XL,
Thank you for your comments. Certainly there have been improvements in the lives of many people in Tibet but were those social improvements requested by the Tibetan people or were they imposed by China as means of social control of a restive indigenous population? For example, the improvements in the educational system certainly improved the lives of the Tibetan people but were those improvements instituted because of charitable and egalitarian motives or were they made to effectuate assimilation, cooptation and conformity of native cultures with the dominant Han culture in order to solidify Chinese encroachment on and consolidation of Chinese power over Tibetan territory? How many Han peoples have been relocated from China to Tibet and why?
You make an apt analogy to the American historical experience. Native Americans were similarly treated beginning as far back as 18th Century expansion and the eventual consolidation of western settlement of the North American continent.
Rhetorically, you ask what the Dalai Llama can give to the Tibetan people. What he can give cannot be expressed in a material sense. He is a symbol of Tibetan independence and self-determination and as such he reflects their sense of identity as a people and in this fashion he is a threat to Chinese and Han hegemony. The interesting question for me is how the Chinese can reconcile the democratic aspirations of Tibetan identity and self-determination with the laudable egalitarian values that you have expressed by just and peaceful means?
Namaste
David
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David,
Dalai Lama has basically blocked his channel to talk with the Chinese government because this time, he has offended Chinese people in general. Any moderate leader in China who wish to talk to him would certainly run into strong resistance from the Chinese public this time. I don't think the Tibet Independence group can do no more. Extinguishing Olympic torch is probably the worst harm they could do to China, and they have done it. Any further violence will be met with iron fist. China is getting stronger and more confident nowdays and it is not Kosovo or Iraq. Any government who would like to deal with China theoretically cannot host terrorist activities against China. India is an example, it had to warn the TI group not to make bombs. Without bomb and training, I doubt this group could be in any match with the Chinese paramilitary force.
The former slavery class of Tibetan is on the side of the Chinese nation and they are in power. They would represent the Tibetan government instead the Dalai Lama. Who said Tibetan has to be ruled by the former slave masters? Time changes. In fact, the people who are more strongly against Dalai's return are not Han Chinese, but those Tibetans in power. They don't want to see the color of sky being changed and themselves under Dalai Lama.
Dalai Lama has over-reacted this time. I was a former supporter for talks between China and the Dalai Lama, but now I doubt the optimism.
By the way, extinguishing the Olympic torch brings bad luck to its passing country. France will have bad luck. It was brought by those radical Tibaten Independence group. Sorry for France.
XL
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XL:
You don't know me and you shouldn't assume that I am "a bad wisher against Chinese" just because I may question or disagree with your sycophantic attitudes about Tibet and Chinese political history. You attitudes prove you to be a running dog and lackey of Chinese political orthodoxy and your talk of iron fists and terrorists and paramilitary forces is silly and childish. The last thing this world needs is more suffering and Fascist wannabes like you who have inferiority complexes and cannot engage in civil discourse on a level playing field without resorting to threats, intimidation and violence. Take a Prozac and a nap.
David L. DenHartigh
Salem, Oregon
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David,
My iron fist theory is certainly not very picturesque, but reflect the reality. A peaceful movement cannot make splitting a country as its agenda. Martin Luther King would have failed if he had appealed to create an independent country for African Americans. Facist, that is what I had advised my fellow Chinese students not to be. I was against any patriotic demonstration in favor of any government, be it Chinese or Bush. Government has enough power and does not need more rally for support. But being not facist does not mean you have to agree with burning houses, killing people, attacking handicapped lady, not to mention destroying the World Trade Center. A freedom movement becomes a terrorist activity if it incites violence. After that, you lose the sympathy from general public. It made many American changing their mind after Bin Laden hits the World Trade Center. It has even made me to change my mind after the French show. Why do they have to attack a handicapped young lady?
As to inferior nation, there could be no nation more inferior than France. It was defeated by the Nazi Germany, it was even defeated by the Vietnamese. I well remember I had a French officemate when I was a graduate student, I asked him what if the Soviet Union attack you. You know what did he reply me: so what, we surrender. :) Again, I think it is a shame for France to have the Olympic torch extinguished on its territory. I am sure it is deemed to make that country even less superior, if not inferior.
XL
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