FREE TIBET

This week we remember the victims of the Chinese government:  the people of China denied democratic systems of government, and denied their human rights.

We remember especially the people of Tibet.  Until the communist takeover that began in 1949, Tibet had been politically independent for more than 1,400 years.  More than one million Tibetans died and 150,000 fled into exile, crossing the Himalaya to escape. 

Today, Tibetans in Tibet are second-class citizens in their own homeland.  Now the culture and language of Tibet are being deliberately destroyed by the Chinese government – monasteries infiltrated and strictly controlled, the people of Tibet denied access to their Teachers in exile, the countryside being overrun, via the new rail line, with transplanted Han Chinese gobbling up the land and resources of Tibet.  The capital, Lhasa, is now more than half Han Chinese.

In regard to its treatment of native people, the government of China is no more enlightened than the US government of past centuries which killed and persecuted Native Americans.  While history tells us that China was victimized by Western colonial powers, apparently that holds no lesson for the government of China, now emulating its former oppressors and now colonizing Tibet.  Is there some reason to treat others ethically and with compassion?  Do people have rights as specified in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples?

A concept of ever-living beauty

Full-size image

Why are the Chinese authorities afraid to let Buddhism flourish?  The Tibetans cannot even have a photo of their religious leader, the Dalai Lama, in their own homes.  To his great credit, the Dalai Lama continues to urge nonviolent conflict resolution.  This peaceful and peace-filled man is not a threat to anyone and yet the Chinese authorities are afraid of him, and refuse to cooperate.  When will we know the fate of the young Panchen Lama, kidnapped by the Chinese authorities when he was six years old? 

As China grows to be a major player in the world of business, maybe the Chinese government needs to re-evaluate the image it is presenting to its customers.  As a customer, I would say the image needs a lot of work.

I’ll add that this post is not China-bashing.  The Chinese people do not control their own government, despite the fact that the complete name of the country is “The People’s Republic of China.”  For the most part, those Chinese with Internet are denied full access, and presumably the vast majority of Chinese know only what their government wants them to know about Tibet.  This post focuses on the Chinese government, not China.  Governments everywhere need to be held accountable for their actions.

Also, I’m not advocating a return to a medieval system of government in Tibet.  I am advocating an end to persecution and a new, more autonomous future for Tibet.

I am informed in this post by Journey into Buddhism, Vajra Sky over Tibet, filmed secretly in Tibet, and 10 Questions for the Dalai Lama, both DVDs exceptional.  I’ll guess these DVDs would be illegal in China.  Now that I’ve posted on this touchy subject of Tibet and linked to the official Web site of the Dalai Lama, maybe my Space will be off-limits for servers in China, too.

The great jewel of Tibet will be lost unless the Chinese authorities can be persuaded to refrain from crushing it to bits.

Do not forget Tibet. 

Do not forsake Tibet. 

Let Tibet live.

Free Tibet.

-2008-

Slide show, music, and folders on my main page.

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