Tibet was the main spotlight of the day, followed by Darfur, but I was protesting with the pro-Burma crowd. We started out with a march from the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge to the other end (video with birds eye views about 3 min in..maybe 1000 ppl?). Then there was a chaotic scramble around the city trying to figure out where the heck the torch was.

Anyways…the crowds who were protesting for Burma, Tibet and Darfur all had pretty diverse crowds of people. There were also Falun Gong and Muslim Uyghur protestors from China’s Western region. And protesters waving the Vietnamese flag, which I didn’t understand, but now will research. I felt a little bit awkward protesting near the pro-China Olympics crowd, which seemed more like a pro-China in general crowd. I didn’t like the feeling of crowds of Chinese “protesting” against us and our cause. But maybe I seemed like an “anti-China in general” protester to them. It was strange to see the reaction of Chinese who viewed anything that was really “anti-Chinese government policy” as “anti-Chinese”.

I remember while walking by the flag-waving China crowd while holding our “Free Burma” signs with maroon and red clothing and chanting “Free Burma”… we were actually immediately met with BOOOOS and yells of “Liar Liar Liar Liar”. Say what???

You mean to say the Burmese people aren’t being oppressed by a military dictatorship and that China has nothing to do with it? Do you get the news from the U.S. or China? There is seriously some lack of information dissemination in China when it comes to these human rights issues…but if you live in the U.S. wouldn’t you be badgered with enough news about Tibet and Burma to know what’s happening? There were also randomly stationed pro-China Olympic groups that sometimes followed us, literally, while saying “Liar! Liar!”. I seriously doubted that some of these groups were led by “Chinese-Americans”. It takes a lot more than being Chinese in the US. I read in the SF Chronicle this morning that bus loads of Chinese were sent here through the Chinese consulate and Chinese sports leagues. I guess that explains the well-organized Chinese crowds with official looking Olympic signs and Chinese flags.

The Chinese media is reporting to its people that the “Western media” has been fabricating stories. Wonder where the protesters we encountered got their news from? There’s actually a website anti-cnn.com devoted to the Western media’s bias, which I acknowledge exists, but its ridiculous to say the issues of Burma, Tibet and other oppressed people are being made-up.

To be fair, I know China is a big country, and those who come out to protest aren’t representative of the whole country. I wonder how many people in China will even be able to see the Olympics..or care to.

One prominent Asian American, openly-bi and social-justice activist Helen Zia, wrote a piece on why she’s carrying the torch. Many Asian Americans have quoted her, but I think she doesn’t acknowledge the importance of the protesters in shedding light on issues which many in and out of China have no clue about. China’s media simply doesn’t talk about Burma, Tibet or Darfur in a way which reflects the depth of China’s involvement in their suffering.

I like what this torchbearer did: “After being passed the Olympic flame, Majora Carter pulled out a small Tibetan flag that she had hidden in her shirt sleeve.

“The Chinese security and cops were on me like white on rice, it was no joke,” said Carter, 41, who runs a nonprofit organization in New York. “They pulled me out of the race, and then San Francisco police officers pushed me back into the crowd on the side of the street.”

For those who say that this isn’t the right time to protest, but also believe that China’s government policies are unjust….I wonder…then when IS the right time? In contrast, the pro-China crowd who chanted “Liar Liar” obviously wasn’t just protesting the timing of the pro-Tibet/Darfur/Burma etc. protests…but disagreed with the fact that there was a legitimate cause to protest. I wonder how many people from China are on a similar page, and how many would be open enough to speak out if they learned more about what’s happening. I’m glad I turned out. There may not be a better opportunity in the near future to get the message out.

When I looked around at Justin Herman Plaza, there were pro-China Olympics people having conversations with anti-China Olympics people. I listened in on a discussion my friends were having with a guy from China supporting the Olympics, who was actually well-informed and spoke in perfect English, who allegedly protested at Tiananmen Square in ‘89 for Democracy. This guy said he was against the Chinese government’s policy… like us, but didn’t think the Olympics was the time to do so. I found it hard to believe though when he told me he wouldn’t protest against another host country for the Olympics, even if that country did something really bad to China. But I guess big countries like China and the US don’t have to think about being attacked or harmed by another…they are superpowers.

In the end, it was interesting to learn, that he would’ve protested under a banner of human rights for all oppressed people, which meant China would not be singled out as a human rights abuser.

Seeing all that reminded me of another reason why it’s a good thing people are speaking out, coming out to the streets and taking a break from the television and the same social circles….regardless of whether people believe the games should be boycotted or not, it sparks much-needed discussion. It’s something people inside and outside of China need. People inside of China need to be talking with visitors, the press, people on the Internet, athletes..during and after the Olympics because the media is government controlled …sensitive subjects are consistently censored and mainstream perspectives are limited to those which state-approved. People outside of China also definitely need to be talking with Chinese people….even though our media is not government controlled, our media also brainwashes and has strong biases…which leads to a limited understanding of China. By the way, did you know that more people in China are learning English than the entire population of the U.S? I just learned that today.

It’s a good thing to make yourself an individual in a protest. Being a part of a protest can be a strange thing, as one may not agree with all the various slogans chanted around oneself. For example, there were a couple of girls who were screaming “Supporting the Olympics is supporting Genocide!”. “I wished I had a sign that reflected my perspective better…like “We are not anti-China, but anti-China government policy” or “Human Rights for Iraq, Tibet, Palestine, Burma, ……” Some interesting signs I saw and sympathized with: “Pro-Olympics, Anti-Chinese government” and a “China: Don’t turn out like US” sign. What I see as pro-Olympics, isn’t an attitude of silence and tolerance of China’s policies. I was there to protest, because I think that the Olympics should be used as a platform to do so. That’s when the world’s cameras will be on China. But I also want people in the world to learn about China’s people, culture, food, diversity and similarities with the West. The Olympics gives this opportunity…and some made efforts to acknowledge this.

The Chinese people need a spotlight to show their good side. But if the Olympics receives some negative coverage it’s worth it. People are dying and suffering, many have died and suffered already…shouldn’t this be a core issue of discussion about China? These life and death issues need the spotlight as well. Many people in the pro-China Olympic crowd didn’t even understand why there were protesters… we were assumed to be anti-China. Helen Zia said that she doesn’t want to alienate those social justice activists in China, but I think those who are already aware of the issues wouldn’t mind some confrontation of the issues, and I think China needs more people who are informed about what their government is up to. Many American spectators also are ignorant, two dudes asked me what my flag was (Burma) and where Burma was (SouthEast Asia next to Thailand).

Sometimes I have to wonder though if people in the US are more interested in China bashing or human rights. I know that our politicians have an easier time criticizing others than themselves. Maybe people just have energy for only oh so many protests…maybe we’re just better informed about what’s happening elsewhere than in our own country.

We should remember what MLK said: “An injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”

flickr pool: Olympic Torch Relay San Francisco