This is a petition for the freedom of Tibetans to practice their religion and belief.
This is a plea for the freedom of Tibetans and to have the right to save their country, their people and the right to practice their religion as they have for so long.
To return Lhasa to the quiet, peaceful place that is was whereby Tibetans travel for days, weeks, months to pay their respects to their beloved Dalai Lama.
I’ll get a full body tattoo of the Tibetan Flag and run naked in the streets of Lhasa- maybe then Tibet’s situation would get some attention in American media.
The papers would read:
“American man beaten and imprisoned for nudity and illegal acknowledgement of a country/people/culture/religion now threatened by genocide and/or extinction.”
This isn’t really a petition- but it should be.
You are absolutely right. I did question as to whether I should have started a thread like this in this way. I do however see one little advantage.
There are many people who would rather keep a closed eye to the problem and reality that people of Tibet are facing. At least, this way, people are given an introduction, the seed that will hopefully fruit into their minds.
If any good comes out of this, its worth the effort. I hope you understand…
The Freedom of Tibet movement is very interesting.
A couple of things you really have to ask yourself about the cause:
#1. Why did China occupy Tibet?
#2. Why did the Dalai Lama leave?
Otherwise, to say Free Tibet is not unlike saying “Free Palestine” or for that matter “Let’s give North America and South Amereica back to the rightful owners”
Personally, the most important question of the above two is number two. Why did the Dalai Lama leave?
I don’t know much about the surrounding issues, but it seems to me that if Tibet had been an independent entity, then for China to go in there and seize control seems wrong.
As I said, I don’t know much about it, but on face value it seems wrong.
Tibet was an independant country that literally had no maeans in defending itself against its rival countries, save the great tibetan mountains. Thus it is only right for China to give back Tibet, as Tibet has been independant for thousands of years until about 50 years ago. The whole place should be freed…
For an idea as to the situation, rent Scorcese’s beautiful “Kundun”… There will no longer be an ambivolent reaction to the moral question and no reason to offer alternate perspectives.
Ok, here is a quote from the Dalai Lama himself.
In adition to this, it is important to note that economic changes have been for the better in tibet.
But, i find it curious that the Dalai Lama never speaks of why China came in to the country but that he is willing to let them control the economy and political structure of the country.
I also find it curious that a person with tibetan buddhist beliefs would find it necessary to run away?
Fear of his own life? That thinking doesn’t fit wiht the precepts of Tibetan Buddhism. The cause would be 1000 times stronger if he had become martyred through imprisonment or execution. Yet, fear seems to be the motivator and it shouldn’t.
You can find many resources on teh inyternet about the Dalai Lama and his views. He is of course peaceful and wise, but still, reality is reality no matter how one glosses it up eh?
Anyway, here is what the “God King” of tibet has to say.
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=“-1”>quote:</font><HR>It is with this realization that in the early seventies I discussed and decided with my senior officials the main points of my “Middle Way Approach”. Consequently, I opted for a resolution of the Tibet issue, which does not call for the independence of Tibet or its separation from China.
I firmly believe that it is possible to find a political solution that ensures the basic rights & freedoms of the Tibetan people within the framework of the People’s Republic of China. My primary concern is the survival and preservation of Tibet’s unique spiritual heritage, which is based on compassion and non-violence. And, I believe it is worthwhile & beneficial to preserve this heritage since it continues to remain relevant in our present-day world.
[/quote]
As non-participants. I think it is best tolook at all the angles before taking a side in the issue even if you don’t like communism of the prc.
It goes beyond the usurping of a nation, far beyond that.
I have been following this throughout the entirty of my life and even I have reservations about both sides views and actions.
Btw, kundun is gratuitous propoganda and is a “story” which favours the political views of the Free Tibet Organization. Nicely shot piece of film though.
Apologies Kung Lek - you must have beaten me to the post :).
Here are my thoughts on this:
Quote:
In adition to this, it is important to note that economic changes have been for the better in tibet.
I don’t believe economic gains are the be all and end all in this world. I have a BEc. and I believe that I mostly wasted 3 years of my life studying economics. The problem with governments nowadays is that their focus is not on the people, but on economic growth.
I accept that economic growth is an important part of maintaining a country in a responsible manner, however I believe the role of government is to provide a structure for the people (be that in providing infrastructure, law and order, military protection, whatever), and assistance when required. I don’t believe governments do this most of the time. The social impact of government policy is often ignored on the path to economic growth.
I think that Communism has worked for China (to a certain degree), and on my two visits to China the people seem to accept Communism. I guess they don’t have much choice :).
As far as Tibet goes, I still don’t know why China seized control. My thoughts are that if the Dalai Lama did not leave Tibet, he would have been martyred, but I don’t think he would better serve the cause of his country as a martyr. I think that preserving Tibet’s spiritual heritage is a worthy cause to fight for.
Having said all that, if it were possible to resolve the conflict without either party ‘losing out’ then I guess that would be ideal.
Ok don’t get me wrong here, I don’t have a very good view of communism and I do not believe it “works” for anyone. People are individuals and communism strips this away. The communism of china is more totalitarian than marxist no matter how they do it up.
The situation for your average indigenous tibetan is not good, for chinese in tibet it is not to bad at all.
I do not have the answer as to why china invaded and usurped the Dalai Lama. I am curious also because this has never been made clear to me by positions on either side.
what I do know is that many tibetans left with the dalai lama and now live in northern india.
The governments of the rest of the world never really did anything about it and apperently the dalai lama does not intend too.
spirituality lives within the individual and not within an institution and its trappings.
