Comments on: The Dalai Lama: an Ethnic Grievance Pimp? http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/27/the-dalai-lama-an-ethnic-grievence-pimp/ Korea... in Blog Format Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:39:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: sanshinseon http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/27/the-dalai-lama-an-ethnic-grievence-pimp/#comment-60408 sanshinseon Thu, 28 Dec 2006 03:06:00 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/27/the-dalai-lama-an-ethnic-grievence-pimp/#comment-60408 > supposed to be a re-incarnation of the Thirteenth Buddha? Uhmmm, he is said by his followers to be the 13th re-incarnation of the Bodhisattva of Compassion, i do believe. Which is something i myself do not believe is true, although i am a Buddhist -- following the Seon tradition, i don't particularly believe in reincarnation or that it's possible that any human being is a bodhisattva or otherwise "divine", except in the theoretical sense that we are all actually "Buddha" [awakened] but just don't realize it, asleep in our delusions... if that makes any sense... However, along with R. Elgin i have higher respect for the current Dalai Lama than for almost any other human being -- that respect just coming from what i have heard and read that he has spoken or written. Correct me if i'm wrong, but i do believe he has acknowledged most of the evil and injustices of the former Tibetan feudal system, and has zero interest in restoring the former society. Having become sophisticated about modern social values, he advocates quite an up-to-date reformed system, with all modern human-rights considerations, for the future Tibet if Tibetans are allowed to regain control of it. He does not plan to assume any dictatorial powers, may not even serve as a governmental leader at all, even if the Tibetans insist that he should. He is outspokenly opposed to the economic and environmental devastation the Chinese have wrought and continue to impose upon Tibet, and opposes giving incentives to Chinese to move there -- but would permit those already settled to remain. He's offering quite a good and reasonable compromise to the Chinese government, that would keep to that as a part of China but permit it an appropriate high level of autonomy -- but the dictators of Beijing will not even talk to him, are just waiting for him to die... > supposed to be a re-incarnation of the Thirteenth Buddha?

Uhmmm, he is said by his followers to be the 13th re-incarnation of the Bodhisattva of Compassion, i do believe. Which is something i myself do not believe is true, although i am a Buddhist — following the Seon tradition, i don’t particularly believe in reincarnation or that it’s possible that any human being is a bodhisattva or otherwise “divine”, except in the theoretical sense that we are all actually “Buddha” [awakened] but just don’t realize it, asleep in our delusions… if that makes any sense…

However, along with R. Elgin i have higher respect for the current Dalai Lama than for almost any other human being — that respect just coming from what i have heard and read that he has spoken or written. Correct me if i’m wrong, but i do believe he has acknowledged most of the evil and injustices of the former Tibetan feudal system, and has zero interest in restoring the former society.

Having become sophisticated about modern social values, he advocates quite an up-to-date reformed system, with all modern human-rights considerations, for the future Tibet if Tibetans are allowed to regain control of it. He does not plan to assume any dictatorial powers, may not even serve as a governmental leader at all, even if the Tibetans insist that he should. He is outspokenly opposed to the economic and environmental devastation the Chinese have wrought and continue to impose upon Tibet, and opposes giving incentives to Chinese to move there — but would permit those already settled to remain.

He’s offering quite a good and reasonable compromise to the Chinese government, that would keep to that as a part of China but permit it an appropriate high level of autonomy — but the dictators of Beijing will not even talk to him, are just waiting for him to die…

]]> By: snow http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/27/the-dalai-lama-an-ethnic-grievence-pimp/#comment-60403 snow Thu, 28 Dec 2006 02:33:55 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/27/the-dalai-lama-an-ethnic-grievence-pimp/#comment-60403 "Interesting quote you gave EricL, it is however a 110% accurate assessment of the origin of the Taidu mentality." I can't attest to the accuracy of the thinking of independence leaders in Taiwan, but I do believe that there are few in Taiwan who want to be reunited with the commie mainland. Do business with it, yes, but reunited, no effing way. “Interesting quote you gave EricL, it is however a 110% accurate assessment of the origin of the Taidu mentality.”

I can’t attest to the accuracy of the thinking of independence leaders in Taiwan, but I do believe that there are few in Taiwan who want to be reunited with the commie mainland. Do business with it, yes, but reunited, no effing way.

]]> By: random guy http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/27/the-dalai-lama-an-ethnic-grievence-pimp/#comment-60394 random guy Thu, 28 Dec 2006 01:58:10 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/27/the-dalai-lama-an-ethnic-grievence-pimp/#comment-60394 On a positive note, at least nobody is giving any semblance of credibility to Chu. The irony of all his 'one humanity' talk is that Chu's profile points out he's ethnic Chinese from Taiwan... not just another American joe. On a positive note, at least nobody is giving any semblance of credibility to Chu.
The irony of all his ‘one humanity’ talk is that Chu’s profile points out he’s ethnic Chinese from Taiwan… not just another American joe.

]]> By: Jing http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/27/the-dalai-lama-an-ethnic-grievence-pimp/#comment-60331 Jing Wed, 27 Dec 2006 17:58:34 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/27/the-dalai-lama-an-ethnic-grievence-pimp/#comment-60331 Interesting quote you gave EricL, it is however a 110% accurate assessment of the origin of the Taidu mentality. Interesting quote you gave EricL, it is however a 110% accurate assessment of the origin of the Taidu mentality.

]]> By: Bipolar Mindscrew http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/27/the-dalai-lama-an-ethnic-grievence-pimp/#comment-60303 Bipolar Mindscrew Wed, 27 Dec 2006 13:25:59 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/27/the-dalai-lama-an-ethnic-grievence-pimp/#comment-60303 Actually I was just thinking something like this the other day. I carry a picture of the Dalai Lama around on my teacher's notebook which carries a quote of his. "With forgiveness there is peace" or something like that... but what monarch-in-exile wouldn't like their colonizing country to back off and re-instate their pre-colonial despotism...? Even if they are supposed to be a re-incarnation of the Thirteenth Buddha? Actually I was just thinking something like this the other day. I carry a picture of the Dalai Lama around on my teacher’s notebook which carries a quote of his. “With forgiveness there is peace” or something like that… but what monarch-in-exile wouldn’t like their colonizing country to back off and re-instate their pre-colonial despotism…? Even if they are supposed to be a re-incarnation of the Thirteenth Buddha?

]]> By: slim http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/27/the-dalai-lama-an-ethnic-grievence-pimp/#comment-60302 slim Wed, 27 Dec 2006 13:18:45 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/27/the-dalai-lama-an-ethnic-grievence-pimp/#comment-60302 Friends don't let friends link to antiwar.com Friends don’t let friends link to antiwar.com

]]> By: Haisan http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/27/the-dalai-lama-an-ethnic-grievence-pimp/#comment-60298 Haisan Wed, 27 Dec 2006 12:12:38 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/27/the-dalai-lama-an-ethnic-grievence-pimp/#comment-60298 Elzoog -- Agreed. Which is why I am not a fan of the media lovefest Tibet and the Dali Lama often receive. On the other hand, back when the Chinese moved into Tibet, much more of the world was poor, undemocratic and not into free markets. How would an independent Tibet have evolved (or should I say reincarnated)? No idea. But that does not necessarily mean Chinese communist rule is better than an independent Tibet, nor does it necessarily mean the Dali Lama is a despot. Elzoog — Agreed. Which is why I am not a fan of the media lovefest Tibet and the Dali Lama often receive. On the other hand, back when the Chinese moved into Tibet, much more of the world was poor, undemocratic and not into free markets. How would an independent Tibet have evolved (or should I say reincarnated)? No idea. But that does not necessarily mean Chinese communist rule is better than an independent Tibet, nor does it necessarily mean the Dali Lama is a despot.

]]> By: elzoog http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/27/the-dalai-lama-an-ethnic-grievence-pimp/#comment-60297 elzoog Wed, 27 Dec 2006 12:04:41 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/27/the-dalai-lama-an-ethnic-grievence-pimp/#comment-60297 Well, Tibet was not the ideal peaceful heaven that the Dalai Lama would have you believe it was before Chinese occupation. In fact, there were Tibetans that WELCOMED the Chinese invasion because before, they were slaves. In fact, "few Tibetans would welcome a return of the corrupt aristocratic clans that fled with him in 1959 and that comprise the bulk of his advisers. Many Tibetan farmers, for example, have no interest in surrendering the land they gained during China's land reform to the clans. Tibet's former slaves say they, too, don't want their former masters to return to power." John Pomfret, "Tibet Caught in China's Web," Washington Post, 23 July 1999. Also see: http://www.michaelparenti.org/Tibet.html Well, Tibet was not the ideal peaceful heaven that the Dalai Lama would have you believe it was before Chinese occupation. In fact, there were Tibetans that WELCOMED the Chinese invasion because before, they were slaves.

In fact, “few Tibetans would welcome a return of the corrupt aristocratic clans that fled with him in 1959 and that comprise the bulk of his advisers. Many Tibetan farmers, for example, have no interest in surrendering the land they gained during China’s land reform to the clans. Tibet’s former slaves say they, too, don’t want their former masters to return to power.” John Pomfret, “Tibet Caught in China’s Web,” Washington Post, 23 July 1999.

Also see:
http://www.michaelparenti.org/Tibet.html

]]> By: Hugh http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/27/the-dalai-lama-an-ethnic-grievence-pimp/#comment-60291 Hugh Wed, 27 Dec 2006 08:55:45 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/27/the-dalai-lama-an-ethnic-grievence-pimp/#comment-60291 Ho ho ho....slamming the Dalai Lama, huh? Somebody's gettin' reborn as an intestinal worm in a North Korean stomach! Ho ho ho….slamming the Dalai Lama, huh?

Somebody’s gettin’ reborn as an intestinal worm in a North Korean stomach!

]]> By: EricL http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/27/the-dalai-lama-an-ethnic-grievence-pimp/#comment-60288 EricL Wed, 27 Dec 2006 08:43:35 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/27/the-dalai-lama-an-ethnic-grievence-pimp/#comment-60288 Bevin Chu isn't worth blogging about. (I say this as someone with <a HREF="http://notlearningcantonese.blogspot.com/2003/04/palden-gyatso.html" rel="nofollow">longstanding doubts</A> about Tibetan independence). His amateur psychoanalysis and rabid insults of people who oppose his political position pretty much show him up for what he is: http://www.antiwar.com/chu/c091099.html <blockquote>[T]he Taiwan independence elite are victim/victimizers in a still unresolved “Stockholm Syndrome” identity crisis with its roots in a half century of humiliating Japanese colonialism. ... Far from rejecting colonialism, Taiwan “independence” is about nostalgia for Japanese colonial rule by Chinese collaborators with inferiority complexes who prefer to be something they are not, Japanese, rather than what they are, Chinese. It is about the neurotic need of an “elite” ruling class of Chinese Quislings to deny their ethnic and cultural identity (“We don’t want to be Chinese”) ... To understand the mindset of the Taiwan independence elite, try to imagine Jewish victims of the Shoah as militant Holocaust deniers.</blockquote> Bevin Chu isn’t worth blogging about. (I say this as someone with longstanding doubts about Tibetan independence). His amateur psychoanalysis and rabid insults of people who oppose his political position pretty much show him up for what he is:

http://www.antiwar.com/chu/c091099.html

[T]he Taiwan independence elite are victim/victimizers in a still unresolved “Stockholm Syndrome” identity crisis with its roots in a half century of humiliating Japanese colonialism. … Far from rejecting colonialism, Taiwan “independence” is about nostalgia for Japanese colonial rule by Chinese collaborators with inferiority complexes who prefer to be something they are not, Japanese, rather than what they are, Chinese. It is about the neurotic need of an “elite” ruling class of Chinese Quislings to deny their ethnic and cultural identity (“We don’t want to be Chinese”) … To understand the mindset of the Taiwan independence elite, try to imagine Jewish victims of the Shoah as militant Holocaust deniers.

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