Utahns oppose Olympic torch protests

Pollster Dan Jones said most Utahns aren't interested in taking on China or the Olympics.

"I don't think they believe that China's conflict with Tibet is serious enough that we should boycott" or get involved in disrupting the torch relay, Jones said. "People get tired of international demonstrations."

And Utahns aren't tired of the Olympics.

"I think in all honesty that the people of Utah fell in love with the Olympics," Jones said. Six years ago in Salt Lake City, he said, "political ideologies didn't seem to play a role at all.... It was kind of a test, can nations get along together."

But some Utahns do see the Olympic relay as the place to bring attention to China's treatment of Tibetans. About 30 Utahns made the trip to San Francisco to rally against what they called the "flame of shame."

Among them was Sam Chagzoetsang, 22, believed to be the first Tibetan born in Utah. After the torch route through San Francisco was changed at the last minute, Chagzoetsang declared the protest a victory in the battle to pressure China to change its policies.

Even Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. said earlier this month that he supports the protests along the torch relay route, noting that he protested outside the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., in 1989 after China stopped pro-democracy demonstrators in Tiananmen Square.

Walker said the protests in San Francisco were tough to watch, especially since that was the only stop the Olympic flame made in the United States during a nearly five-month relay around the world.

"I was disappointed for the people in San Francisco that the route had been changed," he said, since many people didn't get to see the relay. "I was disappointed that's the way American people treated the flame when it was on American soil for just a few days."

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