The Marmot’s Hole

11 Comments

1. Breaktrack
   Posted December 6, 2007 at 11:39 am | Permalink

   Sad

2. SomeguyinKorea
   Posted December 6, 2007 at 12:39 pm | Permalink

   What, no pictures? No problem.

   http://images.google.com/image.....amp;tab=wi

3. arthjourneyman
   Posted December 6, 2007 at 1:14 pm | Permalink

   Well, Tibet *is* a part of China now, and as long as the Chinese run Tibet’s affairs and the Tibetans let them do so, I don’t see China as having done anything wrong in that regard. Perhaps she should put down that sash and pick up an ak (while getting the rest of the Tibetans to do the same) and see if they can do something about it; freedom ain’t free.

4. sanshinseon
   Posted December 6, 2007 at 4:43 pm | Permalink

   Attempting to gain their freedom through violent means when it has less-than-zero chance of success would just be stupid, and even morally wrong (due to all the innocents who would be hurt in the process) — but they still deserve their freedom (a high degree of autonomy would actually do fine in this situation) nonetheless. Remaining peaceful but as non-compliant as possible has been their best possible option, and it’s good that they’ve stuck with it.

   The Tibetans are in fact to be admired for not turning to terrorism against the Chinese, as that would just be pointless asshole behavior. Like some other ethnic groups we could name who have no hope that all of winning their cause through violence, and yet continue to practice terrorism just the same — they are just morally-bankrupt assholes in my opinion. The Tibetans are not wimps, they are heroes in the Gandhi tradition in my book…

5. trachys
   Posted December 6, 2007 at 5:57 pm | Permalink

   “they are heroes in the Gandhi tradition in my book…”

   which perhaps is why, in 25 years, “Tibet” will not be found in geography books

6. sanshinseon
   Posted December 6, 2007 at 11:02 pm | Permalink

   Just like “India” has been erased from them, eh?

   Anyway, it already isn’t in many current ones; So? Tibetan Buddhism has gone from world’s most obscure variety of Buddhism to becoming one of the best-known; Tibetan people and their culture have spread around the globe and are widely-respected and loved. Mighty Beijing deeply fears it. If you can’t win militarily or diplomatically, there are still other ways to “win”.

7. madne0
   Posted December 7, 2007 at 4:42 am | Permalink

   Hate to burst your bubble sanshinseon, but the “Ghandi model” only works against decent, democratic countries. Against totalitarian dictatorships? Not so much.

8. Sonagi
   Posted December 7, 2007 at 8:04 am | Permalink

   Hate to burst your bubble sanshinseon, but the “Ghandi model” only works against decent, democratic countries.

   Not always. Many Native American tribes were persecuted to the point of extinction no matter whether they resisted or accomodated American settlers and the American government. Armed resistance by the Tibetans would fail miserably, causing many deaths and hastening their cultural demise by bringing even greater repression.

9. SomeguyinKorea
   Posted December 7, 2007 at 9:38 am | Permalink

   #4,

   Just playing devil’s advocate, but one could argue that all that would accomplish is replace one authoritarian government and cult of personality with another.

10. sanshinseon
    Posted December 7, 2007 at 3:12 pm | Permalink

    I don’t quite get it — are arthjourneyman, trachys and madne0 seriously suggesting that the 7 million Tibetans ought to launch an armed conflict against the 1.3 billion Chinese, and if they don’t they deserve no respect or consideration…? Is this some new batshit-crazy neo-con ideological theme that i missed the launch of?

11. wookinponub
    Posted December 7, 2007 at 10:46 pm | Permalink

    Freedom would be free if not for the fucked up human need to dominate those you FEEL superior to. We should try to address and cure that problem.