Perspectives on Tibet and Hawaii

Before I get into the nativist movement now hitting Hawaii, and any parallels with Tibet, allow me to address for a moment the issue of perspective.

At its best moments, this blog and its readers’ postings bring together a richness of perspective that none of us has on our own. That occurred for me this week.

A couple of days ago, I picked out a photo to post with an item about the violence that erupted on the Olympic torch relay in Seoul on Sunday. There were several reasons I chose the photo, which shows a Chinese protester kicking a South Korean protester in the back (see lower on this page). One of the main reasons I picked the photo is so entirely mundane that you probably won’t believe it. But here goes anyway.

Our company pays for service from the Associated Press, the global news cooperative, so that photo was legally available to me. I can’t post pictures from AFP, Reuters or Xinhua say. We don’t pay for them.

The second reason is that it is an emotive, powerful photo. 

But several readers quickly pointed out that the photo appeared to be misleading. Click here to see a photo of the “kicked” guy holding up a bicycle over his head. (We don’t have rights to reprint the photo here.) It appears to be a threatening gesture. Was he threatening to toss the bicycle at Chinese counter-protesters? I don’t know. Some Chinese websites suggest he brought on the violence himself. Again, I don’t know. But the added perspective certainly tempers the inclination to “believe” what one’s eyes might indicate initially was an unprovoked attack.

Thanks, readers, for helping offer as many angles and perspectives as possible.

So you may have heard that native Hawaiian sovereignty advocates are on the move. They briefly chained shut the gates of the Iolani palace in Honolulu Wednesday, demanding restoration of the Hawaiian monarchy.

About 60 people took part in what they called a protest of U.S. occupation of the islands.

Hawaii became the 50th U.S. state in 1959, and it now has more than its share of pina colada-sipping tourists, golfers, mainland surfers, condo owners and U.S. military personnel.

Now, would it be far-fetched to declare that the ornate Iolani palace is Honolulu’s equivalent of Lhasa’s Potala Palace?

Over the years, the Iolani Palace also served as a de facto prison for the islands’ last monarch, Queen Liliuokalani. It fell into neglect, then was restored in the 1970s as a National Historic Landmark. It has a gift shop and is open for tours.

So is Hawaii today what Tibet will be like in 30 years? Overrun with mainlanders who find the nativists amusing and quaint, scoffing at claims of sovereignty? 

Comments

[Khanbaliq]

Key difference: There is no foreign powers behind Hawaiian sovereignty movement.

[Dave]

Down with the Haoli!

[jeff]

I respect those Hawaii nativists' claim. But doesn't Hawaii belong to the people of the US including those Hawaii natives? Are we sure they are Hawaii natives? Aren't human ancestors all come from African or Mars?

[RY]

The US will only restore the Hawaiian monarch if the natives wear orange robe and chant "peach and compassion".

[Ted]

"Key difference: There is no foreign powers behind Hawaiian sovereignty movement."

You to open your head and do some research.

The point being made is that the PRC is doing to Tibet what Americans did to Hawaii.

The real issue in Hawaii is about land ownership. large amount of land was taken from hawaii natives to create sugar cane plantations. the hawaiin sovereignity movement is about return land taken forcibly from them in the 19th century.

which gets to a good question for Tibet.

In Tibet are Tibetan natives allowed to own their own land? Or is all of the land in Tibet owned by the government and Han chinese. The answer to that question will get to the heart of what is wrong with Tibet.

[jeff]

Ted

All land in China is owned by the state. There are no privately owned land. Anyone buy land in China only have the right to use it, not own it.

[jeff]

Here is the link of an interesting article in the CSM. What CCP stands for? Chinese Confucian Party?

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0501/p09s02-coop.html

[Khanbaliq]

Ted, My point is it is the Western powers that made Tibet an issue.

[Ted]

It was the Tibetans who made Tibet an issue by publicly disagreeing with the CCP.

After talking to several friends from mainland china, my understanding is that some type of land reform is being undertaken right now. People are being given back their property based on deeds and records from before the revolution. It is possible that that they still do not directly own the land, but must lease it from the government.

[jeff]

Ted

What you were told have already been done 30 years ago. Only property, not land.

[Khanbaliq]

Ted, Tibet is part of China, be it Qing Empire, ROC or PRC. CCP or not does not change it. Second, it is the Tibetans in exile, mostly former aristocrats and owners of land, if not serfs, and the lamas who used to live on the rest of the population, plus their Western manipulators that has made it an issue.

I advise you read the Christian Science Monitor Op-Ed piece posted above. The deficit of knowledge might be enlightening for those enlightenable.

[Edward]

Ted,

Some Tibetans disagree with CCP (China Communist Party, there is nothing to do with religion here, Jeff), is no question at all (we disagree with our own government so many times). However, Hawaiian movement does not receive coverage as big as (actually very very small coverage if none at all) from the media because it is against a western country. And the West still like to make sure that this kind of problem only happens in the East and not the West. I just wonder if Gere, etc. want to know that before they try to do that to China, it is best to give a good example by returning Hawaii to its owner, ther Hawaiians? It looks very hypocritical of them to ask from other people but don't want to do the same themselves.

[jeff]

Ted

It is the Lama monks traditionally controlled and loyal to Dalai Lama (now it is the 14th), who made the Tibet issue public. Lama monks from the three major Monastery belong to his sect of Tibet Budhism asked for his return w and protested(including violence) every year. The other three sects of Tibet Budhism don't even care or rather hope Dalai Lama gone forever to gain more influence. If Dalai Lama asks for independence, many will follow his call because of his spiritual role. But majority of Tibetans only care about their daily life. Those who follow Panchan Lama are more loyal to China.

[jeff]

Ed

I agree this has nothing to do with religion. I am very frustrated to let those people understand the Tibet issue. And I am also frustrated that my now home called the US invites Daliar Lama, the theocratic and serf/slave owner, to talk about compassion here. It is like asking Jews to invite Hitler to talk about compassion. It is totally against my believe in this great country.

[Eve]

"So is Hawaii today what Tibet will be like in 30 years? Overrun with mainlanders who find the nativists amusing and quaint, scoffing at claims of sovereignty?"

All I can say is --I hope not. Those with more power shouldn't always win the day. As humans we need to respect different cultures and let people determine their own government and future. The stories of Native Americans and Hawaiians being overrun should be a cautionary tale, don't let the past determine the future.

[RY]

This poem was published on Wash post.

When we were the Sick Man of Asia, We were called The Yellow Peril.
When we are billed to be the next Superpower, we are called The Threat.
When we closed our doors, you smuggled drugs to open markets.
When we embrace Free Trade, You blame us for taking away your jobs.
When we were falling apart, You marched in your troops and wanted your fair share.
When we tried to put the broken pieces back together again, Free Tibet you screamed, It Was an Invasion! When tried Communism, you hated us for being Communist. When we embrace Capitalism, you hate us for being Capitalist.
When we have a billion people, you said we were destroying the planet.
When we tried limiting our numbers, you said we abused human rights.
When we were poor, you thought we were dogs. When we loan you cash, you blame us for your national debts.
When we build our industries, you call us Polluters.
When we sell you goods, you blame us for global warming. When we buy oil, you call it exploitation and genocide. When you go to war for oil, you call it liberation.
When we were lost in chaos and rampage, you demanded rules of law.
When we uphold law and order against violence, you call it violating human rights.
When we were silent, you said you wanted us to have free speech.
When we are silent no more, you say we are brainwashed-xenophobics.
Why do you hate us so much, we asked. No, you answered, we don't hate you.
We don't hate you either, But, do you understand us? Of course we do, you said, We have AFP, CNN and BBC's... What do you really want from us? Think hard first, then answer... Because you only get so many chances. Enough is Enough, Enough Hypocrisy for This One World.
We want One World, One Dream, and Peace on Earth. This Big Blue Earth is Big Enough for all of Us.

[Li Xuechen]

Why do the Tibetans hate the Chinese so much? There has got to be a reason but Beijing isn't telling the people. So Chinese people remain ignorant. Chinese government always tell people that Tibetans are backward, feudalistic, and poor people, something to look down upon.

[A B]

Tim,

Thank you very much for clarifying the photo.

[Amban]

As regards Chinese student violence in Seoul, this Youtube video is very difficult to explain away:

http://tinyurl.com/5kayvd

[stevelaudig]

For a somewhat more scholarly approach which lines out the international law differences between Tibet and the Hawaiian Islands see: http://www2.hawaii.edu/~hslp/journal.html

Disclaimer, I've the honor of being the editor

[jeff]

Li Xuechen

Tibetans don't hate Han, Hui or any ethnic groups of Chinese. It is the Lamas from Dalai Lama's sect want to get back their power and influenc. Every Chinese know the issue. Tibetans are not backward. They are the only deep religious people left on earth. They are highly respected in China. By the way, you must be a FLG member. Have your meditation opened your third eye yet? Does the Fa-wheel in your stomach turn in your favor today?

[Ted]

No the chinese person i spoke to last week and I discussed at length the process their parents are going through to get ownership of land that was taken away from the family.

I visit an artists home in beijing who talked about the current process to return property back to individuals. there is a land reform process occuring that is more recent than 20 years ago.

the issue in hawaii is about land ownership

tibet was elevated as an issue on March 10th due to the actions of tibetan people in tibet.

no it was not the "west"

[Ted]

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=dalai+lama

read all of these books first and conduct an analysis to see that there is very little mention of china or politics.

[Ted]

It is not about loyalty to the panchan lama selected by the CCP.

Han racism against minority peoples is the reality.

[buffy]

The difference between Hawai and Tibet is Hawaiian enjoy the same freedom as any US citizen, are not treated as second-class citizens, and can follow any religion they choose. US didn't invade Hawaii, destroy temples, kill monks, and commit a lot of atrocities that China did when they invaded Tibet more than 50 years ago. I think the reason why the Dalai Lama just asks for greater autonomy for TAR instead of asking for independence for Tibet is because he knows that it's impossible. If Tibet, when it was an independent country with a small army of about 5000 people, could not defend itself when China invaded it in 1950, how can its exile government with no army can ask for independence now? Therefore the Dalai Lama just asks for greater autonomy.

China blamed Western media for "bias" coverage. I think Western's reaction of China's crackdown on Tibet's protest is the natural reaction of a person with a conscience, who cannot stand still to see a small kid beaten up by a big bully.

I am glad that there are honest reporters like Tim Johnson who are brave to report what they see, present their views as well as others openly, inspite of all the death threats from extreme people whose patriotism are manipulated and taken advantage of by the Chinese government.

Tim J, I really like to read your blogs and your reply to other people's comment.

I think the movie "Seven Years in Tibet" is a good story about Tibet from a foreigner's perspective.