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WELL, the Olympic torch skipped Manila in the run-up to the 2008
Beijing Summer Olympics because of geographical reasons. I say, did
we even mount a campaign to host a leg here, given its significance
for our country’s image on security, need for investments and
tourism and our continuing support for the games despite never
bagging a gold? That is what is called putting our country on the
map. We are a nation 90-million strong and the 12th most populous in
the world, surely we can carry a flame from the Luneta to The Fort?
In the public arena, there is no debate on
whether we are for or against Tibet and democracy as is currently
framed by the Western media. There are no protests on the streets
ala leftist rallies and transport strikes. Is it because we support
China? Neither is there talk on boycotting the Games because of
alleged human rights abuses by Beijing. These are good because it is
the height of hypocrisy not to condemn the United States for the
continuing violence in Iraq.
It is strange indeed for us not to comment given
our tendency to sensationalize and to talk about everything under
the sun without taking action. There ought to be an explanation for
the silence.
Apathy perhaps. We do not relate to the Tibetan
people because they are far too remote and inconsequential to us.
Ignorance maybe. We can’t tell where Tibet is. Power and politics
it is. China is too big and powerful we dare not. Busy schedule, we
are preoccupied with our scandals. Hunger as a cause because we need
more rice.
For other cities in other countries, notably
Paris, the flame has been turned to a fight between good and evil,
of pro-China or anti-China, pro-Tibet or anti-Tibet, or a
combination thereof, of democracy versus history, of human rights
against national unity. It is used to signify the plight of a
minority in a country of 56 minorities.
This leaves a bad taste in the mouth to hostage
the flame and the Olympic spirit it signifies to political causes.
Yet, in a sense, it is also an avenue to articulate issues which
would not see the light of day if not linked with fire.
Backlash cuts both ways. French companies and
French products are being targeted for boycotts. Chinese patriots
are seen as a rabid lot for going ballistic and acting barbaric.
The simple key is to condemn violence of any
sort. You can climb trees and wave banners and hold flags high; you
cannot attack the torch-bearer. You can shout and chant and rave;
you cannot snuff out the flame. There is room for dialogue and even
confrontation—that is the point of being human beings and not
otherwise, even without the context of the reason for the Olympics.
What’s in the flame? What say you fellow
Filipino? Take a stand on the issues. Read up first and find out
what they are. Go out of your way to support the Olympics and what
it represents—the brotherhood of men and the community of nations
across borders, beyond races, above causes. It is the unity of
mankind that is the heart of the movement with sports as the medium.
And so we send our delegation again after the
required training. Do we have hope to land at least a medal? Is our
performance directly proportional to the state of our country’s
progress or health? We practice and pray; we practice praying; we
pray practice. Indeed, what’s in a flame?
geronimo.sy@gmail.com
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