any report from them concerning anti-Olympic protesters is bound to be biased. They don't elaborate about the main gripe that many of these protesters have; the fact that the Olympics are taking place on land which the aboriginals claim is theirs. I know very little about the issue of aboriginal land-claims, but this issue needs to be brought forward in a professional means which can gain public support.
After watching the segment on TV, I began searching the web for some more information and came across a much less radical group. Instead of posing as insurgents, the group suggests "Intelligent Protest" against the 2010 Olympics. With the present health-care debate in the United States, this may seem insane to some.
To recruit followers, the anti-Olympic movement needs to spread their message through a positive and professional means of communication. Images like the one above will only cause a backlash. Violent and extreme acts orchestrated by any of the protesters will invalidate the entire movement.
I know that if a protester does commit an act of terrorism to protest the 2010 Olympics, the Canadian public will not see this as a justified means of action.
Its hard to sympathize with people who steal the Olympic flag and dress up as Al-Qaeda members, or those who vandalize the Olympic clock, or burst on stage in "gang-like" gear during and Olympic ceremony. Most of all, its hard to sympathize with a group of people, some of which support acts of terrorism against the Olympic infrastructure.
The CBC News report which I watched interviewed a man whose mental well being was questionable. His grammar was poor, he was not articulate, and he didn't appear remotely lucid. He was definitely not doing the cause any favors with his appearance on the network.
Of course, the CBC loves the Olympics, so any report from them concerning anti-Olympic protesters is bound to be biased. They don't elaborate about the main gripe that many of these protesters have; the fact that the Olympics are taking place on land which the aboriginals claim is theirs. I know very little about the issue of aboriginal land-claims, but this issue needs to be brought forward in a professional means which can gain public support.
After watching the segment on TV, I began searching the web for some more information and came across a much less radical group. Instead of posing as insurgents, the group suggests "Intelligent Protest" against the 2010 Olympics. With the present health-care debate in the United States, this may seem insane to some.
To recruit followers, the anti-Olympic movement needs to spread their message through a positive and professional means of communication. Images like the one above will only cause a backlash. Violent and extreme acts orchestrated by any of the protesters will invalidate the entire movement.
I know that if a protester does commit an act of terrorism to protest the 2010 Olympics, the Canadian public will not see this as a justified means of action.
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