As it was they rerouted the torch route, and all the spectators, demonstrators and counter-demonstrators who were waiting at the announced parade route for their chance to douce-protect-or watch the Olympic torch go by stood on the sidewalks, staring at each other, realizing they'd been duped and, one by one, they silently shuffled off, dragging their protest signs behind them or abandoning them outright in the gutters...but overheard was a pro Tibet protester asking a pro China protester if he wanted to have a beer. The pro China protester said "sure," so who knows? Maybe there's hope yet.
