http://desicritics.org/ Superior South Asian bloggers on Culture, Media, Politics, Sport, Business, and Technology. en Copyright 2006 by the authors Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:22:27 EDT http://backend.userland.com/rss BC custom software http://desicritics.org/2008/04/08/001729.php#comment-328721 Buddha smiled: i agree completely. here in Australia the 'torture' is to pass through Canberra on 24 April. i intend to participate though the 'event' is on a thursday. i have heard of emails going around in the Chinese community here urging Chinese people to provide safety and support for the 'torture'..i believe only the guilty or the deluded can be so defensive. what is even more sickening than the Chinese government's crimes, is the attitudes of the expat Chinese community around the world who do not speak out against the Chinese government and get very defensive, aggressive and touchy when you so much as hint at China's shameful activities. i have found the Indian community amenable to and even eager to readily criticize Indian govt. at least in this respect, i find Indians to be open minded. btw, i share house with a Chinese family and i don't discuss China with them. few days ago their kid asked me if i thought that the Indian govt. would help Tibet against China. i said i don't know as i'm not working with the indian govt. the kid then said to me that i do not discuss these things with them as they were chinese. then i said that Tibet's occupation by China is very wrong. the kid then said nothing and went away. so much for discussing China.. and yes, the whole Olympics thing has descended to the level of a farce and people around the world have rightly used the torch charade to show China that it stands isolated from the rest of 'free' world. 328721@desicritics.org Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:22:27 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/04/08/001729.php#comment-328699 Man Singh, when you can discuss ALL issues rationally THEN we shall exchange. Until then you are talking through your hat, and I don't have one. 328699@desicritics.org Wed, 9 Apr 2008 20:25:34 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/04/08/001729.php#comment-328670 The Buddha Smiled I agree with you. When I said might is right, I was just pointing out the reality. I am not suggesting that we do not try to do something about that. As far as Tibet is concerned our options are very limited. Geographically large region such as Tibet should not be considered a piece of real estate particularly when it is inhabited by people culturally so different from those living in the country demanding its ownership. China has a lesser claim on Tibet than on Taiwan. It should never be a question of legal ownership. As far as possible it should be determined by the people living on the land. May be UN should study whole issue and set some guidelines. I realize that it is not likely to happen. 328670@desicritics.org Wed, 9 Apr 2008 17:23:19 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/04/08/001729.php#comment-328666 Anamika #7 Good one. Please keep it up. 328666@desicritics.org Wed, 9 Apr 2008 16:27:36 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/04/08/001729.php#comment-328653 Buddha Smiled, Chandra: I think the current government is behaving shamefully especially given the Tibetan history of since 1960s. As members of the SFF, Tibetan soldiers have fought -with no recognition of their bravery - in India's wars dating back to 1971. With great reluctance - and ironically to prove their gratitude as guests - they went in to the Golden Temple BEFORE the army did, in their socks btw out of respect. And even in Kargil, they ensured that Pak could not send in reinforcements by cutting off the road links on the other side. They have acted in J&K, and in other situations, always in India's interests even when these have little to do with them. In all these actions, they have neither been acknowledged nor rewarded. They do not leave their dead or wounded behind, and should any of them be captured - on a mission for India btw, not Tibet - they are disclaimed. No refugee group in the world has proven their gratitude and support for the host country like the Tibetans. I am sickened and ashamed of the GOI for behaving as it is, and just to appease a brutal, hostile, nation that is a threat in short and long terms. 328653@desicritics.org Wed, 9 Apr 2008 13:48:19 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/04/08/001729.php#comment-328644 Buddha Smiled, Wonderful post. 328644@desicritics.org Wed, 9 Apr 2008 13:01:44 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/04/08/001729.php#comment-328616 Thanks all for the comments; 1) Anamika - Bod Gyalo right back at ya! 2) Tony C - I totally agree that the USA in its current manifestation is not the benevolent hegemon that the world would like or needs; at the same time, despite the problems inherent in the current regime, there is still some democratic process alive and well in the country, which is far greater than what is available in China today. 3) Chandra - thanks for the correction; I was indeed referring to the exodus of 1959, whereas China had a strong military presence for several years before that. I also totally agree with your statement that what is particularly shameful for Indians is the stance of the current government towards the protests. While Kashmir and the Northeast remain festering wounds (and frankly, the more I think about it, the more I think that if people are that desperate to leave, then we should let them) I do not think that kowtowing to Beijing will curry us any favours (now how's that for mixing cultural metaphors?) I also find it reprehensible that Pranab Mukherjee, after his completely disastrous handling of the Taslima Nasreen incident, chose to "remind" His Holiness that he was a guest in the country, and should not engage in political activity. Especially when it is well documented that the Chinese government has a longstanding tradition of arming and training groups seeking separation from India. Finally, the diktat issued by the HRD Ministry to all Tibetan schools in the country, directing them not to protest, is particularly inflammatory. When last I checked, India was a democracy, that guaranteed freedom of speech to all, and it was never our way to prohibit protests. God forbid if the NSG dares shoot at any India-based protesters - it would be the biggest disgrace of all. 4) Morris - the world has always followed the way of might, except for a small minority that has time and again managed to use the power of its moral persuasion to bring the rest around. It is easy to be despondent, and much more difficult to retain hope against all odds. And yet time and again we have seen how even the smallest act can bring about change. It took several decades for the apartheid regime to collapse in South Africa, and over 200 years for the British to leave India; but both happened. So perhaps there is hope yet for Tibet... 328616@desicritics.org Wed, 9 Apr 2008 07:23:44 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/04/08/001729.php#comment-328516 Excellent. I agree but I am afraid the world is gradually moving in the direction of might is right. Or perhaps it was always that way. 328516@desicritics.org Tue, 8 Apr 2008 14:19:28 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/04/08/001729.php#comment-328500 A small factual error - Tibet was annexed in 1949-51 and not 1959. The Dalai lama fled in 1959. I think the bigger issue is not whether the Tibetans get Independence or treated well. To be honest i am not sure we do a great job in the NE and Kashmir. As far as i am concerned, the bigger concern is the weak approach of the current Govt. The extreme lengths they are going to protect the torch is incredible- NSG commandos and choppers etc. This is total madness. Every right thinking citizen should land there to protest, not against the Tibetans but against our own 'weak' Govt. I want to see which NSG commando or whoever it is has the guts to shoot at Indian citizens in broad daylight. 328500@desicritics.org Tue, 8 Apr 2008 11:22:53 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/04/08/001729.php#comment-328488 Though I agree with your statement about the positive world power we need...I submit that the U.S. is not the best example. Citizens get kicked off planes for wearing "inappropriate" t-shirts, the media force-feeds its own versions of news, countless Iraq civilians are dead because of a war that was forced by lies and ignorance. This sort of sounds like a terroist country. 328488@desicritics.org Tue, 8 Apr 2008 10:03:04 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/04/08/001729.php#comment-328421 Thank you. Bod gya lo! 328421@desicritics.org Tue, 8 Apr 2008 04:54:11 EDT