[Marxism] Tibetan Independence

[<sobuadhaigh@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>But in comparison with other religious traditions, as well as in  
>comparison to some more contemporary 20th century ideologies,  
>Buddhism still stands heads and shoulders above the rest in terms 
>of its overall non-violent approach. 

I agree with Greg that Buddhism incorporates a strong intellectual 
commitment to non-violence but this was of little comfort to then 
Han and Hui individuals beaten with iron rods in the streets of 
Lhasa or torched to death in their stores by the angry crowds of 
young Tibetans. I also agree with several observations to the point 
that an independent Tibet would not revert to the feudalism present 
before 1950. What does seem likely in a "Free Tibet" would have a 
racial basis of citizenship resulting in the ethnic cleansing of 
non-Tibetans. Consider the the extensive presence of Tibetan 
communities throughout Western China and the question is then where 
does the border of this new Tibet stop? In the rush to embrace this 
rebellion what is being overlooked is the agonizing potential for 
generations of irredentist claims and the flowering of nationalisms 
along racial and ethnic fault lines. Remembering the horrors of the 
break up of Yugoslavia, I am not anxious
to see this replicated in China.

Whatever the qualities of the Dalai Lama and his moderate calls for 
greater autonomy for Tibet within the PRC, this is clearly not 
driving the uprising that rippled across China. The exile 
leadership of Tibetan organizations agitating for complete 
independence are setting the agenda 
and they would be the organizing force for any new Tibetan state 
that would come into being. The Dalai Lama is too old and is no 
longer the political god-king (bodhisatva-ruler?) that he was 
before the People's Liberation Army marched into his capital.

The people of Tibet, and all the people of China, deserve a great 
deal better than the inequalities of market "socialism." Please 
explain to me how the leadership, the ideology, and the recent 
spasm of racial animosity characterizing this movement for a free 

--
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Tibet will address those problems.


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