Peaceful non-torch-relay protests

The Olympic Torch Relay was supposed to go past my consulting client's office today, so some co-workers and I went outside to watch.

The torch relay got moved by protest-scared organizers to a previously-undisclosed and spectatorless route, so we didn't see that. What we did see was one of the most peaceful and harmonious protest/counter-protest sets I've ever seen. Bands of anti-China and pro-China protesters marched down the Embarcadero in large numbers, sometimes with the two sides trailing each other, and sometimes mixed into the same groups. I saw no violence and no arguments. Everybody seemed to be getting along -- a model of civil discourse.

I'm sorry not to have seen the torch, but I'd have been more sorry to have missed what I did see today. And I'm sad the world missed receiving the message that could have been sent by including the torch in today's demonstration of peaceful free speech.

I took lots of pictures.