I think we sometimes forget here in the United States how lucky we are to be able to protest things like the Olympic torch. The same thing goes for Europeans. And the reason we should be thankful is because you can't away with doing things like that in a lot of other countries.
Like take Nepal, for instance. Soldiers and police in Nepal have been cleared to open fire to stop any protests during China's Olympic torch run to the summit of Mount Everest.
That's right, there's nothing like picking off charging protesters at Base Camp IV before you head up into the death zone.
Now, I don't want to be totally unfair. The troops will first try to persuade protesters to leave during the torch run and will arrest those who stay. If demonstrators defy all nonviolent means of restraint, troops have the option of using weapons. That sounds all well and good, but as someone who's spent time in a third world country, let me tell you that it's never good to test a soldier's patience in lands that authorize deadly force for protesting.
By the way, for anyone who knows anything about the history of climbing, does anyone else find it extremely hilarious that there's actually the possibility for firearm related deaths on Everest now?
My how the mighty have fallen.
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