Free Tibet
In light of the news this morning ("Oh noes, not the torch!"), I figured I’d pass on an oped written by my pal John, the founding director of Students for a Free Tibet, that was printed in The Hartford Courant last Wednesday:
Tibet has been occupied since the Chinese army crossed into eastern Tibet in 1949. A steady effort to transfer Chinese people into Tibet has made Tibetans a minority in cities across their remote Himalayan land.
The destruction of several thousand monasteries followed by decades of strict control of Buddhist practice has eroded the foundation of Tibetan Buddhism such that monasteries in exile are now stronger than those in Tibet.
The Tibetan flag is banned, as are photographs of the Dalai Lama. Three generations of Tibetans have been born and matured under occupation.
Despite all this, China has failed to absorb the Tibetan people, or eliminate their thirst for freedom. And like kids who finally get fed up with being pushed around in the hallway, the bullied are turning on the bully.
Posted by Kevin K. on 04/07/08 at 10:17 AM • Permalink
Categories: News • Politics • Editorials • Sports •
