Free Tibet

By Robert Paul Reyes

The liberation of Tibet has been a cause for Hollywood celebrities and liberals for decades, but since China was awarded the 2008 Summer Olympic Games the long-simmering controversy is now in the forefront.

National Security Adviser Steven Hadley in a recent appearance on ABC's "This Week" repeatedly said "Nepal" when he meant "Tibet". Most Americans are now familiar with Tibet, but for the sake of the clueless Bush administration officials and a few other ignoramuses here's a brief explanation of Tibet.

From Tibet.Org (A great resource for all freedom-loving people who seek the liberation of Tibet.):

"Tibet's ancient and fantastic civilization and ecosystem are faced with extinction due to 58 years of mismanagement and abuse under its colonial ruler, the People's Republic of China. The ongoing destruction of Tibet will only be halted when the fate of Tibet is once again back in the hands of the Tibetans."

The Dalai Lama is the spiritual and political leader of the Tibetan government in exile. He is a leader in the tradition of the Rev. Martin Luther King and Gandhi. He counters the brute force and ruthless oppression of the Chinese dictatorship with patience, determination and non-violent protest.

"The Tibetan government-in-exile, based in Dharamsala in India, maintains that at least 150 people have been killed in the anti-China demonstrations in Tibet.

China says 20 people were killed in the riots - 18 civilians and two policemen.

The facts are nearly impossible to check as foreign media have been barred from Tibet and neighbouring areas where unrest erupted last month."

Quotation from News.Com.Au

The Olympic movement seeks to unite the peoples of the world and we shouldn't politicize the games. America shouldn't boycott the games because of the brutal oppression of Tibet by the Chinese government. If we boycott the Beijing Games because of Tibet, then every country would be justified in boycotting any international competition held in the United States because of our pre-emptive, illegal and immoral invasion and occupation of Iraq.

How then can peace-loving nations register their disapproval of China's thuggish ways? We can heed the Dalai Lama's plea that the international community should investigate China's handling of protests in Tibet.

"The Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, called for an investigation into China's handling of protests in his homeland, criticized restrictions on free speech and offered to attend the Beijing Olympic Games if the situation improves.
The international community should look into accusations that clashes between Chinese troops and protesters killed hundreds of people, the Dalai Lama told reporters near Tokyo's Narita airport. Authorities shouldn't treat non-violent protesters as criminals, he said.

'I appealed to the international community to carry out a thorough investigation,' he said. As far as we know, at least a few hundred people were killed in the Tibetan area.'"

Quotation from Bloomberg.Com

I no longer feel like a hippie with my faded "Free Tibet" bumper sticker; I welcome all Johnny-Come-Latelys to our worthy cause.

Free Tibet!