Free Tibet

[kentuck]

I just saw this bumpersticker on my drive downtown, past the college. Is this mostly a bumpersticker you would find on a college campus? I don't know many people that are really involved with the "Free Tibet" movement with all the other things going on in the world? I'm sure it is a very worthwhile cause or else some college student would not have put the sticker on their car, right?

[tigereye]

1. this isn't new

a lot of folks are concerned with the co-optation of Tibet by China over decades and the destruction of Tibetan religion/ culture.

I think that there is so much going on recently that this concern may have been pushed into the background.

[catmother]

2. i'm a member. not active. i just send money and sign

petitions.

[demnan]

3. I remember this from the sixties

The culture impressed my grandmother and she used to talk about Tibet all the time. When Mao was in charge there was a lot of systematic destruction of their culture, killing and discrimination. I'm not sure what is going on now, but a lot of people respect the Dali Lama and consider the restoration of his place in Tibet a very valuable cause. Or it could just be someone who's fond of Richard Gere

[catmother]

7. i really like the Dali Lama and i like richard gere. he's a great

actor and humanitarian.


Dali Lama always makes me smile. he's so spiritual yet so humble.

[nam78_two]

4. every cause has its place

Sometimes its hard to decide what another person's most important priority should be...
I used to get told by people for years, when I was fighting for the environment/animal welfare -"Aren't there more important things to worry about, like xyz"...Of course this was mostly coming from people who did nothing in their spare time except play videogames or watch tv.
And now look-its hard to argue that the environment isn't a hugely relevant issue!



(Not saying thats where you are coming from btw-I assume most people on places like DU care deeply about something or the other and are willing to work for it),

So nowadays when I see a cause that seems less pressing in the face of some others, even if I may not understand where the person is coming from, I am happy that there is something they are willing to work for besides themselves and the three people they know...

[Virginia Dare]

5. There are a few pretty high profile celebrities

involved in this, Richard Gere, Sting and Harrison Ford among others. It's considered a "sexy" cause. Some years back there was a big concert and benefit in Washington D.C. I believe this is where Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston were first spotted publicly canoodling.

[cornfedyank]

6. freedom for the sake of good karma? where's the profit in that?n/t

[cynatnite]

8. Does the Dalai Lama want to return to theocratic rule...

should they ever be able to return to a Tibet free of the Chinese?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

9. Free Tibet...

with the purchase of another Tibet of lesser or equal value.

Yeah, it's mostly bumperstickers and slogans at rock concerts, from what I've gathered. Not to demean anybody who takes it seriously, it's an admirable movement.

[JackNewtown]

10. Progressives should always stand against colonialism

Unfortunately, the world has little leverage against a great-power such as China.