Michael Parenti - Tibet: Friendly Fuedalism?

[stimbox]

Run time: 05:34 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VqOYL5BRas   Posted on YouTube: March 17, 2008 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: March 21, 2008 By DU Member: stimbox Views on DU: 1385

 
Michael Parenti offers a more balanced view of Tibet.

[rockymountaindem]

1. I'm hesitant to jump on board with his criticism

Firstly, as he states, the current Dalai Lama was only 15 when he was forced to flee. To blame him for the situation that existed then would be foolish. Secondly, while the people who idealize the history of Tibet would most certainly be disappointed by the reality, I don't think any of the western "Free Tibet" movement supporters want to see a return to that era. Suggesting that the Tibet of 1912-1951 would be exactly the same as an independent Tibet in 2008 is foolish. Yes, the region was extremely isolated at the time, but to argue that it would still be the same today if it had never fallen under Chinese rule is foolish.

Also, there is the issue of national self-determination that Parenti must address. Even if the Tibetan people lived in such squalor, they would at least have a national state, which, as history since the 19th Century has demonstrated, is a force that should not be underestimated.

[stimbox]

2. Have you read "Friendly Feudalism: The Tibet Myth" ?

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

Unfortunately the video cuts off.

I don't think that many of the western free Tibet crowd know the whole history of it.

It may have continued in the same path without Chinese influence.

Look at Nepal, it has a very similar cultural history.

[rockymountaindem]

3. I have not

However, again, I'm hesitant to say that just because a country is one one cultural path almost 100 years ago, that things would be likely to be the same today. I mean, look at the Kingdom of Siam about 100 years ago and then look at modern Thailand. The situation there is not ideal, but it's much different than the situation in 1908. Similarly, I don't want to say that had Tibet remained independent all this time that it would have stayed on the same course. Look at Bhutan, for instance. They have not modernized but they seem to have done away with human rights abuses such as those mentioned in the video.

I agree with Parenti that too many people probably have an idealized vision of pre-annexation Tibet. It most certainly was not paradise on earth. However, I won't go so far as to say that it would have continued unchanged until the present.