The Olympic flame--China's brand of Cain

Finally the Olympic flame making its way to Beijing for the summer games in July 2008 has had a reception which pleases China. Until it came to Pyongyang, like the brand of Cain, the Olympic flame lit up China's shame to the world. In North Korea, there were no protests. The flame was greeted by much fanfare and carried by a member of the 1966 North Korean soccer team which in the first round knocked champion Italy out of the World Cup games in the UK. China will reward Pyongyang for the show, the more especially famine looms large in North Korea, and food and money will flow freely to an ally. Still, worldwide protest has not earned China any boy scout merit badges, only contempt.