I often criticize the self-serving business practices and dangerous shortcuts that China has allowed or overlooked. This has been not out of malice or scorn, but always in grief towards the Chinese and hope that things will change with exposure to truth. The voice of media is accountability to the people.
I feel the Tibet-Olympics protests is a completely different issue. I cannot stand the irrationality of so many Chinese mainlanders and the hands-off attitude of the Dalai Lama. By consciously refusing to tell the Tibetan riots to stop or refrain from violence, the Lama effectively approves of violence demonstrated by Buddhists and Buddhist monks. Does anyone see the irony in ignoring their own tenets? I question the Lama's motive here even as he continually grins. And we see also the ugly Chinese (akin to the ugly American); the ugly Chinese now takes the form of rabid reactionary hyperpatriotism. If a Chinese person calls for dialog or rationality, many mainland Chinese turn on him or her, an act that confirms their irrationality by threating the victim's life and family.
The Chinese government and Olympic organizers believe the riots were timed to disrupt the 2008 Olympics and the actions of the world confirm it. If spectators continue to threaten the passage of the Olympic flame the ugliness will only be fed. The whole Tibet issue is out of proportion on both sides. Everyone is missing the point.
Don't destroy this event for which athletes world-over have worked so hard to reach.
2 comments:
Didn't see this post in your RSS feed until today. One thing: all I've read about Tibet recently would seem to indicate that the Dalai Lama was against violence, including protests against China, though he can't actually control the younger generation of Tibetans. Question: would you mind showing a reputable source so I can confirm for myself that the D.L. changed his stance against violent protest?
I would if I could find the article ...failure on my part to provide a link. It was a while ago that I wrote that. But rest assured I avoided Chinese news networks given the history of censorship. I will link it if I find it.
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