Hopefully My Last Thoughts on This

Whereas I've been hammering around the area, trying to hit the nail on the head only to be frustrated with the inability to say it out right (I will blame my developmental handicap! My vision relies on my right eye!), you and Carolyn (via comments on a post) totally got it!

Loklok, you said, "Democracy is for people with money." If one were toiling day in and day out trying to live another day, political freedoms would be last on her mind! This isn’t to say that poor, starving people are not entitled to these freedoms; their other needs must be taken care of first. Maybe CCP's ulterior motives for bringing in the bullet train to Tibet include importing Han Chinese into the area to increase its power hold. But the Han invasion (there, I said it!) also brings tourists who bring cash, cash that builds schools and hospitals and improves livelihoods and raises the status quo! Maybe Tibetan culture is being degenerated by the introduction of Han practices but the same could be said about Western culture “polluting” other“traditional" cultures. We live in a globalized world; “purity” in a culture is rare and won’t last. And come on, the Dalai Lama, himself an uberceleb, isn't exactly protecting the sacredness of Tibetan culture.

Carolyn made a great point about boycotting the opening ceremonies of BJ08. We should pressure China about its shady international relationships as much as we do about its internal struggle with Tibet. The world has forgotten about Darfur. Isn’t it so strange how genocide causes have become like fashion trends? Two years ago, everyone was like “Save Darfur;” today “Free Tibet” has been retro-ed and is once again chic.

I still contend that you can’t force people to create a government of Democracy if they don’t understand what the ideals of democracy are. American democracy wasn’t perfect from the beginning. For much of its 200ish years of history as a sovereign nation, democracy was restricted! First only white men and 3/5ths “others” (i.e., slaves), then white and black men (but mostly on paper), and then finally women and men of all colors!! Another example, a more Asian one, a true democratic government in Taiwan didn’t come until 1984, when Chiang Chingkuo lifted the martial law imposed since his dad, Chiang Kaishek, and the KMT took over the island in 1949! Baby steps!

I probably stuck my foot in mouth more than once on this post, so I better stop while I am ahead. I still want to move beyond this and talk about happier things (because there are other Asians who are angry about other things) but the temptation to talk this subject to death is irresistible. Note: these are just my personal comments. If they come across as being insensitive and slightly trite, they probably are and you be an adult get over yourself. Woopsh.