It had to happen sooner or later. U.S President Barack Obama will finally meet the Dalai Lama at the White House. The two Nobel Peace Prize winners (one deserved, the other not) will meet privately and release an official photo, but under pressure from the Chinese government, the leaders will not make any public appearances.
Personally I think the U.S is making a mistake here because President Barack Obama SHOULD make a public appearance with the Dalai Lama. Even 51 years after the Buddhist spiritual leader's exile to India, the Dalai Lama is still advocating non-violence to gain greater autonomy for Tibet. Even if you do not believe him and think he is trying to gain independence for Tibet, the fact is that the Dalai Lama had always advocate non-violence. Outside Gandhi, I can’t even think of anyone who has been as strong and as patient as the Dalai in advocating non-violence.
Not only that, he is almost the sole man who has stopped Tibetans from revolting against Chinese rule. However the Dalai Lama is old and as the riots in Tibet last year shown, no longer as influential as he once was. I’m no fan of former U.S President George W. Bush, but he did the right thing in meeting with the Dalai Lama and even awarding the U.S Congressional Gold Medal to the Dalai in 2007.
Barack Obama should do the same because the Dalai Lama is a force for peace and when he dies, war might/will erupt in Tibet. A man like the Dalai deserves more than just a private meeting at the White House.
2 comments:
"...,the fact is that the Dalai Lama had always advocate non-violence. Outside Gandhi, I can’t even think of anyone who has been as strong and as patient as the Dalai in advocating non-violence."
Here's another, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi! She holds the absolute mandate!
True, Aung San Suu Kyi is another one but the Dalai has been at it longer. 50+ years and counting...that kind of conviction is just amazing
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