A good sign on Tibet issue

Civility can prevail between Tibetans and Han Chinese.

It didn’t seem that was possible just a few weeks ago. At university campuses across the U.S., students squared off into two distinct communities: those favoring greater independence for Tibetans and Chinese nationalists angry over anti-Chinese riots in Lhasa in mid-March.

On many campuses, tensions escalated into threats and witch hunts. The parents of one young Chinese woman at Duke University were forced to flee their home in Dalian, China, because of threats from people opposed to her daughter’s views.

But this week, there was a positive sign at Harvard University. On Monday night, a panel that included two Han Chinese and two Tibetans presided over a civil forum of 150 people.

“I was very delighted that we were able to have a very respectful, yet very frank, dialogue,” said student organizer Zhongrui Yin, according to the Harvard Crimson newspaper. “I wish the speakers could have talked to each other more, but the overall attitude was very positive.   

Click here to read the whole Harvard Crimson story. Quite interesting.

Comments

[A B]

Remember when Jiang Zemin went to Harvard in 1997 and he noted that he is not deaf and able to hear the protesters outside?

[A B]

I wonder if anyone noticed that traditional Chinese beliefs accord natural disasters (like earthquakes) as a signal that heaven and earth is angry with authority and thus, is signaling that it is time for a dynastic change.

The 1976 earthquake in Tangshan in Hebei Province (not far from Beijing) was the signal that Mao's dynasty was at an end.

If we were to interpret according to Chinese traditional beliefs the 2008 earthquake with its epicenter in Wenchuan County, in the Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan, a perfectly reasonable conclusion is that heaven and earth is angry at the activities of the Dailai Lama and other Tibetan extremists who have upset heaven and earth by their activities.

It is notable that the epicenter of the quake is well into the areas claimed by the "Tibetan government in exile" and populated by many Tibetans.

Other bad omens include the particular calamity directed at school children, which seems to strike at the heart of the special dispensation given to Tibetans who do not have to comply with the one child policy.

The traditional Chinese could not but help interpret this upset of heaven and earth as being caused by the activities of the Dai Lai Lama, who offered nothing beyond some words of condolences and prayer, but not a Yuan or fen of aid for the victims, which include many Tibetans.

Overseas Tibetan groups also offered not a penny of aid to the victims even as Chinese communities everywhere: Taiwan, Hong Kong, Canada, United States, Europe, etc. generously sent aid to help the victims --- many of whom are ethnic Tibetans or other minorities and not "Han" Chinese.

Would someone remind the Dai Lai Lama that prayers are nice, but the victims would prefer some food, shelter, water, blankets, funds to rebuild and practical things like medical supplies?

Perhaps the Dai Lai Lama and his "Government in Exile" might want to put the needs of the people he claim to represent ahead of their political agenda against China in a time like this?

Where are the vociferous supporters of the Dai Lai Lama who would not hesistate to spend thousands of dollars and euros on organizing and attending demonstrations against the Beijing Olympics when ethnic Tibetans and Chinese could just use a little financial aid?

It is during these times that the true colors of the Dai Lai Lama and his "Central Tibetan Administration" and their fellow travelers show their colors.

[Lindel]

The article did not provide details on what was actually said at the panel discussion. May be there is more details elswehere on the web

[Pffefer]

Communication, reconciliation and integration are what's needed.

A very good thing indeed.

[jeff]

DL and followers did nothing for those Tibetans and their close cousin Qiangs devastated in the earthquake. They are descendants of their serfs and slaves anyway . They must be thinking about making flutes out of bones of those young school girls.

[MT]

@A B May be mother nature is angry with Chinese Communist Party rule over Tibet, and it is time for a dynastic change to an independent free and democratic Tibet.

[Search4T]

RE: MT
Well so much for the Good Sign TJ was trying to portray.

The images of flaring temper and seething rhetoric on the torch relay route have only faded into the background barely a week ago, overtaken by powerful images of natural calamities and human tragedies coming out of Sichuan that are capturing the newspaper headlines and hearts and souls of the people around the world. People in Sichuan and around China have simply stopped thinking about each other’s ethnicity, politics or religion when they are side-by-side removing concrete rubbles, mourning losses or giving blood.

And yet, TJ felt strongly that it’s probably a good time to bring this Tibet issue back on the front stage and hopefully people on both sides of this discourse can be inspired by these few students in Harvard to come together and negotiate a settlement during this tender time.

So maybe TJ is trying to do a little more than just being a reporter. Maybe he is trying to make a little bit news by being a quiet facilitator of public or private dialogs.

Alas, sometimes the best of intentions falls on deaf ears. So I guess we can sound the all-clear so people can go back removing debris now.

[A B]

If heaven and earth is angry with Beijing, the earthquake would have happened closer to the Capital.

As it is, Beijing did a fantastic job of rushing in to help everyone, regardless of ethnicity or religion.

[MT]

RE: A B My point is that you can pretty easily use the earthquake to justify any political position. Especially since mother nature cannot directly speak about what she thinks.

[MT]

RE: Search4T Your argument is with AB not me. We should focus on the relief work now, instead of debating whether mother nature is angry with DL or the CCP. These things happen all over the world for no moral reason.

[Wilbur Varela]

The venomous comments by AB, who is obviously a communist party member plant, show how much ignorance and hatred the Han still have over the issue. Being Godless and superstitious, they can't help but turn a random natural event like an earthquake into some sort of evil plot.

The only "plot" is the one that robs the tibetans of their homeland. And the Dalai Lama didn't build those schools that collapsed, the corrupt party did.

[jeff]

Wilbur Varela

Have someone translate for you. It is widely spread on internet. BTW I am a Christian.

"地震两个前兆：癞蛤蟆过街, 达赖乱窜"

[A B]

Deeds speak louder than words.

Where is the relief aid contributions from the Dai Lai Lama and his organizations?

This is a fella that is earning millions on his "tours" around the world.

How about sharing a bit of the wealth with the people he claim to represent?

Or is he and his followers too busy lining his pockets, building Monasteries with Gold Bricks, and other high living ?

Opps.. I haven't paid my party dues this month... gotta run.