Learn from his courageous spirit

On Friday night, I stood on the corner of Rockland and Cook anticipating sharing my son’s joy with my family. Instead, a group of self-centered and destructive people hijacked our time with egocentric and disruptive behavior in order to voice their opinion and garner sympathy for their cause.

Every person I talked to after the protesters moved down Cook Street were confused as to the protesters’ motives, knew nothing of their cause, and with no loss of spirit for the Olympic Relay, merely moved around the protesters to watch from a different location.

My son missed his relay segment on Friday night. These protesters have never met my him, never even seen him anywhere, particularly not at a demonstration of disruption and violence like last night.

You know why? Because he calmly and with great strength overcomes his many hardships. That quiet perseverance gives him a much stronger voice then their signs, screams, disruption and rocks. Maybe one day this group will watch his courageous protest against adverse conditions and learn something.

My son didn’t ask to carry the Olympic torch, he was nominated. He has been awarded another relay segment today. The protesters achieved nothing to further their goal.

David Dronsfield

Langford

Whose rights are they?

I am angry that my right to participate in the torch celebrations with my grandchildren was taken away by a group of protesters who think they have all the answers.

Why should I as a grandparent be forced to leave the celebrations because the potential of violence that was all around us? They literally took over our space with no consideration for our rights.

Parents, teachers and community leaders, role-model and teach children respect for others as well as the concepts of democracy. Then they experience an event such as this.

I feel the planning and participation of the protesters who invaded the circle of those of us celebrating a historic event were disrespectful of any other opinion than their own.

What role model is that for the children of this community? Are these protesters willing to take public office and stand behind their solutions? Would they take the responsibility with full respect for my rights?

Take your right to protest — but remember I have rights too. I have a right to participate in an organized community event without fear of violence!

A big bouquet to the police who kept the situation under control.

Roberta Lloyd

Cobble Hill

Torch relay meant traffic delays

The Times Colonist forgot one important image in its Olympic Torch feature: All the disgruntled people stuck in traffic, unable to get to work or school.

As a fine arts student already hurting from 90-per-cent budget cuts to what I hold most dear, nothing could have made me more dissatisfied than being stranded on a bus for 75 minutes so a few people in a Coke Zero truck could wave flags at the crowds.

This is what the government thinks we should waste our money on? What will happen when the Olympic spirit fades next spring, and there aren’t any arts programs left to fill the gap, just memories of traffic delays and authoritarian quashing of protests?

Heather Fraser

Victoria

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity wasted

I was disheartened to read that 10 torchbearers were not able to complete their run due to protesters disrupting the route in Rockland.

The protesters have taken away a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the torchbearers to run with the Olympic flame. They have ruined the dream that these people had of having this wonderful unique experience.

The disruption also affects all the spectators that waited for that moment when they could cheer their friend or family member while they ran their stretch of the torch relay.

I can’t imagine the disappointment for these individuals who waited for months to run with the flame only have it cancelled on the spot due to safety and security concerns resulting from the protesters.

If the protesters are trying to effectively influence government decision makers and financial spending then their protest should be targeted appropriately and not at torch bearers and their friends and family that wanted to be a part of a fantastic Olympic event.

I don’t disagree with some of the issues that the protesters are trying to raise but I do find this type of disruption to innocent bystanders really deplorable and I feel this significantly reduces the effectiveness of the protesters’ message.

Heather Caul

Saanich

Bad language and bad manners

I went to Cook Street last night to see the torch relay. When the protesters came, I was upset by the bad language they used.

Instead of making me interested in what they had to say, the protesters scared me and made me want to leave. I was upset that the relay had to be re-routed. Little kids around me were crying because they couldn’t see the torch.

When we went to the legislature to watch the torch arrive, the protesters came on the grounds and tried to shout down the children’s choir who were singing. I think this is rude and I am very irritated with them.

I am interested in social justice issues, but this group of people did not make me want to listen to what they said. They have the right to say what they think, but not like this.

Elizabeth Brown, age 12

Victoria

The highlight of her day was cancelled

We were waiting in Cook Street Village on Friday evening for more than an hour in the rain for our chance to see the Olympic torch come down Cook Street to Dallas Road.

I struck up a conversation with an elderly lady sitting on the bench with her dog in front of Subway. She mentioned she never comes out at night but this was a highlight of her day to see the torch.

As the crowd grew larger people began to surge on to the road, partially blocking the ladies view as she was still sitting on the bench in the rain with her dog. I made a point of going back over to her to confirm that she would still be able to see the road through the crowd when the torch arrived.

The torch never did arrive as the route had to be changed due to the protesters who took over the entire street in the Village.

So on behalf of the lady with her dog: Thank you to the protesters for causing her to miss the only time she would have ever been able to see the Olympic Torch.

The protesters chanted loudly: “We have successfully disrupted the torch route.” I think the protesters were oblivious to this little old lady’s dilemma.

Paul Baldwin

Victoria

A bad example for our children

Friday evening, I, along with my daughter and two excited small grandaughters, stood in the rain on Rockland near Cook, waiting to see the torch relay.

What we saw instead was a raucous protest group who took over the entire intersection of Cook and Rockland, stopping all traffic and displaying protest signs at least one of which had the “F” word in huge letters held high for all to see.

At least 20 police, including several on horseback, were present but seemed resigned to letting protesters have their way. They did not communicate in any way, until asked, that the relay route had been changed and would not be coming down Rockland.

What is happening to our city?

Although, I believe that protest should be allowed, I am appalled that, in this instance, the rights of a few to protest should supercede the rights of most of us, mainly taxpayers, to see a “once in a lifetime” event on our own street! What kind of an example is this for our children and the world?

Pamela Mayhew

Victoria

Victoria is not ready for prime time

On a visit to Victoria Friday I was stuck in traffic for 40 minutes while Olympic protesters demonstrated in the middle of the busiest intersection in town.

Victoria Police — and there were many — stood back and watched while protesters in one of the most democratic nations on earth chanted the traditionally vague “Democracy now!”

No effort was made to move protesters to a quieter street, or heaven forbid, off the road. I have never been a strong supporter of Seattle Police, but I found myself missing their clear action. That same disruptive group would have been firmly steered from this bottleneck before I even had a chance to get out of my car and tell them what I thought.

Those supportive of this societal fringe will howl that they have the “right” to protest — what about my right to move about public streets freely? The police are in place to preserve rights, but these rights are not absolute.

This should be a warning to public officials in B.C. There will undoubtedly be further protests during the Olympics, because our history shows that whenever there is a popular event, some will only see the dark side.

Officials clearly are unprepared to deal with protesters. Thousands of tourists the government has spent millions on to woo to the province will be much more important than me to keep happy should this scene repeat itself.

As for me, there is no worry — I will be keeping my fist full of American dollars well away from Victoria.

Lex Klees

Bellingham, Wash.

Police protected the protesters

There they were, on horses, helicopters, on foot, dozens of marked cruisers with sirens and lights flashing, many more riding in rented SUVs and that was just the police we could see. I would imagine there were many more undercover, milling around the excited crowd gathered in Cook Street Village, waiting for the Olympic torch relay.

The community was well represented, young families, retirees and rank-and-file working folk, gathered in the rain to salute and be a part of this historical moment.

Most were impressed with the police presence and apparent tight security, until it was realized it was all a demonstration of democracy as practiced in Canada — where the tail wags the dog.

The security forces were apparently there to protect not the flame, but the “rights” of several hundred young and many masked protesters.

Well there you go, you got to exercise your “rights” and the rest of us got robbed — thanks again.

Al Laird

Victoria

Standing in the rain, missing out

Thanks to the protesters claiming their right to free speech, the Olympic torch relay was ruined for the families and friends of the torch bearers — not to mention the runners themselves — by forcing on-the-spot changes to the route.

I hope they enjoy knowing that their right to protest overrode our right to celebrate the singular moment of seeing the Olympic flame carried through our neighbourhood.

I stood in the rain that night, sharing the anticipation and excitement with other residents of our block as the convoy proclaiming the flame’s imminent arrival crept along the street.

Only when the vehicles began turning to head back the way they had come did we realize that something had gone wrong. When asked what was happening, the first car’s driver said that they’d been told to go back, that the route was being changed and they didn’t know why.

So, back they went, leaving bewilderment and sodden disappointment in their wake.

The next morning, I heard that protesters had forced the relay to be rerouted twice. Funny, but I saw no politicians lining the street in my neighbourhood. I saw no protesters, either.

I saw a mother who had come specifically to see her son carry the torch along that stretch. I saw other parents hoping to share a historic moment with their children.

I saw clusters of young adults recognizing the significance of the occasion, not as a chance to vent their displeasure with the current government’s policies, but as chance to be proud Canadians supportive of our athletes, and to experience the spirit of the Games.

I regret that many people believe they have been adversely affected by the decision for Vancouver to host the 2010 Olympics.

I know we have serious social issues that some feel have been ignored in favour of global posturing. Forcing the torch relay to be rerouted will not help the cause.

I’m sad that I missed out on a memory I would have cherished, but I’m angry that my right to a joyful moment was stolen by another’s right to disregard it.

Ruth R. Greig

Victoria

Taxpayers robbed by childish actions

I spent nearly an hour Friday evening waiting on Cook Street and Richardson to see the Olympic torch pass by, but the only thing that materialized was a procession of protesters howling out some slogans or other that were unintelligible, and being protected by a large number of police in vehicles and on horseback.

There were numbers of children there, and this was the Olympic experience they were treated to. When the rabble passed by, we all waited to see if the torch would follow.

As nothing happened and the police all disappeared, we all wandered off into the dark. One lady said to me that I shouldn’t mind, I had just witnessed democracy at work. I disagree.

When I was about the age of these childish protesters, such exhibitions were not permitted, nor should such people be allowed to rob the taxpayers of the enjoyment of things which their taxes paid for.

I also think that the very least the police could have done, once the protest had gone by, was to tell us that the torch would not be passing by our area, instead of simply driving off and leaving us all wondering.

Michael Birch

Victoria

A disgusting, shameful display

We are totally disgusted and ashamed of the behaviour of the anti-Olympic protesters in Victoria on Friday night.

The Friends of Government House Gardens Society members were invited to come to Government House tonight to witness and cheer on the Lieutenant-Governor, The Honourable Steven Point, as he welcomed the Olympic torch relay to Government House.

We gathered in the rain by the porte cochere of the House and eagerly awaited the arrival of the torch. Alas, it was not to be. Thanks to the aggressive behaviour of the protesters the RCMP decided to cancel the stop at Government House and their Honours were driven off to a safer site to welcome the torch.

It was, of course too late for most of us to witness the relay as it had now passed beyond Rockland.

Nor could we watch it on TV as the local stations were only showing the arrival of the flame in Sidney, and the national news had concluded their coverage for the night.

Thus the mean-spirited behaviour of a few destroyed what could have been a memorable event for many.

I understand that there are many who are offended by the whole Olympic effort, they feel the money should have been spent on important social problems etc. However, it’s a bit late now to continue their protests with the Games only 106 days away.

Do they honestly think anyone is going to slap their forehead in dismay and say “What were we thinking! We’ll cancel the Games and tear down everything and hand the money to the homeless!” Of course not!

We know you hate spending the money but it’s done. We’re all going to pay for it anyway, so why not let us enjoy it?

Howard and Valerie Smith

Victoria

Olympics message is wrong

Re: “Our blaze of glory,” Oct. 31.

The wrong message is communicated through the Olympics. At the entrance to the Blue Bridge, one of the Olympians exclaimed in response to protesters: “We are doing this for the children.”

Which children — the ones who are suffering from government cutbacks? What health message to children are Olympians communicating when they participate in the Olympics that is sponsored by Coca-Cola and McDonald’s?

What environmental message are Olympians communicating to the children when Olympians are participating in an event which is sponsored by Petrocan-Suncor and the Royal Bank — producer and funder of the tar sands. (Even the Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, has called on Canada, for the sake of climate change, to cease exploration in the tar sands).

What legal message to children are Olympians communicating when they participate in the an event sponsored by Dow which has continued to evade its legal responsibility to the victims of the Bhopal disaster, or by Cominco which has continued to avoid its legal responsibility for transboundary pollution?

Joan Russow

Victoria

Helicopter cost is a concern

Exactly how much did it cost to fly those helicopters on Friday? I guess the cost of fuel is of no worries? Wow!

Lee Stempski

Victoria

Carbon footprint is a worry

I wonder what the carbon footprint of the torch relay is. With 13 vehicles, none of which are economical, more or less idling along, I suspect that the relay on Friday used more fossil fuel than I do in several years.

Richard Tallboy

Victoria

In Canada, there is food for everyone

When the Brazilians heard that their country was chosen for the next summer Olympics, they all went out, celebrated and showed their joy.

Here, in a country where everyone can get a job, if you want one or look for one, some believe that having the Olympics Games is a waste of money.

Our homeless population is not starving. There is enough food available for everyone. I agree we need to spend more on detox centers; but then as we cannot force them to get help, what is there to do?

Change the existing laws, but the bleeding hearts would all have heart attack.

Al Goguen

Victoria