That was a really poor program, they fell for all the things that the Chinese say about Tibet hook, line and sinker, surprising for magicians.
First Dalai Lama doesn't ask for free Tibet. There is a "Free Tibet" movement but he doesn't support it. He calls instead for a "middle way" for autonomy for matters such as the environment, religious and educational freedom, and such like. Many Tibetans don't think he goes far enough.
Many of the Tibetans were nomadic for instance, like the Laps, with tents, not owning land because they didn't live anywhere permanently. Saying they were dispossessed is like saying the Laps were or the Eskimoes. And the Chinese forcibly housed them and prevented them from continuing their nomadic existence against their wishes. That looks like progress when you see the modern houses they live in now instead of tents, but it wasn't what they wanted.
Also - Tibet was one of the first countries to abolish the death penalty. And the practices mentioned such as mutilation in place of the death penalty, were already stopped before the Chinese invasion.
Tibet was a large country with many different regions with different practices. In some areas the scholars say, there may have still been slaves, but a mild form of it since they could easily escape to India. Remember this is back in the 1950s, in a country that was just becoming aware of the developments of the twentieth century. Of course it would not be like that today if they had been able to continue their development normally.
As for the monks, everyone could become a monk or nun if they could, and many did. It's hardly an elite class when anyone can join. And as for the recognized incarnations, they can come from any class of life also; the Dalai Lama was the son of a small farmer.
And the Dalai Lama came to political power in Tibet just before he was forced to leave by the Chinese. And wanted to reform the country.
And is just ridiculous to say that the Dalai Lama condones and advocates slavery. What planet do they live on? I'm not sure why that isn't libel.
And the Chinese killed and imprisoned many Tibetans. Including the Panchen Lama who became the worlds youngest political prisoner when he was taken "into safe custody" by the Chinese at age 6.
He has never been seen since by anyone in the West, and the Chinese have refused all requests for contact with him to check if he is okay - though they claim he is alive and well and healthy, well educated and happy. If he is still alive, he is now in his mid twenties. Gedhun Choekyi Nyima
For an idea of what might have happened to Tibet see Bhutan which was in a rather similar situation to Tibet before the Chinese invasion. Its people are poor materially, but according to some measures, it is ranked as one of the top few happiest places in the world.
Bhutan has many problems, and Tibet would surely have also. They might not have followed the same path as Bhutan, surely Tibet would have needed to find its own path. But surely most of the Tibetans would have been better off without the Chinese invasion.
It is hard to find a single correct bit of information in that video.
Gross national happiness in Bhutan: the big idea from a tiny state that could change the world
First Dalai Lama doesn't ask for free Tibet. There is a "Free Tibet" movement but he doesn't support it. He calls instead for a "middle way" for autonomy for matters such as the environment, religious and educational freedom, and such like. Many Tibetans don't think he goes far enough.
Many of the Tibetans were nomadic for instance, like the Laps, with tents, not owning land because they didn't live anywhere permanently. Saying they were dispossessed is like saying the Laps were or the Eskimoes. And the Chinese forcibly housed them and prevented them from continuing their nomadic existence against their wishes. That looks like progress when you see the modern houses they live in now instead of tents, but it wasn't what they wanted.
Also - Tibet was one of the first countries to abolish the death penalty. And the practices mentioned such as mutilation in place of the death penalty, were already stopped before the Chinese invasion.
Tibet was a large country with many different regions with different practices. In some areas the scholars say, there may have still been slaves, but a mild form of it since they could easily escape to India. Remember this is back in the 1950s, in a country that was just becoming aware of the developments of the twentieth century. Of course it would not be like that today if they had been able to continue their development normally.
As for the monks, everyone could become a monk or nun if they could, and many did. It's hardly an elite class when anyone can join. And as for the recognized incarnations, they can come from any class of life also; the Dalai Lama was the son of a small farmer.
And the Dalai Lama came to political power in Tibet just before he was forced to leave by the Chinese. And wanted to reform the country.
And is just ridiculous to say that the Dalai Lama condones and advocates slavery. What planet do they live on? I'm not sure why that isn't libel.
And the Chinese killed and imprisoned many Tibetans. Including the Panchen Lama who became the worlds youngest political prisoner when he was taken "into safe custody" by the Chinese at age 6.
For an idea of what might have happened to Tibet see Bhutan which was in a rather similar situation to Tibet before the Chinese invasion. Its people are poor materially, but according to some measures, it is ranked as one of the top few happiest places in the world.
Bhutan has many problems, and Tibet would surely have also. They might not have followed the same path as Bhutan, surely Tibet would have needed to find its own path. But surely most of the Tibetans would have been better off without the Chinese invasion.
It is hard to find a single correct bit of information in that video.
Gross national happiness in Bhutan: the big idea from a tiny state that could change the world
About the Author
Robert Walker
Writer of articles on Mars and Space issues - Software Developer of Tune Smithy, Bounce Metronome etc.Studied at Wolfson College, Oxford
Lives in Isle of Mull
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