Somebody needs to write a novel about the Tibetans---something to bring this to world attention. The timing's not right---the war in Iraq and the nuclear capabilities of North Korea and Iran are stealing the show, but the Tibetans are a cry that deserves to be heard.
They were first brought to my attention in Dershowitz's book, The Case For Israel, and they were only used as an indirect comparison. Dershowitz explained that there are other stateless groups (besides the Palestinians) who are even more deserving of freedom than the Palestinians are, and who have not resorted to terrorsim, either. The Tibetans were one of these groups, oppressed by the Chinese. Intrigued, I did a little Internet research. Although I still know practically nothing, it is more than I did before.
In 1959, the Chinese attacked the Tibetans and subjected them to their control. That's how they've lived for the past forty-five years, along with innumerable murderous injustices, the specifics of which I am unlearned. The point is---these people are oppressed, and no one cares.
Then, in Saturday's paper, there was an article about an escaped Tibetan family living in Seattle. They are part of an unbroken line of crown princes almost a millenium old, and they are sending their five year old back to Tibet to learn to be a Buddhist leader something or other, having the potential to one day lead the oppressed Tibetans.
I'm not Buddhist, of course, but the plight of these people is definitely interesting. If they can wait a few more years---maybe Iraq will create a steady democracy, Iran and North Korea will be at least somewhat resolved, the impossibility of Middle East will be realized---if they can wait a few more years until these events pass by and we have time and resources and energy to direct somewhere else, perhaps, somehow, some way, we can get people to learn about these oppressed Tibetans, and something can be done. For now, www.tibet.org has some history and other interesting facts about the Tibetans and their Chinese oppression.
In the name of justice,
Edmond the Hun
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1 comment:
That's really sad and interesting. Edmond,were you going to pursue that newspaper job? Maybe you could put something in the paper about it...? I know lots of people who read "fillers" which is I think sorta what you'd be doing. Anyways, just a thought.
-Sanguine
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