China: Different views on the Dalai's medal
Despite the current Dalai Lama‘s officially illegitimate status within China, bloggers nonetheless took notice when American president George Bush awarded him with a Congressional Gold Medal last month.
Blogspot user Master Zhong has written a fairly typical criticism post—as typical as all the other posts which discuss the futility of Chinese diplomatic protestations over the Dalai's visits with other countries’ leaders—which views the Dalai's acceptance of the award as just the latest in a long series of mistakes, among which Master Zhong includes the Dalai's ‘fleeing’ of Tibet in 1959, leaving his people to ‘suffer,’ distorting of numbers regarding his support there today, of having left the country illegally, greedily seeking charitable support, and overplaying Han-ethnic Tibetan division to his advantage whilst standards of living have continued to improve:
你接受布什这刽子手的勳章是另一错误。你号称观世音菩萨的化身，佛教领袖，却跟一个双手沾满鲜血的人揽肩搭背，还接受他的勳章。你叫天下的佛徒情何以堪。你身为”若贝尔和平奖”的得奖者，却和一个发动越南战争、朝鲜战争、伊拉克战争，还有发动许多弱小国家的政变的侵略者如此亲密，接受他们的援助。连小日本这个双手沾满中国、东南亚人民鲜血至今尚不知侮过的东西，你也和他眉来眼去。你连善恶的原则都没有。你不觉得这个奖章烫手吗？
The Free Media for China blogger FREENEWMAN provides a contrasting view in a post looking at the Dalai's recent meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and whether average Germans might find the potential Sino-German diplomatic fallout worth it:
评论：默克尔总理是英雄
德国总理默克尔不顾来自中国的强烈抗议和威胁，于周日（2007年9月23日）在柏林的总理府会见了西藏精神领袖达赖喇嘛。德国官方将其称为一次私人会面。这是德国总理首次在柏林的权力中心会见一位西藏的宗教领袖。德国之声中文广播部主任冯海音在其发表的评论中称默克尔是英雄，但也提出了德国人是否希望自己的总理是英雄的问题。默克尔称得上是一个英雄。来自北京的警告和威胁都没能动摇她的决心。她将自己认为正确的决定付诸实施：在柏林的总理府会见了达赖喇嘛。但问题是在于：人们希望自己的总理是一位英雄，还只是一位长于算计的德国利益的辩护人？
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, despite strong protests and threats from China, met on Sunday in Berlin with Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. Germany's official stance is that this was a private meeting. This is the first time for a German head of state to meet with a Tibetan religious leader in Berlin hall of [state] power. Deutsche Welle's director its Chinese service, Feng Haiyin, in her piece on this, called Merkel a hero, but also raised the question of whether Germans hope this is how their own Chancellors become heroes.
Merkel can be called a hero. The warning and threats coming out of Beijing were unable to sway her determination. She did what she thought was right, and met with the Dalai Lama in the Chancellor's Hall in Berlin. But the question is: do the people want a hero for a Chancellor? Or an advocate for the interests of the German people?
Editor of Voice of Tibet radio Dekyi recounts on her blog [zh] the meetings the Dalai Lama has had with North American heads of state over the last few years, and how Chinese authorities responded to each.
Blogspot user Qiwei, currently studying in America, writes of having attended a talk given by the Dalai late last month:
这个星期，我很有缘份的在达赖喇嘛来我们学校演讲的前两天用一半的价钱买到了一张入场卷。我在买到之后才知道手上的这张票在8月份就已经卖光了。他来演讲的前几个小时，剧场门外已经拍了很长很长的队伍。我在美国5年了，还是第一次看到有这么多美国人站在这么长的队伍里面等待入场。可见达赖喇嘛对美国的影响力还不只是美国政府，而是美国平民心中的一个神话般的人物。这在介绍他的手册上也可以看出，美国人认为他是神圣的。像是这样次活动的标题就是：
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet
Public Talk: “Cultivating Happiness”上面的Holiness就是神圣的意思，没有多少人可以被这样称呼。
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet
Public Talk: “Cultivating Happiness”
Holiness, not many people get that title.
等到全部人进场的时候，已经差不多2点钟了，刚好在原定的时间范围内。在达赖喇嘛出来前，他们先上来几个西藏人我们我表演和教我们唱歌，然后再一段时间的介绍后，达赖喇嘛终于出现在我们的面前。在他刚出来的一刻，我突然感到非常的兴奋。我不是一个佛教徒，也不是一个很追随达赖喇嘛的人，但是现在肉眼看到一个平时只能在电视上或是报纸上看到的有争议的人，这还是第一次。达赖喇嘛前断时间刚被布什授予了勋章，之前又和德国总统会面，而现在却站在了我的面前，自己仿佛感到与名人站在了一起。
达赖喇嘛在中国是一个很有争议的人，而且多数的中国人可能还不知道他是谁。他所提出的策略和信仰是与中国的前进目标是不相符的。中国政府担心达赖喇嘛会把西藏独立，所以一直都反对国外授予达赖喇嘛勋章和荣誉。与其相反的，多数的西方国家对达赖喇嘛却是非常的崇拜，甚至愿意把与中国的关系放在一边，以个人的名义会见达赖喇嘛。我感到很好奇，达赖喇嘛为什么可以在美国这么受到欢迎，美国人和西方国家的人为什么把他看作是神圣的。同时，为什么在西方的眼里，中国是一个没有思想自由的地方，可是很多中国人却坚定社会发展稳定才是最重要的。我承认我以前就是那样想的，但是慢慢长大了，我开始站在中间看问题了。我发现这不但是文化和价值观上的差异，更是社会人类生存竞争。这些其实也就是我先去听达赖喇嘛演讲的几个原因之一。
Tianya blogger Yao Feng has written a poem inspired, among other things, by American president George Bush, entitled Nightmare:
辗转反侧，难以入眠
但与缅甸军政府镇压僧侣无关
与布什会见达赖喇嘛无关
与股市指数又创新高无关
借酒催眠，却是一场噩梦
在地窖里发芽的土豆
梦见了锅里的牛肉
But it has nothing to do with Burmese juntas oppressing monks
Nothing to do with Bush meeting the Dalai Lama
Or stock market indices reaching new highs
Try to drink myself hypnotized, but I'm still stuck in the nightmare
The potatoes growing in the cellar
In my dream, are beef chunks in a pot
The poet and essayist Woeser (唯色), considered by many an ambassador for Tibetan culture, history and traditions, wrote a special feature for Radio Free Asia, which she reposted on her blog, wherein she describes through photos and text how news of the U.S.A.'s bestowing of the award was met in Lhasa:
尽管连日来，所有的党政机关、企事业单位以及各寺院、各学校、各居委会，已经大会小会严厉禁止各种庆祝活动，违者必究；所受到的惩处如开除公职和学籍、停发工资和退休金、取消劳保待遇、逐出寺院等等，不一而足。可是在10月17日这天清晨，身着节日盛装的藏人们在拉萨各条转经路上，以“煨桑”这一传统的庆祝方式点燃香草、抛洒糌粑，以至拉萨城的上空桑烟弥漫。许多藏人还去各寺院朝拜，供奉酥油灯盏，颂赞达赖喇嘛。布达拉宫广场人流如潮，即使拉上了警戒线，藏人们依然向布达拉宫磕头。拉萨最大的寺院——哲蚌寺的僧侣准备用传统的庆贺方式，重新粉刷佛殿外墙（结果信众被军警驱逐、殴打，寺院被封锁，僧人被软禁）。
….
诸多事例，不胜枚举。显而易见的是，对于达赖喇嘛获金奖，西藏人民的感情不但没有受到丝毫伤害，恰恰相反，全藏地为之欢欣鼓舞！难道西藏人民不是中国人民的一部分吗？换句话说，既然中国外交部发言人认为“严重伤害中国人民的感情”，这是不是说，中国外交部的发言人并不承认西藏人民是中国人民的一部分？那么，这算不算是“分裂分子”的行为呢？
…
The examples are too numerous to mention. Obviously, with news that the Dalai Lama had received the gold medal, the feelings of Tibetan people were not severely hurt; on the contrary, all Tibetans were elated and inspired by the award. Are Tibetan people not also Chinese people? Put another way, with the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson claiming “the feelings of the Chinese people have been severely hurt,” is the spokesman of the Chinese Foreign Ministry not recognizing the Tibetan people as part of the Chinese people? What is this if not “separatist” behavior?
Meanwhile, with the current Dalai Lama nearing retirement and his intended successor still in Communist Party captivity, discussion surrounding those who would take over Tibetan Buddhism worldwide remains as heated as ever [zh].
19 comments
A little clarification: Taiwan, Tibet, and Xinjiang issues are all pawns for the US centred powers, but they are integral parts of China. They matter somewhat to the US in their strategic games so are always expendable, but they are a matter of sovereignty and national survival for China. What US wants are concessions and trade-offs from China on matters of interests to the US: Iran, N. Korea, currencies/support of US finances, etc. What China needs is wisdom, and patience. As China grows in its strength the balance will slowly tilt toward China. Make no mistake: 5000 years of Chinese wisdom will ultimately prevail.
All the people all over the world hope peace,no matter who you are,no matter where you are.I am one common Chinese people,I vote my goverment,for everything,without the China goverment,I still live in poor,that is the fact all Chinese has faced.
No stupid,no clever,but,I have delayed my business with such kind of country,it is dangerouse.
Merkel try to make herself different from her predecessor. not only her rivals from SPD (which is part of the grand coalition)but also her plotical tutor. that’s the beaten track for all the dirty politician.
Merkel play Dalai card to its rivals from SPD party , she want to earn a good reputation for her next election.
Merkel play Dalai card is also aiming at gain an upper hand to China . She want more compromise from China in other issues. I guess she maybe miscalculate the situation there. if Merkel was called a hero in German , I don’t know what China officals gonna do . I highly doubt they dare to sacrifice china’s core interests to flatter Merkel. China have no interests in German’s internal politician(esp. election ).
I found so many westerners are in missionary fervor towards Dalai and mysterious lamaism ,which was once treated as heresy by Christian and Protestants century ago.
In Europe there are long history of religion persecution. The Crusade is famous for its Cruelty to Islam heretic. The Christian punish its Islam rivals with blood and death. Such disgraceful history is still commemorated as an achievement.
They think they are European people having recieved Christian baptism, they are superior to chinese, Isalm people… That’s why Merkel’s predecessor ,Adolph Hitler using Holocaust against Jews and other peoples to purify German. Racism have its soil in German and other European states. People who once crazily applaud Hitler’s rhetoric will also indulged in Merkel’s ambition.
I can understand German people’s feeling but can never accept it .They have no right to teach China a lesson. I witness Tibet ‘s dramatic developments nowadays. I know something (about Tibet and Tibeten ) which prevailed in Europ and USA is not ture.
CIA annually recieve lots of finance support from the CONGRESS to spread such rumor. Europ and USA need such accusation to defile china , using it as a tool to confront China.
Tibet as part of China(Qing Dynasty,…, ROC, PRC) is not from 1950. China legally and effectivly govern Tibet affair for centuries.
Does Merkel really know Dalai Lama ‘s history from late 1940s to 1959. I highly doubt it. Maybe she need a history and reality check upon Tibet before making such imprudent and irresponsible action. I believe when she dig out history facts conerning Tibet (before 1950), she will get the answer:
What the nowadays human rights guardian and also the once notorious opium peddler Great Britain had done will be found out . then eveyone go to know the so-called “China 1950’s occupation to Tibet” is anything but a joke. Great Britain want to colonize Tibet .They support one tribe of the Tibet to claim independence , it never and ever been APPROVED YET Accepted by Qing Dynasty, ROC ,PRC government.
Dalai Lama now is 72 years old. His Highness will reincarnate soon, we can count it by years. Maybe that’s the reason why he retreat from his previous position of ousting all Han and other ethnic people outside from Great Tibet Area. Now he propagandize he is not against the Central Government of PRC and only aim at totally autonomy . His so-called autonomy still includes : excludes Han and other ethnic gruop from Tibet and make Tibet back to the situation before 1950.
Dala Lama’s Autonomy is an implicit expression of Independence which is based on race. That definitely not fit for Tibet’s reality and Tibeten people’ desire.
Tibet make great progress recently with the help of central government. That really makes the local people satified, yet incur the distortion and jealousy from Dala and CIA saboteurs. Some Tibet people still have the worship to Panchan Lama and Dala lama. their belief is respected by China central & local government and all the chinese people . Tibeten people can freely carry out their Buddha ceremony (something even concerning Dala himself ) is the sign which show us that religion belief and religion activity encounter no interfence there. PRC Central Government only strongly object that religion affair is under foreign force’s control , make religion a tool to sabotage China’s integrity and stablity. The western government have no good reputation and no good record there which results in China’s suspicion on Western power’s real attempts.
What Dala lama did make himself lost its luster or aureola in Tibet people’s mind. The Former Panchan Lama seems have more powerful impact on Tibet local people .It’s a pity for Dalai Lama . That’s why the CIA got crazy about it. CIA sponser most of Dalai Lama ‘s activity include persuading many NGO . Unfortunately even the Nobel laureate and interview with western politician make no difference to native Tibeten People. Maybe the almighty Buddha know dala lama although earn ovation from western politician but he himself is useless to native Tibeten people so the best way is let the Dala lama accelarate is reincarnation process .
Merkel-2 : the so-called “China 1950’s occupation to Tibet” is anything but a joke.
the joke is you and your miserable PRC propaganda using slander and garbage thought…
you will never win the minds on the idea that you own tibet and liberated it. The strength of the faith in HHDL is unshakable, and that must be terrible for your little minds
‘religion belief encounter no interference’, just guess how many temples destroyed and monks killed…
China(PRC) took over the Tibet affair from its rival – Republic of China in 1950. The whole
process was very peacefully owning to the fact that PRC had ousted all the China
Nationalist Party’s troops from mainland China. Tibet local government have no right and no
way to exclude PRC cental government and PLA exerting their lawful rights.
I can fully understand why the western Powers hate PRC in an almost paranoid way. It’s not
only from their politic ideology’ controversy ,but also from their economic interests
calculation. The great Briton,German and Russia all have colonial zone in China, while
other western power share other priviledges and illeagal benefits which obviously
challenge China’s sovereign and its integrity. That miserable situation happened in all the
colonial state. When PRC announce that it will abolish all the benefits and privileges that
western powers illeagally seized from China . That incurs western powers’ vicious curse
and hysteria reaction.
Such kind of hatred rationally leads to Western states’ counter-action (include demonizing
China with all kinds of rummors). While sometimes it evolves irrationally which result in
Western mainstream media ‘s crediblity problem. for example , the China’s one Child policy
is well-known. It serves PRC government’s goal to control birth rate . It does not aims at
oppressing minority people. But from many western media ‘s propaganda it became another
proof of racist oppression towards minority people.
On the contrary,minority people (including Tibeten People) are allowed to raised more than
one child for one family while Han majority people typically can have one child for one
family . Aargh, you’d better read some unbiased history book to know Tibet’s history and
get to know Tibet’s current situation. Being disloyal to history in order to flatter Dalai
lama , that makes you life meaningless. The majority Tibeten people nowdays will not want
Tibet back to Dalai lama’ feudalism throne. In those days most of them were treated as
salves instead of people with dignnity.
China Comunist party had made commitments to all the Chinese people (include Tibeten people) that all the unfair situation towards its people will be changed and oppressed people will get more involved in the motherland’s affair as a master. So i think Dalai lama
got no chance to achieve its goal of becoming the king secularly and religously (which he tactically called it a full autonomy for the time being ). At this moment racist rhetoric and religion oppression’s propaganda make no significant affect here and there.
Aargh, I want to correct you with such facts:
Under the agreement with Tibet local government and Dalai lama . Chinese PLA peacefully enter the Tibet soil in 1950. No any large scale conflict happened there. Dalai lama and other Tibet local government officals was approved as PRC central government’s dispathed officals working in Tibet Autonomous zone. That’s the real history . Bloody conflict happened later , when US CIA force interfere with Tibet affairs and want to use religion to confront even sabotage China . Then there is no compromise there . one Part is Central government and one Dalai ‘s slaver(Tibet people ). another part is weaponized Dalai lama’s force and CIA . Blood is not people expectation ,but when Dalai lama embrace CIA and want to use religion and violence to oust PRC central government outside Tibet . All the people here can
imagine what will happen in 1959 . CIA and Briton was obvious not a moral judge. they once supportted many totallitarian states to cunter Communist’s impact.(for example Chile former president Pinochete). Dalai lama seems miscalculate the situation and should be responsible for the blood conflict.