Leave the Torch Alone

There's breaking news from Paris this morning that the Olympic torch, on its relay from Mount Olympus to this summer's games in Beijing, has been extinguished after a difficult day yesterday in London amid protests over the violence in Tibet.

The Dalai Lama had spoken out against action directed at the torch, asking that people "not cause any hindrance to the (Olympic) games" and therefore stand down, and leave the torch alone.

The torch arrived in Paris late last night and was, sadly, extinguished sometime today. (Breaking as I am posting this--the torch has now been relit and is making its way, mostly inside a bus, along the Seine.)

Leave the torch alone.

The Torch Has Been Lit

High atop Mount Olympus, the Olympic torch was lit earlier today in Greece to begin its 85,000 mile journey around the globe before arriving in Beijing for the summer games. Because of security concerns in the wake of the protests over violence in Tibet, part of the route will be kept secret so the torch can be safely kept burning until it reaches its ultimate destination.