The 2008 Olympic torch is lighting the way for protests around the world. San Francisco had to cut our relay in half for the very same reason Olympic officials decided to bring the torch here in the first place- our large and diverse Asian population.

After the chaos in London and Paris, San Francisco officials were weary of the large number of Pro-Chinese vs. Pro-Tibetan protesters. Which led them to pull an April fools-esque stunt on the mob of spectators (some of which had taken off work or traveled long distances to be here). From Fox News-

"Then, at the opening ceremony, the first torchbearer took the flame from a lantern brought to the stage and held it aloft before running into a warehouse. A motorcycle escort departed, but the torchbearer was nowhere in sight.

Officials drove the torch about a mile inland and handed it off to two runners away from protesters and media, and they began jogging toward the Golden Gate Bridge, in the opposite direction of the crowds awaiting its passing."

Maybe we'll be able to celebrate in 2012...