As the Olympic torch makes its way to the Kootenays the excitement builds. But this being Nelson, there's also plenty of folks who fail to share the enthusiasm of the majority.

Leading the charge of anti-Olympic sentiment is the Nelson chapter of the Canadian Council of Canadians. The group is planning a rally this coming Saturday to coincide with the torch run festivities. These festivities for the official torch run party on Saturday have been diligently worked on by a large team of local volunteers over the last 12 months.

All the power to them. If this is the mark they want to leave, then I wish all those who attend the rally in front of City Hall all the luck.

That said, I do wonder about the message they are trying to send and the tactics they employ to get there. Sometimes I wonder if they hurt their own cause. It's one thing to preach to the converted, but it's much more difficult to find those willing to follow.

In Tuesday's NDN we ran a letter to the editor by one of the organizers of the anti-torch effort. In that letter it was explained that the idea of the Olympic torch relay was actually hatched by Adolf Hitler and the Nazis for the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics.

I love history. So much so that I chose it as my minor during my university days. I can tell you all about British policy in Palestine during the early 20th Century and the history of Northern Alberta Cree, but the Nazi tie to the torch was a fact I didn't have in my hard drive. So of course I was interested and sought out more information.

It’s true the Olympic torch relay as we know it was created by Nazi-ruled Germany in 1936. Globe & Mail feature writer John Allemang wrote all about it in an October edition. As Allemang puts it, the torch relay is “a creation of the people who are the byword for modern evil.”

Despite the interesting history lesson, I did finish my research wondering why the anti-Olympic folks feel the desire to link the torch with the Nazis. Using it as a sensationalist tactic is honestly quite disrespectful to the millions of people that really felt the true evil of the Nazi regime.

Are we actually supposed to think that VANOC is somehow trying to follow in the footsteps of Adolf Hitler’s horrific deeds?

That’s ridiculous.

Is it not possible that a symbol can be reinvented regardless of its origin? Of course it can.

The Nazis turned the Swastika into a symbol of evil even though it has a long history on this planet as something positive and good. It has been, and still is, widely used by the world’s Eastern religions. Today in Buddhism it represents dharma, universal harmony and the balance of opposites. Yet, most people in Western society shiver when they see the black swastika on the red background. Hitler ruined it for so many.

For the large majority of Canadians and citizens around the world, the torch is a symbol of peace, sport and a greater world community. For most, the symbol garners positive emotion and positive energy. Regardless of its past, the symbol has become something new to generations of people who too rarely visit our past. But we are creating history today and the dark origins of the torch can be slowly erased.

Does this mean we should ignore history? Absolutely not. No matter how dark and painful history can be, it’s always important to pay it mind. We can learn a tremendous amount, be warned of the dangers of actions and be guided on a more productive path by the triumphs of human achievement.

So let’s talk about the Nazi origins of this ritual. Let’s talk about the terrible history written in locations around the world at this very moment. Let’s talk about the corporate agendas that help drive the Games. Let's talk about how much the Games are costing the taxpayers of British Columbia.

It’s good to talk and even better to talk about themes that can impact a larger audience — like the world audience the Olympics pulls together every two years. It’s an amazing accomplishment after all. Getting that many people, from all parts of the globe thinking about one massive world occurrence.... few events have the ability to draw such worldwide interest. And that’s an important part of the entire Olympic experience.

I have no problem with those who are taking the opportunity to express their views during the Vancouver Winter Olympics. The world is coming and the microphones will be live. If those bent on sending a negative view about Canada and the Games are satisfied this is going to bring about the change they seek… go for it.

Though there is plenty to think about and plenty to consider, there is just as much to celebrate. Sport has the ability to entertain, energize and inspire. There are a great many people who are looking forward to the ride. Don’t condemn those who just want a few days, hours or minutes of joy the Olympics can ignite.

This weekend communities around the Kootenays are getting ready to party. The committee in Nelson has worked tremendously hard to not only celebrate the Olympics, but celebrate our community.

From Salmo to Nelson and beyond, people will be touched by the magic the torch can bring. It has the ability to bond us together as a species. It fills both young and old with wonder. It has brought happiness in communities big and small across Canada for the last few weeks.

The world — past and present — can be a very dark place. This weekend and during the entire Olympic experience in the next month, I’m looking forward to some light.

Bob Hall is the managing editor at the Nelson Daily News. He can be reached at bob@nelsondailynews.com

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