Connecting the Dots

Honestly, if I see one more ad with an athlete eating a Big Mac, I'm going to barf.

However, if anything good can be said about the Olympics (cough, choke), it's that french-fry loving, Coke-drinking athletes will have to share the spotlight.

Countless protests, initiatives and projects are planned during the Games that will hopefully garner more worthy attention and support.

The Red Tent Project is one of them.


I remember when similar tents were pitched around Paris several years back and now a campaign is underway here to draw attention to the housing crisis on the Downtown Eastside and Canada's lack of a national housing strategy (we are the only G8 country without one).

It also seems that those who weren't before are finally connecting the dots - that the "cost" of the Games is too high - economically, socially, and environmentally. That we have better things to do than adorn ourselves in Olympic regalia or buy new flat-screen TVs to watch hockey on.

Last week, it was announced that as many as 800 Vancouver teachers could face layoffs in 2010/11. Across the bridge in North Van, impending layoffs and school closures were also announced at the same time plans are being made to line students up to smile and wave at torch bearers running through the neighborhood.

A little naive, don't you think?

Canadian Blood Services has also announced that it faces a significant drop in collection due to road closures and traffic delays during the Games. Paradoxically, they are giving away commemorative 2010 pins to those who make it in to donate blood.

The list goes on and on but the irony is not lost on an increasingly skeptical and informed public that knows we are paying now and will continue to pay long after the Olympics are over.

Meanwhile, more peaceful protesters have been arrested, this time along the torch route in Golden, BC, despite a Global TV reporter (not exactly known for their impartiality) actually conceding that the group was "doing nothing wrong."

This is not OK with me.

Is it OK with you?

While some may still "support" the Olympics (gurgle, gasp), there may be something you don't support in the future.

Wouldn't you like to know that your freedom to disagree is protected?