Dalai Lama awarded in US despite China anger

[jefferson_dem]

Source: AFP

Dalai Lama awarded in US despite China anger
By Shaun Tandon (AFP) – 1 hour ago

WASHINGTON — The Dalai Lama was bestowed Friday with a US award for his commitment to democracy, the latest honour for the Tibetan spiritual leader despite China's angry protests over his White House welcome.

One day after President Barack Obama met the exiled monk at the White House in defiance of Chinese warnings, the National Endowment for Democracy gave the Dalai Lama a medallion before a standing-room-only crowd at the Library of Congress.

The Endowment, which is funded by the US Congress, hailed the Dalai Lama for supporting a democratic government in exile and his willingness to even abolish his centuries-old spiritual position if Tibetans so choose.

"By demonstrating moral courage and self-assurance in the face of brute force and abusive insults, he has given hope against hope not just to his own people but also to oppressed people everywhere," Endowment president Carl Gershman said before placing the Democracy Service Medal over the monk's neck.

The Dalai Lama, who fled his Chinese-ruled homeland for India in 1959, voiced admiration for US and Indian democracy and said China's authoritarian system was unsustainable.

"The Chinese Communist Party, I think, did many wrong things. But at the same time, they also made a lot of contribution for a stronger China," he said.


Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iPpk88Az41Nbob7cG0hB7d3Ve_rA

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Here's a video of the ceremony, if you're interested. http://www.cspan.org/Watch/Media/2010/02/19/HP/R/29753/The+Dalai+Lama+Honored+with+Democracy+Service+Medal.aspx

[Tim01]

1. China runs their mouth a lot. nt

[saigon68]

4. A thuggish Country ruled by Criminals

[proteus_lives]

2. China can choke on it.

[David__77]

3. Dalai Lama praises Communist Party of China. Interesting.

I guess it should be remembered that, at one time, he was very supportive of that party. I believe he only suddenly decided to cast his lot with the classes who were opposed to the socio-economic reforms being conducted in Tibet by the central government, like emancipation of the serfs and land reform.

[BuddhaGirl]

5. what he actually said

"The Dalai Lama, who fled his Chinese-ruled homeland for India in 1959, voiced admiration for US and Indian democracy and said China's authoritarian system was unsustainable.

"The Chinese Communist Party, I think, did many wrong things. But at the same time, they also made a lot of contribution for a stronger China," he said.

The Dalai Lama pointed to the growing interest of many Chinese in getting rich. Calling himself a Marxist in his support for a strong social safety net, the Dalai Lama joked: "Sometimes I feel my brain is more red than those Chinese leaders."

"Sometimes I express now the time has come for the Communist Party should retire with grace," he said in English, laughing that Chinese leaders would be "furious" at his comments."

Glad to shed some light on your statement - gives it a different meaning don't you think?

OM MANI PADME HUM.

[BuddhaGirl]

6. tough shit, China!

n/t

[Bette Noir]

7. I like the Dalai Lama. I'm glad the US is showing him some hospitality,

in spite of owing so much money to China.

[OhioChick]

8. Screw China. n/t

[FarLeftRage]

9. Fuck the chicoms....

Hope they choke on it!

[naaman fletcher]

10. No winners here. Tibet was a bigoted feudal state before the Chicoms. nt.

[jefferson_dem]

13. I beg to differ.

Leaving aside your aspersions on their political system (which I don't necessarily agree with)...the displaced Tibetans desire the preservation and recognition of national and cultural identity as much as anything. China employs thuggish tools of cultural destruction and political oppression. The "winner" in that struggle should be obvious.

[David__77]

17. The Tibetan people don't have a "national and cultural identity" of serfdom.

That is what prevailed in Tibet prior to 1959. The central Chinese authorities made serious errors in Tibet in the past, but there seem to be genuine efforts to preserve historical sites and subsidize a bloated religious class of non-laborers in Tibet.

[BuddhaGirl]

22. yeah, moving Han Chinese into Tibet

to dilute the Tibetan culture...that's preservation for you :eyes:

China wants complete eradication of Tibetans and their culture.

BTW - why are they holding the Panchen Lama, hmmm?

[Mika]

19. Yep. A slightly kinder, gentler Taliban.

Theocracy Now! :eyes:

Next thing ya know the US will be giving awards to Oswaldo Paya. Oh .... wait ....

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[DeSwiss]

11. I've said it before and I'll say it again.....

...fuck the Chinese government.

- And I'm no fan of the Dalai Lama....


K&R

[jefferson_dem]

12. What is your problem with the Dalai Lama?

I mean, there's not much to not like. HH would seem to adhere as much to "the Way of compassion" as anyone.

... Or perhaps you have a problem with any and all religious figureheads.

[DeSwiss]

14. Right.

The last part of what you said. Religion.

[penndragon69]

15. The Tibetan Govt.

was beginning the process of change when china invaded. For a country in an isolated and
barley populated region of the Himalayas, it was no surprise that their methods of governing were
still centuries behind the developed world.
But His Holiness acknowledged these problems and even agreed with SOME of Mao's ideas on a peoples
government.

If china had stayed the hell out and let Tibet develop on it's own, they would have become a country
that could be compared to many other smaller nations. But no...the commie bastard had to invade,
rape, murder, and plunder Tibet to satisfy his own greed.

Communist china can burn!

[winyanstaz]

16. Well I think Obama did the right thing.

I am glad he did not cave in to pressure.
I would love to see more of that in Obama because we need him to be strong right now...for the taxpayers, for the people...and if he is both strong and does the right thing...America will follow him.

[AlphaCentauri]

20. When Obama gets to accomplish social Health Care for all

then the Chinese can give him an award for his social accomplishments

[urbuddha]

18. HHDL

His Holiness is filled with compassion. Something we could all learn from him.

[Odin2005]

21. China can go STFU

[wuushew]

23. The U.S. gains very little tangible benefit from this meeting

seems stupid to be promoting their political enemies and selling weapons to Tawain when any proposed sanctions against Iran require the cooperation of both Russia and China.