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China issues demolition order on world’s largest religious town in Tibet

tchrd.org

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Re: China issues demolition order on world’s largest religious town in Tibet

#221

Post by huahaiy »

lostlogin wrote: post #219
huahaiy wrote: post #211

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If I were a Tibetan and had earned a Ph.D. in US. I probably would have been a member of the Tibetan elite, I would not be writing in the HN comments section here, but in the NYT opinion section to condemn the Chinese government by now. Wouldn't that be more realistic? I am sure my cousin in law would not agree with whatever I could have written in NYT as a member of the Tibetan elite though. What I am saying is that…

That statement applies to you being Han too - your level of education puts you into an elite category I'd have thought?

This is the thing. With the same background and education, I am a nobody when I am Han, and I am speaking for myself, not representing anyone. That would not be the case when I am Tibetan. I would be given a platform to broadcast my dissatisfaction with Chinese government, so on and so forth.

What does this tell you?

Re: China issues demolition order on world’s largest religious town in Tibet

#222

Post by HowardMei »

shrugger wrote: post #72
jmknoll wrote: post #69

Your account has been active for 5 years. You should be aware that racism and non-constructive comments are not really acceptable here.

Yeah, free speech only for people that you agree with. Gotcha.

You're downvoted because you violated political correctness of foreign affairs.

Political Correctness = Fine tuned reports from the media leading some topics + Lazy and emotional followers with little first-hand experience + Political groups representing a few radical protestors.

These politically correct people never reflect on their worldview despite repeat messup, because thinking like that makes them feel good and it's morally correct!

However, the realities are more complicated than the reported 'facts' with purposefully tuned spectrum.

Re: China issues demolition order on world’s largest religious town in Tibet

#223

Post by girvo »

mfgrimm wrote: post #66
oi5zkc wrote: post #43

I visited Yaqing/Yachen mentioned at the bottom of the article about a month ago. The experience was surreal. In the middle of nowhere, 4 hours from the nearest city, the monastery is a sprawling complex of huts around the bend in a river in the tibetan tundra. Here are some pictures: http://imgur.com/a/v4gYI The hygienic conditions are very poor - people doing their business squatting on the streets, no toilets, rub…

I visited the region (eastern Sichuan, Tibetan plateau) in 2006, and played counterstrike and diablo 2 against monks at the local internet cafe. Very surreal, getting shot in the head by a monk.

Heh I used to play CS 1.6 with my Catholic priest. He was very very good too, though his favourite game was Wolfenstein. Apparently shooting Nazis and their monsters was cathartic

Re: China issues demolition order on world’s largest religious town in Tibet

#224

Post by dghughes »

biswaroop wrote: post #74
kweks wrote: post #29

I was there literally three days ago. The place is nothing short of breathtaking. Nestled at 4200km, it was a three day motorbike ride from Chengdu. Even at its foothills, you have no concept of the scale of the town hiding in the hills. This will truly be a tragic loss - the town is much more than the 'slum' it is represented as - it's arguably the most important Buddhist learning institution in the world.. Photos f…

Wow incredible pictures. Also, 4200km is in the exosphere: I think you mean 4200m :)

I wouldn't put it past those monks to live in orbit ;)

Re: China issues demolition order on world’s largest religious town in Tibet

#225

Post by hackuser »

roywiggins wrote: post #207
hackuser wrote: post #205

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> At some point, it too will disintegrate into 100 pieces. That generally doesn't happen with democracies; they could adopt democratic reforms.

China has a much longer history than the modern democratic nation-state. The US has held itself together for a couple of hundred years... that's not a bad track record but it is very, very short.

The U.S. has managed over 40 peaceful transitions of power in that period. Democracies around the world have demonstrated far more stability and effectiveness, not to mention justice, liberty and prosperity, than those other forms of government that had lasted for millennia. That's not just in the West, but in Japan and South Korea, and in parts of China itself: Taiwan and Hong Kong - the most free, stable and prosperous parts.

Re: China issues demolition order on world’s largest religious town in Tibet

#226

Post by jerichois »

jjcc wrote: post #160
mac01021 wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Assuming most of those little structures are inhabited, how does this city sustain itself? The land around it does not appear to be cultivated, and there does not appear to be much of a commercial area. That's a lot of people to feed.

It's seldom known to westerners but many knowledgeable Chinese know that there are financial aid programs for minorities. Similar to that of financial support from Canadian government to the natives in northern Canada. In other words, the money from tax payers of developed areas in China feeds the people. The purpose of the programs is also quite similar to the Canadian government, (at least in the beginning): the pe…

It's pathetic that you are being downvoted for merely stating facts. I know this happpens on Reddit, but didn't think it would on HN.

Re: China issues demolition order on world’s largest religious town in Tibet

#227

Post by jerichois »

adventured wrote: post #136
paavokoya wrote: post #133

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>It's very easy to forget how free we are by comparison to those persecuted in occupied territories. Pretty insulated thinking there.. Try traveling to Indian reservations or gentrified urban areas.. Or perhaps research Japanese internment camps in WW2. Or hell even look up Guantanamo Bay today. Superpowers flexing their muscle on a "threatening few" is extremely common.

What do those examples have to do with the parent not understanding the Chinese Government's cowardice and fear? I don't regard it as insulated thinking at all. It makes perfect sense to be bewildered by such a disgusting display of cowardice and irrational fear by China. Someone on a public forum says: X nation is doing a bad thing; one of the responses inevitably is: yeah but the US did a bad thing. There should be…

To me, OP put things in perspective.

For example, do we attribute the US governments use of eminent domain to gentrify urban areas as "American Government's cowardice and fear?"

By putting things in perspective, we realize the "Other Nation" maybe isn't doing it for nefarious means, but rather just operating like any other Nation.

Re: China issues demolition order on world’s largest religious town in Tibet

#228

Post by jerichois »

munin wrote: post #137
adventured wrote: post #136

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What do those examples have to do with the parent not understanding the Chinese Government's cowardice and fear? I don't regard it as insulated thinking at all. It makes perfect sense to be bewildered by such a disgusting display of cowardice and irrational fear by China. Someone on a public forum says: X nation is doing a bad thing; one of the responses inevitably is: yeah but the US did a bad thing. There should be…

> There should be a 'law' named for that attempted topic distraction in public forums. there kind of is: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/And_you_are_lynching_Negroes

While this might apply in some cases, I feel for most it's about putting things in perspective.

Re: China issues demolition order on world’s largest religious town in Tibet

#229

Post by jerichois »

mhuffman wrote: post #4

Wow! It is amazing that we do not consider this a human rights violation. Oh well, gotta keep them prices low at Walmart!

China should really follow the US example and put them in reservations and let them govern themselves.

Re: China issues demolition order on world’s largest religious town in Tibet

#230

Post by jerichois »

icebraining wrote: post #18
lotu wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What are you proposing we do? Cut off trade with China? Intervene militarily? Write a strongly worded letter?

What about Diplomacy? Increased recognition of Tibetan leaders and activists, sending diplomatic missions to problematic spots, etc. It would also not hurt to stop with the constant demonization of "China" as a whole, which just serves to downplay criticism as bigotry.

And what if China tries to do the same with our Native American Reservations?
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