This one's for the naysayers.
The ones who believe Tibet doesn't have the right to exist as a free-standing country.
Read carefully-it looks like I will have to explain it to some people.
There were a group of Tibet protesters at the IOC meetings this week. Seeking what is rightly a valid issue. The right of Tibet to be recognised as an individual country. That's not such a outrageous idea. Sorry to dissapoint some people.
If you remember high school history, Tibet was invaded and overtaken by the Mainland Chinese in 1951. It's an illegal occupation, yet the IOC chooses to acquiese to the wishes of Beijing in all matters relating to that country.
Unfortunately, it's easy to erase history---and paint your own image of what the reality is. Picture this, living in a country that is illegally occupied, with no avenues for self-determination, no free press, no self-governance. It's a crappy way to live, essentially being trapped in a prison with no way out. But for many in Tibet, that is daily reality, and for some in the free world, a status-quo that they are only too happy to oblige to Beijing.
I for one refuse to go along. For those of you who know me, I speak my conciense. I don't expect anyone to agree with me, but being involved for close to seven years on various issues relating to press freedoms, I say it's time to get real.
This is a country fighting for it's life. For it's soul. For it's children. For it's future. We need to be the voice of the voiceless on Tibet. To stand up for it's people to live in freedom and prosperity. And not to be the enablers who want to deny those opportunities that they have not had since 1951.
The monks who staged the public protests this past summer were brave souls. Inside the country, they are that nation's conciense. They better than anyone else know what is happening there. It's rough, and nasty. But it's daily life there, and a life that could be made better, if we only on the outside would get real.
How about if all of us set an example? Old fashioned, I know. But it works. And be the conciense that tells the truth, instead of "going along to get along."
Tibet, and not "Tibet."
