Bill Crutchfield, founder of the eponymous electronics retailer, is back from carrying the Olympic torch May 18 on its way to Beijing, and he explains why he’s not among those criticizing the regime.

“With this pall hanging over the country,” he explains, referring to the May 12 earthquake that killed nearly 70,000, “you don’t want to bring up Tibet. I guess the Westerners thought it would be inappropriate, given the tragedy.”

Crutchfield, who has recently leapt into political and water issues, stresses that he saw his 300-foot-stretch of the Olympic torch relay (which was suspended for three days of mourning shortly after he ran) as a chance of a lifetime. More than a million Chinese lined the route he took in Hangzhou, which is two hours southwest of Shanghai.

“It was a tremendous honor,” says Crutchfield today in his Rio Hill store. “It was a thrilling experience to see the excitement on those people’s faces.” He noted the pride many Chinese feel at “their joining of the world.”

Crutchfield was invited to the torch relay by sponsor Samsung, and was one of the few Westerners carrying the torch inside China. He got to bring his torch back as a souvenir from his journey, and will display it in the stores. Crutchfield shares one essential protocol for carrying the Olympic torch: always make sure the Olympic logo is facing the cameras.

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