I am amazed that the protesters who climbed the cables on the Golden Gate Bridge to unfurl their "Free Tibet" banners didn't get immediately picked off by SWAT snipers. Ever since 9/11 the Golden Gate Bridge has been under tight security. The conspiracy theorist in me thinks that the bridge police were tipped off, otherwise how else could three people climb the cables in broad daylight on one of the world's most recognizable landmarks and not have something tragic happen to at least one of them.
San Francisco Chronicle columnist C.W. Nevius is calling for the tomorrow's torch run to be canceled and I agree. Yesterday, I wondered if the San Francisco relay would be canceled. Nevius says:
Look, Monday's protest on the Golden Gate Bridge was about as effective and safe as you are going to see. On a sun-splashed San Francisco day, three climbers scaled cables on the Golden Gate Bridge, unfurled two banners with the precision of an America's Cup crew, then came down peacefully to turn themselves over to authorities.
I support the Free Tibet cause. I the protests and the peaceful protesters. I support any athlete who who chooses to use her or his time in the international spotlight to make a political statement. I just don't want anyone to get hurt.
I considered going to protest, even taking my five-year-old with me. But when I saw what happened in London, I said forget it. Then came Paris and yeah. That sealed the deal. There is no way I would drag my kid into that mix. The protests are supposed to be peaceful. In San Francisco, the protesters have designated protest spots. Right! San Francisco's police are probably as patient as you are going to find—we're used to protests here—but tomorrow, if this is allowed to continue, it's going to be ugly.
San Francisco is the only U.S. stop for the torch before it continues on its "goodwill tour." And that's just it. It's not generating goodwill. It is a PR bust of epic proportions so stop it already, China and the I.O.C. Who is handling your PR?! I don't see the point of continuing this farce. Given China's human rights record, what city on the tour would welcome the flame with open arms?
And what is going to happen when it reaches Tibet? I really don't need to know the answer to that question.
