Quote:
Protester refuses to apologize for torch disruption
Updated: Tue Nov. 03 2009 18:29:28
ctvbc.ca
One of the people involved in the protests that disrupted the 2010 torch relay in Victoria refused to apologize Tuesday to the young torchbearer who got caught up in the chaos.
Nicholas Dronsfield, 17, who has cerebral palsy, had planned on running with the torch on Friday.
But his run was cancelled because protesters blocked the route.
Nicholas, who was determined to run the torch on his own, travelled to Nanaimo the next day and was able to carry out his goal.
CTV News tried to reach several protest organizers to see if they had anything to say about the disruption.
None returned calls.
Chris Shaw, a well-known anti-Olympic demonstrator who was in the crowd Friday night, said he didn't think an apology was necessary.
"I would say I do understand that on a personal level, you were disappointed. I would hope that Nicholas and his family would understand the broader concerns that many of us feel, that the Olympic Games are not a good thing for British Columbia, they've hurt the province, hurt a lot of people."
Shaw added: "If some people were discomforted by what we did, then, you know, it's unfortunate. (But) this is what democracy looks like. It's messy."
Nicholas said an apology wouldn't have meant much to him, anyway.
"I don't think that an apology from the protesters would have much meaning to me right now," he said. "The way they expressed their opinion just was so negative and destructive that an apology would be so meaningless to me."
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These people do not realize they do more harm than good by blocking people's way. Sure, there are reasons to argue against the Olympics. But... can we stop it from continuing? No. That'd be a waste of billions of dollars of money and it'd be more like suiciding in front of a full-speed freight train to try to make it stop in 10 m. And yet, they still try to stand in the path... not realizing that their actions and the media attention around it will not get them any more support than before... in fact it can turn moderate opposers away.
Democracy does not have to be messy. Whoever thinks that it is inherently so is wrong. There are ways to make it civilized and peaceful... which some people choose not to do.
Finally... I highy respect and applaud the torchbearer's decision to not accept apologies from the protestors. As mentioned in the article it is hollow for him to do so when they committed such disgusting actions... not to mention the other despicable actions that they have done in past Olympic events (making children cry, placing anti-Olympic messages in candy, forcing people to not see the torch at their own expense and time, etc).