61–70 of 234 posts
A reminder of how great life was for Tibetans under the feudal, theocratic serfdom of the lamas [1]. [1] “In old Tibet there were small numbers of farmers who subsisted as a kind of free peasantry, and perhaps an additional 10,000 people who composed the “middle-class” families of merchants, shopkeepers, and small traders. Thousands of others were beggars. There also were slaves, usually domestic servants, who owned…
I agree that the romanticized view of the tibetan societal structure is often very naive. But, of course, this does not mean that a forced annexation and subjugation by china is the only way that reforms could be made, or in fact the best. There are many different ways of modernization, some totalitarian ones and more liberal ones. I guess it should be clear which are preferable.
Genghis Khan was not a conqueror in his mind. Instead, the whole world's population was simply tresspassing on what was rightfully promised to him.
I'd like to read the detailed summary of CCP's policy and effects in Tibet. I was born and grew up in China's Shanxi province, got college degree in Shanghai and masters in Beijing, all in top universities; which means that I was subject to constant indoctrination and massaged (or even fabricated) information all the time. There has never been detailed political reports on sensitive issues like managing Tibet. But I…
>>"...seen blatant external interference in China’s internal affairs related to Xinjiang..., Tibet..., Hong Kong...." Yup, classic disinformation method - just assume the conclusion and blame someone else. The reason that othet nations have something to say about it is that CCP is blatantly overstepping their rights in those regions. CCP is an invader, not the rightful ruler. They're starting the same incrementalism…
I was in physics graduate school in the ‘80s, when there was still activism in support of Tibet. I had a “Free Tibet” poster next to my desk. A graduate student arrived from China. I don’t remember how the conversation started, but I do remember him patiently trying to correct a group of other students, explaining that Tibet was part of China. It was as if someone had claimed that Nebraska was not really part of the US and we needed to support its freedom.
Indoctrination is invisible to the successfully indoctrinated; it becomes reality.
One trend that was taking place in western China when I last visited was out-migration of Han settlers from Sichuan and other more populous provinces to Xinjiang and other areas which were then dominated by ethnic minorities. This is taking place in Tibet as well:
Han Chinese workers, investors, merchants, teachers and soldiers are pouring into remote Tibet. After the violence that ravaged this region in 2008, China’s aim is to make Tibet wealthier and more Chinese.
Chinese leaders see development, along with an enhanced security presence, as the key to pacifying the Buddhist region. The central government invested $3 billion in the Tibet Autonomous Region last year, a 31 percent increase over 2008. Tibet’s gross domestic product is growing at a 12 percent annual rate, faster than the robust Chinese national average.
https://freetibet.org/about/legal-status-tibet Imagine being called a minority in a place you are the majority and have lived for centuries before occupation. https://www.britannica.com/place/Tibet/People "The population of the region is almost entirely Tibetan, with Han (Chinese), Hui (Chinese Muslims), Monba, Lhoba, and other minority nationalities. Thus, the majority of the people of Tibet have the same ethnic ori…
It gets even more complex when you look at the history. The Yuan dynasty were ruled by the Mongolians. The Mongolians were devout Buddhists and revered the Tibetan Buddhists. The search for reincarnated Tulkas by the Tibetan Buddhists would extend into the Mongolian regions. The imperial family gave a lot of autonomy to Tibet. The last Imperial dynasty, Qing, was ruled by Manchurians. The Manchurians were a foreign,…
Even if this is true, it doesn't make what CCP is doing there right. Change can happen from within without a need of a foreign invading force forcing their own philosophy on these people.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
So, native Americans?
Native Americans represent 1.7% of the US population: https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/omh/browse.aspx?lvl=3&lvlid=6...
Give things 500+ years and Tibetans may be down to 1.7% too.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
So, native Americans?
I have yet to meet someone IRL who thinks what was done to native Americans was just and also condemns the CCP for their treatment of minorities.
A reminder of how great life was for Tibetans under the feudal, theocratic serfdom of the lamas [1]. [1] “In old Tibet there were small numbers of farmers who subsisted as a kind of free peasantry, and perhaps an additional 10,000 people who composed the “middle-class” families of merchants, shopkeepers, and small traders. Thousands of others were beggars. There also were slaves, usually domestic servants, who owned…
Even if it was a better government invading, the potential benefit would be fairly limited. They probably would have moved away from that social structure without interference. Much of the world used to be crappy feudal societies with powerful religions.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I believe the CCP is encouraging Han to move there until the Tibetans are no longer the majority. They may have already accomplished this, as an accurate census is hard to find.
Tibet is a brutal place to live, short of forcing people there I doubt they will get a lot of takers.