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April 29, 2008

Ministry of Nice

Xinhua has news of the Olympic torch making its way without incident to Pyongyang, capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The "storm of claps" is the best touch.

"The Beijing Olympic flame received a top-class welcome in Pyongyang," said Pak Hak Seon, Chairman of the National Olympic Committee of the DPR Korea. "The successful torch relay in Pyongyang deals a heavy blow to the evil force who want to demolish the Olympic Games," said Pak. "The Beijing Olympic Games are sure to succeed."

The torch relay in Pyongyang, the 18th leg of its global tour, completed at around 15:00 local time as the last torch bearer kindled the cauldron in Kim Il Sung Stadium. Chong Song Ok, entitled "Marathon Queen" by the DPR Korean media, ran up to the cauldron standing before the Kim Il Sung Stadium from the Arch of Triumph. When she kindled the Olympic cauldron with the flame, the spectators burst out a storm of claps.

Well isn't that special. Nothing here that might bring Koreans into "hatred" or "contempt" either by overt statement or by omission, nothing here that even a Canadian "human rights" commission could find objectionable. The people of Canada may turn to their Olympic coverage - and the advertising of its Canadian sponsors - secure in the knowledge wise heads in Ottawa are protecting them from hearing, seeing or saying anything nasty about anyone.

Unless it is Israel, the United States or Mark Steyn, obviously.

Posted by Ghost of a flea at April 29, 2008 08:14 AM