Anyone in his/her right mind would put CNN at par with CCTV.

The story here originated with Chinese propaganda. The argument that monks are not being true to their vows on non violence lacks any real source of information other than Chinese propaganda. Most western observers on the other hand overwhelmingly provide descriptions of the Tibetan monks as very dedicated to their vows and religious routine starting as early as 4 am with meditation and worship. My personal experience is that I have no grounds for doubting the monks are extremely dedicated to all of their vows and leading a rigorously devoted lifestyle very typical of the region (Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan).

On the primary issue, the Tibetans want their country back. Others can opinionate in all directions, but the first rule of accepting international multi culture diversity is it is really their choice.

Criticizing them by our standards is in the same category as criticizing any other country or culture by what may be our own narrow minded judgementalness. Which would be typical westerners that historically have been hypercritical of all non Christian, non white nations.

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National Debt =

And at the same time these Buddhist monks managed to find a way to receive help from..... the C.I.A.

New York Times Interview with the Dalai Lama
The New York Times, 11/28/1993

Q: In Tibet, from the late 1950's until the early 1970's, one of your brothers was involved in leading a guerrilla movement against the Chinese. In fact, the guerrillas were supported by the C.I.A. How did you feel about that?

A: I'm always against violence. But the Tibetan guerrillas were very dedicated people. They were willing to sacrifice their own lives for the Tibetan nation. And they found a way to receive help from the C.I.A. Now, the C.I.A.'s motivation for helping was entirely political.

New York Times Interview with the Dalai Lama





Defiance against Chinese oppression has been a defining characteristic of Tibetan life for more than four decades, symbolized most visibly by the much revered Dalai Lama. But the story of Tibetan resistance weaves a far richer tapestry than anyone might have imagined.
Kenneth Conboy and James Morrison reveal how America's Central Intelligence Agency encouraged Tibet's revolt against China--and eventually came to control its fledgling resistance movement. They provide the first comprehensive, as well as most compelling account of this little known agency enterprise.

The CIA's Secret War in Tibet takes readers from training camps in the Colorado Rockies to the scene of clandestine operations in the Himalayas, chronicling the agency's help in securing the Dalai Lama's safe passage to India and subsequent initiation of one of the most remote covert campaigns of the Cold War.

The CIA's Secret War in Tibet

Amazon.com: The CIA's Secret War in Tibet: Kenneth Conboy,James Morrison: Books

UPDATE!

Not only were arms found in a different Buddhist temple, they also found 1 foot, and a variety of ears, noses, and mouths. Funny how the Chinese media censors the important stuff, while leaking the propaganda. Why don't they report on ALL body parts found??

100% correct.

These "Free Tibet" protestors must be the most reactionary people on the planet. They see a clip on the news and they assume that agenda must be correct. The medias most skillfulltactict is the art of lying by omission, by presenting half truths, part of the story.

They create a "Free Tibet" bandwagon without actually telling us what freeing Tibet would achieve. That is because it would achieve exactly what you said, Free Tibet by making it a third world theocracy. These people have no idea what they are supporting.

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Viva Fidel

If there ever was in the history of humanity an enemy who was truly universal, an enemy whose acts and moves trouble the entire world, threaten the entire world, attack the entire world in any way or another, that real and really universal enemy is precisely Yankee imperialism

They talk about the failure of socialism but where is the success of capitalism in Africa, Asia and Latin America?

A Thai Buddhist would find the foot pointing at the Buddha to be offensive.

I can't control the manner in which they store their arms, let alone their feet.

But you are 100% correct. It is offensive to a Thai person to points the soles of your feet towards them, or to Buddha. Those CIA operatives need to be more sensitive to other people customs.

I am a Free Tibet "protester", in fact I give money every month to ICFT. I am pretty sure members of Rage Against the Machine will disagree with you (they are hardcore Socialist and Communist). The Dalai Lama has said he wants a Constitution...

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Pioneers are walking all around singing songs about Lenin and they should be shot for it.

Handlebars

"If you are looking for the guilty, you need only look into a mirror"- V

It is inaccurate to say that I hate everything. I am strongly in favor of common sense, common honesty, and common decency. This makes me forever ineligible for public office.
H. L. Mencken

come on you know you wanna play football..

Beagán agus a rá go maith.

Economic Left/Right: 3.75
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -2.87

Rage Against the Machine may make some fantastic music, but when it comes to politics my guidance comes from people like Castro, Hugo Chavez and George Galloway. All of them have made it clear what a "Free Tibet" would mean for the people of Tibet and it wouldn't be good. It would involve poverty, a feudal theocracy and the undermining of national sovereignty. The Dalai Lama Clique are agents of the CIA and for that reason if nothing else, they should be opposed.

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Viva Fidel

If there ever was in the history of humanity an enemy who was truly universal, an enemy whose acts and moves trouble the entire world, threaten the entire world, attack the entire world in any way or another, that real and really universal enemy is precisely Yankee imperialism

They talk about the failure of socialism but where is the success of capitalism in Africa, Asia and Latin America?

Oh yeah, Castro, Chavez and Galloway don't have a bias at all.

Involve proverty? Have you ever been to China? I am sure you haven't as Poverty is WIDESPREAD in China and always has been. All you have to do is go to provinces to see this. While China touts it's improvements based on Statistics, the inflation rate is at 13% in China and 593 "counties" live in Poverty.. or 10% of its Population (100 million people). Tibet is already in POVERTY.

Now, national sovereignty is to be decided by Tibet and the Dalai Lama. Not the Chinese Government.

If you clearly believe in the right of Hamas and the Palestinians having Self-Determination, then those in Tibet should as well. Galloway should understand that as he keeps talking about Hezbollah and how they have the right to determine its people's future.

I just see a double standard by the Chicoms, Socialist, and Galloway as it does not SERVE THEIR PURPOSE.

__________________
Pioneers are walking all around singing songs about Lenin and they should be shot for it.

Handlebars

"If you are looking for the guilty, you need only look into a mirror"- V

It is inaccurate to say that I hate everything. I am strongly in favor of common sense, common honesty, and common decency. This makes me forever ineligible for public office.
H. L. Mencken

come on you know you wanna play football..

Beagán agus a rá go maith.

Economic Left/Right: 3.75
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -2.87