Hello Jon here. In the corridors of the BBC in London today we’ve been trying to come up with the pop song that tells the tale of the much embattled Olympic torch….our efforts are none too clever….China in Your Hand by Tpau, Candle in the Wind by Elton John, Eternal Flame by the Bangles…can anyone do better?
This is just one of the things we’ll be around with on the BBC’s World Today programme this weekend. Saturday 0500 GMT. I’ll be editing the programme. Tune in and your suggestion could get on air.
We’ll also be speaking to one of the last journalists to interview Robert Mugabe….and trying to work out the psychology of the man.
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BBC World Have Your Say 
President Mbeki is a leader in his capacity and right, but I am a bit skeptical of his style of leadership. He appears slow to speak on most issues that bother on the interest of the continent. He seems to be comfortable in taking the easy road on all issues in this light.
When the fight for apartheid was on, he was one of those who voiced out for international help, but when presumed winner of the Zimbabwe’ elections did same, he queried that the situation is still “manageable”. He went further to say that the continent should “wait and see”.
What on earth is there to see more than what we have seen for decades under the rule of Robert Mugabe . The point is that he is not as proactive enough in confronting issues as President Bush is on every matter that bothers on the interest of America and Europe. From the war on Terror, to missile shield, to Afghanistan , to everything, you see that proactive pattern in the approach of leaders of countries like Russia, America, France, etc.
I am not comfortable with the presumed leadership of Mbeki. Perhaps I would have preferred to turn to light of leadership in Africa to Gaddaffi of Libya and the likes of former Nigerian president Obasanjo.
Africa is in dire need of a leader who can stand up to speak and yet command the respect of the continent. Maybe Kofi Anan fits in here
What else can be in that head than CONFUSION and a thought that he can succeed yet this once.
These 2 things are only deceiving him Am afraid, he has to face the fact that ‘his time and his game’ is up. He should be now have planned on where and how he will spend his life after years of rule that only left the economy worst. He should have thought of how he can summon up courage to apologize to his fellow countrymen for his disappointing years of rule, having perhaps tried his ‘best’.
’What a Shame!
DAVID
AKWA IBOM STATE
NIGERIA
What else can be in that head than CONFUSION and a thought that he can succeed yet this once.
These 2 things are only deceiving him Am afraid, he has to face the fact that ‘his time and his game’ is up. He should be now have planned on where and how he will spend his life after years of rule that only left the economy worst. He should have thought of how he can summon up courage to apologize to his fellow countrymen for his disappointing years of rule, having perhaps tried his ‘best’.
’What a Shame!
DAVID,
AKWA IBOM STATE
NIGERI
in mugabe’s deluded mind he thinks he is the benevolent father of his country. he bases this on the fact that he led rhodesia to independence from the british and that all the horrors that are going on in zimbabwe are the result of the sanctions that have been imposed upon his regime.
Nobody knows, and speculate all you want the ball is in his court. He can destroy his country in spite by trying to hold onto power, or he can leave gracefully, or a variety of variations between those extremes… but its all up to him at this point, to determine what legacy he will be remembered for.
Olympic Torch music-
“Whiskey for my men and beer for my horses” Willie Nelson
George USA
Born to Run- Springsteen
(What’s so funny ’bout)Peace, love and understanding
and also by elvis costello- the only flame in town
secret journey by the police (for San Francisco’s portion)
Hi!
Hearts On Fire – John Cafferty
I’m still finding out a song to describe the torch saga this year… 🙂
Ros…the Willie Nelson is lost on me….a rare event
A pop song?
Hmmmm…… Ms. Spears and – “Oops I did it again”?
I mean, China’s “Not that innocent”, right? lol
Brett ~ Richmond, Va.
“Hmmmm…… Ms. Spears and – “Oops I did it again”?
I mean, China’s “Not that innocent”, right? lol”
Ha ha! Wow! I love Brett’s contributions! 🙂
Close your eyes… Think about the main goal of the Olympics – no, no, forget the Chinese, forget the Nazis, forget politics! Alright, think about the athletes, their effort and victory. A song, a song… Well, what about Lubna’s proposal “Hero”, by Mariah Carey? or Westlife’s “Flying Without Wings”?
Or Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t star The Fire”? Opps! I thought in the Chinese government! : P
“Ring Of Fire” written by Johnny Cash but sung in French.
“What kind of fool am I”
The Olympics is a contest all right but not a sporting contest. It’s a contest between pharmacologists to see who can come up with the best performance enhancing drugs which will escape detection.
China is a place where human life is worthless. That is why we ship our most dangerous, tedious, low paying jobs there. Most Chinese people work for next to nothing. If they get hurt or killed on the job their bodies are thrown out with the trash like so much other garbage to be replaced like a cog in a machine, and if they protest, they wind up in jail where they work for only as much food as it takes to sustain their lives. When their body parts become more valuable as an export to rich Westerners needing an organ transplant than their labor is worth, they are murdered by the state and their bodies harvested. The only way it will change is through Chinese national revolt but with the false nationalism being built up in China and the imposition of all human rights violations both at home and abroad, that seems a long time away. However, you can never discount a surprise. The Berlin Wall and the USSR fell suddenly with unexpeded speed. The cracks in the foundation of contemporary Chinese civilization are creeping through the structure undermining it in ways we can’t know and the consequences for China and the world can hardly be predicted when the ediface finally collapses.
Personally I never watch or patronize the Olympics. These are professional athletes as far as I am concerned and taking interest in it only encourages them the next time. I’m only too glad when they select sites far away from where I live.
how about bat out of hell by meatloaf? for olympic torch theme song?
to make it very poetic: heal the world by Michael Jackson… don’t think it will work, though.
Emile Barre
““Ring Of Fire” written by Johnny Cash”
Great suggestion! Great song too 🙂