Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Michael Parenti - Tibet: Friendly Feudalism?

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10 comments:

  1. mollyMay 26, 2009 at 11:56 AM

    Either way, China should get the hell out of Tibet.  What happened to my previous comments?  We may not like Hamas but it's the Palestinians people's right to choose them.  Same with T ibet.  

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  2. mollyMay 26, 2009 at 12:00 PM

    TGIA, it's spelled feudalism.  

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  3. GuestMay 26, 2009 at 12:11 PM

    Yeah...go to hell Anand!

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  4. MoyhabinMay 26, 2009 at 12:22 PM

    Fine, but I think that's not the issue here. I have no qualms with Tibet becoming fully independent from China, but why not wait and see what the majority wants there to be their future? Why give the corrupt and reactionary Dalai Lama a blank check? I'm sure that the huge population of Chinese origin living there would vote for just some form of mild regional autonomy. A referendum is in the order of things, pretty uch like the couple of popular consultations carrid out in Quebec during the nineties. But for this to happen, China would need first to get rid of its dictatorial power elite and move towards some form of democratic governance, which US imperialism doesn't support beyond mere lip-service. It's disingenuous to support the independence of Tibet without supporting a democratic transition in China at-large. And it's also disingenuous to pretend to support democracy and human rights while supporting an authocratic feudal lord who surrounds himself with Nazis, celebrated Pinochet, admires Bush and receives funds from the CIA.

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  5. MoyhabinMay 26, 2009 at 12:26 PM

    <table class="js-singleCommentBodyT" style="height: 716px;" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="320">
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    <div class="js-singleCommentText">Fine, but I think that's not the issue here. I have no qualms with Tibet becoming fully independent from China, but why not wait and see what the majority wants there to be their future? Why give the corrupt and reactionary Dalai Lama a blank check? I'm sure that the huge population of Chinese origin living there would vote for just some form of mild regional autonomy. A referendum is in the order of things, pretty much like the couple of popular consultations carried out in Quebec during the nineties. But for this to happen, China would need first to get rid of its dictatorial power elite and move towards some form of democratic governance, which US imperialism doesn't support beyond mere lip-service. It's disingenuous to support the independence of Tibet without supporting a democratic transition in China at-large. And it's also disingenuous to pretend to support democracy and human rights while supporting an authocratic feudal lord who surrounds himself with Nazis, celebrated Pinochet, admires Bush and receives funds from the CIA.</div>
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  6. vMay 26, 2009 at 2:09 PM

    I guess feudalism must be what the people in the USA want because we are heading there at break neck speed

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  7. thankgodimatheistMay 26, 2009 at 4:17 PM

    It's funny but it looked wrong to me every time I looked at it when I cpied and pasted it from youtube. Notice the title embedded in the video.

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  8. anandMay 27, 2009 at 8:57 AM

    Molly, Tibet has been independent or part of China off and on for over a millenia.
     
    If a referendum had been held in 1959, it would have been overwelmingly for the Dalai Lama.
     
    However, since 1959 millions of Han Chinese have moved to Tibet. They now represent a majority and would win any provincial elections or referendum. This is one reason that Dalai Lama and Tibetan monks oppose Tibetan independence. What they want is Tibetan autonomy within China (where China handles economic and foreign policy.)
     
    The Dalai Lama is a spiritual leader and does not seek to <span style="text-decoration: underline;">"rule" </span>Tibet.
     
    Moy, I really like, love and admire the Dalai Lama. Why don't you give him a chance? Just open up your heart to him and see what happens?

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  9. anandMay 27, 2009 at 8:58 AM

    The first guest above was me. Why do you have a problem with the Dalai Lama?

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  10. MoyhabinMay 27, 2009 at 5:39 PM

    Anand, each time I want to "open my heart to him", two contradictory images pop in my mind: 1. The Dalai Lama embracing Pinochet; 2. My 12 y.o. neighbor and friend Mauricio, having his little skull crushed by heavy military boots so as to make him tell the whereabouts of his father. Alas, life is cruel my dear "compassionate friend".

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