Re: (Free Tibet) Why Tibet??

LT Lee wrote:
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] (CFAIII) wrote in message news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>...
>
> > I hope without sounding insensitive, and with a real sincerity, I
> > ask...Why is the political issues of Tibet so important? It's an issue
> > I see on Bumper Stickers and Tee-Shirts all the time, and I've seen it
> > for the better part of a decade. But what I don't understand is where
> > does the passion come from? Why Tibet? Why not (insert favorite
> > African nation here) or any half dozen (extreme)Islamic nations under
> > oppression (as oppossed to the Moderates in the region)? How about
> > Free N. Korea or Cuba? I guess everyone picks their battles, but Tibet
> > just doen't seem to be the worse place...all other things being equal.
> > But again, I realise in asking I am in a position of ignorance on the
> > Tibet matter. That's why I'm here...for you to explain it to me.
>
>
> Racism against Chinese supported by mostly Europeans. 

I beg to differ. Tibet is the site of an ancient culture with no 
militaristic allure and based on theological values that stress 
spiritual self-improvement. It is easy to feel simpathy for this type of 
culture, and is equally easy to feel the sadness of seeing modern 
society, be it communism or social capitalism :-), steamrolling it all. 
This simpathy is immaterial to the inevitability of the development, and 
there is no doubt in my mind that chinese will "win" and propel Tibet in 
the developed world all the same.
It remembers me the native american cultures being steamrolled by the 
american expansion: you cannot help feeling simpathy for the native 
american way of life, even though it is clear that there is no room for 
that in the new world.