tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26451587265139208122024-02-21T09:46:40.661-05:00Overlooking TibetWays outsiders dismiss and disempower Tibet and Tibetans...<br><br>...from outsiders trying not to.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645158726513920812.post-68494054032606187722014-04-24T13:17:00.000-04:002014-04-24T13:17:19.812-04:00Holy Rollers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A friend of mine has an odd and amusing hobby of checking the back page of popular Western Buddhist magazines where all of the advertisements are. He finds it pretty ironic to find a section of a Buddhist magazine solely devoted to "dharma" commercialism. He recently told me about something he'd seen on the back page of one of the most popular (if not <i>the</i> most popular) Western Buddhist magazines: Prayer wheel stickers for your car.<br />
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I thought, he has got to be kidding. This is a joke! Well, I went home and googled "Hub cap Buddhism sticker". First thing that popped up was the <a href="http://www.hubcapprayerwheel.com/index.html" target="_blank">Hubcap Prayer Wheel</a>, their slogan? "Burn Rubber, Burn Karma."<br />
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<a href="http://www.hubcapprayerwheel.com/images/home_wheel3.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.hubcapprayerwheel.com/images/home_wheel3.gif" /></a><a href="http://www.hubcapprayerwheel.com/images/home_wheel2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.hubcapprayerwheel.com/images/home_wheel2.gif" /></a><a href="http://www.hubcapprayerwheel.com/images/example_hubcap.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.hubcapprayerwheel.com/images/example_hubcap.gif" /></a></div>
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I can't make this stuff up, people. The website advises you to "Leave yourself at least 15 minutes to apply Hubcap Prayer Wheel so you can do it mindfully and carefully." Well, I am so glad they are being mindful of decal application, because they sure as hell aren't being mindful of offending the Tibetans from whom they have appropriated and bastardized this cultural practice!<br />
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Let's see: we are taking a sacred mantra, known by every Buddhist Tibetan from the time they can talk, which is held and revered as a center of Tibetan culture and they are putting it on a car wheel which will drive though mud and shit and roadkill. This sacred script will be located low, specifically almost immediately below where people are seated and their feet are resting, so it's under both their butts and their feet (we've already <a href="http://overlookingtibet.blogspot.com/2010/06/lets-talk-about-feet.html" target="_blank">talked about feet</a> and <a href="http://overlookingtibet.blogspot.com/2010/08/lets-talk-about-butts.html" target="_blank">butts</a> in terms of respect). <br />
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Oh, and since a prayer wheel is supposed to go clockwise, I really hope these "mindful" and "careful" holier-than-thou drivers are never planning to shift into reverse, <i>ever</i>. <br />
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And for anyone who wants to say this is "honoring Tibetans" I point you to <a href="http://nativeappropriations.com/2010/04/but-why-cant-i-wear-a-hipster-headdress.html" target="_blank">this post about appropriating another culture's religious symbols</a>. If you think people just need "get over it" because it's cultural and your idea of Dharma is above that? Take a closer read <a href="http://overlookingtibet.blogspot.com/2010/06/lets-talk-about-feet.html" target="_blank">here</a> and realize that ripping off a sacred cultural artifact and using it in a way that offends the people who created it is probably a really good reason to <i>not</i> do something. It's certainly isn't "mindful" or "careful."<br />
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Metakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01073619786043008627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645158726513920812.post-25791300418004922362014-04-19T23:20:00.000-04:002014-04-19T23:20:37.100-04:00Trekking on a Road of Corpses<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Only a few days ago, 16 everest mountain guides, popularly known as "Sherpas" died while helping foreign climbers summit Everest. <br />
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The guides were Nepalis, primarily of Nepali-Tibetan ethnic groups that live in the mountainous border between Tibet and Nepal and which has fluctuated between the two. "Sherpa" itself is the name of one, specific, Nepali group of Tibetan descent, which was appropriated by mountain climbers who decided to call the entire occupation of being a low-paid, high risk, servant by the name of an ethnic group. I have a lot to say about this, but I don't think right now is the time.<br />
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Although there were actual Sherpas among the dead, it was very hard to find this out, because almost no article in the international media actually listed the names of the sixteen victims who were killed in an avalanche while being underpaid to help wealthy foreigners "test their limits" or "find themselves" or "gain spiritual achievement" or just for fun. I just found <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/19/world/asia/fatal-avalanche-on-mount-everest.html?_r=0" target="_blank">one international news</a> source that has listed the names. Whenever a foreign climber dies, we see their name, hometown, photo and probably a list of survivorss. But when, in a single day, 16 of the people who made it possible for every single foreign climber to reach the top of Everest, hardly a name is mentioned, much less their hometown, tribe, or family. There could have been Sherpas, Tamangs, Tibetans, and Gurungs. There most definitely were fathers, brothers, sons and husbands, none of whom were named by most media outlets. All of my Sherpa friends over the age of 40 have school mates who have died carting some other person's goods up everest.<br />
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Thanks to the (primarily western) thirst for conquering Everest, we have created an economy whereby it is possible, and even encouraged, to buy human lives.<br />
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The job of the "Sherpas" is to carry all the gear, go ahead of the climbers and prepare camp for them, prepare food, and clear the way. They take the hard work and the most dangerous job so that the foreign climbers can reach base camp in time for a hot meal and a cozy tent, and from there just climb to the top with no other responsibilities, take a photo at the summit, dump their trash on a sacred mountain, and declare that <i>they and they alone, by their own power</i> summited the highest mountain in the world. They can get their adrenaline high! But the real risk and effort came from many other people.<br />
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<a href="http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/climbing/mountaineering/The-Value-of-A-Sherpa-Life.html" target="_blank">This article</a> takes a close look at the value of a Sherpa life, working to survive, in comparison to that of the foreigners climbing for glory. <br />
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So to all of you foreign climbers on Everest, who donate to Sherpa schools along the way and give pens to little children, just remember: You are not a savior. You are not a hero. You, who probably sign petitions against human trafficking, are purchasing human lives. Because when you pay the pittance of a salary so that "Sherpa" servants will do all the hard work for you, you are paying for the right to risk their lives for your ego. Their family will get roughly $11,000 for their death from insurance that they themselves must pay. And you can go home and tell the story of how disappointed you were not to summit Everest. <br />
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<i>In Memory of Mingma Nuru Sherpa, Dorji Sherpa, Ang Tshiri Sherpa, Nima Sherpa, Phurba Ongyal Sherpa, Lakpa Tenjing Sherpa, Chhiring Ongchu Sherpa, Dorjee Khatri, Then Dorjee Sherpa, Phur Temba Sherpa, Pasang Karma Sherpa and Asman Tamang. With great concern and hope for the missing: Tenzing Chottar Sherpa, Ankaji Sherpa, Pem Tenji Sherpa and Ash Bahadur Gurung.</i><br />
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Metakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01073619786043008627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645158726513920812.post-29695398486625072092014-04-18T20:34:00.000-04:002014-04-18T20:34:39.488-04:00Robbing the Gonpa<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A disturbing phenomenon that I've seen all too often out here is the interaction (*cough*flirtation*cough*) between foreign women and monks.<br />
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Before I get into this and make a few people angry, let me explain a little bit about monastic vows.<br />
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All over the Buddhist world, monastic vows are not life long vows. They can be, but they don't have to be. Some places are more loose about this than others, but it's an issue of culture, not doctrine. For example, in Thailand, virtually all men will become monks for a short period of time to gain experience and create merit, and then stop being monks. They may resume being monks later in life. It is not considered shameful or embarrassing to be a monk for only a short period of time. A few people remain monks for life.<br />
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In Tibet being a monk tends to be more permanent, but this is culture, not doctrine. If a monk decides to no longer be a monk, he only needs to go to his teacher and return his vows. If there is no breaking of vows, there is no sin and no shame. There may be some cultural embarrassment.<br />
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Here's a key point, monks vows include no sex. And for those who are curious, this includes ANY orifice. ANY (Nasal sex? Not okay...but that's wrong on SO many different levels.)<br />
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I'm pretty sure that just about anyone who comes into Tibetan communities knows that monks are celibate. Westerners really don't have an excuse because monks and nuns in the Christian tradition are also celibate! And yet we still get fishing for monks.<br />
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In my experience, there is a disproportionately higher number of females volunteering in Tibetan communities than males, and actually more female converts to Tibetan Buddhists than males. I know this is especially true in the Kagyu school, but that's another discussion for another time.<br />
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It is very popular to volunteer as an English teacher to Tibetan monks, in fact it the number of volunteers in monastic institutions is (in my experience) disproportionately high, but again: another discussion for another time.. I have been invited on several times and have occasionally tutored Tibetan monks in English, although it's not most of what I do.<br />
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Young women who are aware of the monastic vows should try to respect them, keeping an appropriate distance when working with monks, both physically and emotionally. This can relate to clothing, how one leans over a desk in a classroom, how close you sit to a monk friend, or the topics you talk about. The biggest thing, I've found, is putting up the mental block that says "Monks are off limits." Women should think of monks like their brother. Good friend, fine. But the idea of a monk as a romantic partner should be as abhorrent as the idea of sleeping with your brother. Would you flash your cleavage at your brother? I'm not saying wear a black plastic bag over your body, but use common sense about respect in religious places. You would expect the same sort of behavior when working with conservative Jews or Muslims or Catholic monks etc.<br />
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Now, I don't want to put all the responsibility on the ladies here, and good monks will also purposely try to keep their distance. But, the reason I put more responsibility on the women in this one is that many of these monks don't have any close contact with women at all, especially not western women. Rumors about western women abound. And some monks who are less firm in their vows, and the occasional "bad monk" might want to take advantage of this. Yes, that would be their fault, but ladies, let's not encourage!<br />
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The real issue isn't the unintentional signals, or cultural differences in ideas of modesty. The real issue is the number of women who romanticize monks and look for a monk boyfriend. They view the monks as this image of Tibet; this fetishized image of perfect, serene compassion. And heck, who doesn't want a guy who has taken vows of compassion, kindness, and so on? And so they purposely go to work with monks and flirt with them, looking for one to take home. In some people's mind, the monk is the ultimate trophy husband. I remember one woman telling me that I should find a monk (current, NOT ex-monk) because they make the best boyfriends. They don't consider the immense cultural taboo, or the sheer level of sin from a Buddhist standpoint.<br />
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This is one of the ultimate taboos in Tibetan Buddhism. One of the greatest sins is (for a monk) disrobing or (for the woman) causing a monk to disrobe via broken vows. It is causing a person to break a vow that was made to the three Jewels of Buddhism, the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha, in the presence of one's lama. To break this sort of vow, or cause someone to, is pretty much the ultimate sin.<br />
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The taboo is so great that it can cause complete ostracization from the Tibetan community.<br />
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Some people would argue that it's about love or something like that. No, it's not. If two people fall in love, there are steps that can be taken for the relationship to be "kosher" so to speak. This is specifically about people (usually western women) targeting a completely off-limit demographic with no respect whatsoever for the cultural and religious boundaries and repercussions.<br />
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It's like a person who specifically follows and flirts only with married people, trying to make them cheat on their spouse. And to make matters worse ONLY flirts with married people BECAUSE they are married. Does that sound wrong? It does to most people.<br />
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Why? Because a person has made a vow to remain faithful and not cheat on their spouse and specifically targeting them and trying to get them to break this vow would be wrong.<br />
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Shouldn't the same logic apply to monks?<br />
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Why are these women going after monks? Do they think some of the holy is going to rub off on them? They want to fulfill their Tibet fetish by <i>literally sexually fetishizing </i>the orientalist view of Tibetans equaling monks<i>.</i><br />
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Now, let's be clear. What is the proper way of doing things?<br />
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First, if a woman is working in a monastery or in close proximity, she tries to keep an appropriate distance. The monks should do the same. Friendship is fine, romance is not.<br />
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However, sometimes romance happens. If it does, both members of the couple should consider the vows of the monk. The monk then has a choice; create distance, or if he believes he cannot maintain his vows, go to his teacher and return his vows.<br />
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After he has returned his vows, he is a lay person like any other and may pursue romantic relationships as such.<br />
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Choosing to return one's vows is part of the rights afforded to a monk. Although there may be cultural embarrassment, there is no shame or sin in this.<br />
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But robbing the Gonpa? Stop. Just stop. </div>
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Metakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01073619786043008627noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645158726513920812.post-19013728923463381002014-04-06T22:54:00.000-04:002014-04-06T22:54:56.110-04:00Red Robed Charlatans<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I was browsing facebook one day, when I came across a link that had been posted or shared by someone on the news feed. This person was asking others to help support her lama and his charitable projects a posted a link to <a href="http://www.lamajigme.com/Feed-A-Monk.html">Feed a Monk.</a> Well, generally my charitable efforts are aimed at the general populace, not specifically sangha, but I decided to check out the link because hey: feeding the hungry is feeding the hungry! <br />
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I spent a long time reading through, trying to figure out which monks were being supported, until I reached the final paragraphs (emphasis added by me):<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"But in America, begging monks are often met by police interference. Luckily, through the convenience of the internet and the safety of paypal, you can improve your Karma and lovingly support<b> this monk</b> by making a cash gift in the amount of your choosing. Your generosity supports my simple, spartan diet and helps me to be of service to others." </blockquote>
Okay, so basically, it's a self fundraising page parading itself as 'supporting the sangha'. Far from a charitable venture. I decided to check out more about this guy. He claims to be a recognized reincarnation, he also acts as a weight loss guru (??)<br />
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In <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXTpma9KK_A">his video about prostrations,</a> he proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that he has nothing beyond a rudimentary knowledge of Buddhism and obviously <i>no</i> respect for Tibetan culture: pointing the soles of his feet towards the shrine, disregarding all of the symbolism and importance of prostrations and calling them "fun tools to play with" despite them being a serious part of practice for many Tibetans.<br />
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But here's what it comes down to: he is playing lama, claiming a role in a very serious and sacred religious and cultural institution. Not only is he doing this falsely, which is the biggest form of disrespect, but he's also bastardizing Tibetan traditions in order to make a buck and a name for himself!<br />
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Worst part yet: he's far from the only one. There are dozens of "lamas" out there playing dress up, claiming (or bribing for) recognitions, bastardizing and disrespecting Tibetan culture and traditions all to make themselves famous or get some money! Other examples include a woman who has changed her name multiple times and attempted to delete those histories, whose only "recognition" is from a lama only referred to on her own web page, and who charges $165 for a 6 hour web class, while claiming to be a teacher of a "rare lineage" of Buddhist yogis. Another is an entire so-called lineage of western "Rinpoches" who spend page after page defending their bizarre system and legitimacy without once showing actual, legitimate Tibetan lamas who support and recognize them. There are too many other examples to list here. All of them teach bastardized, offensive practices which cause anyone know actually knows about Tibetan culture and Buddhism to cringe in embarrassment.<br />
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Of course, if you call them out on this, they accuse you of being "racist against white people" (Hrmm, have we <a href="http://overlookingtibet.blogspot.com/2010/04/help-my-bingo-card-is-overflowing-on.html" target="_blank">heard that one before</a>?). Completely putting aside how problematic the entire accusation of <a href="http://www.policymic.com/articles/82223/this-comedian-brilliantly-destroys-the-myth-of-reverse-racism-in-less-than-3-minutes" target="_blank">"reverse racism"</a> is: No, that's <i>not</i> what's going on here. It's appropriating Tibetan culture and sacred faith, completely bastardizing it, defending being offensive either by crying "racist" or by claiming it's a justified sacred practice. It doesn't matter what your race is: if you are doing this, it's offensive. <br />
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You want to practice Buddhism? Fine. Whatever, it's your beliefs. You want to be a highly respected lama? Well then you sure as hell better work your butt off to deserve it. Learn Tibetan, go to Shedra, live in monastery and deal with all the daily life difficulties without getting out of it because you're white, follow the rules and the vows, respect the religion and culture you're working within; and earn, let me say this again <i>earn</i> any title or respect you may reserve. Don't think it's possible? Talk to Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo. Don't you dare think that you deserve it for some reason, or can claim it with no work, no legitimacy and no backing. That's just spitting on Tibetan culture.<br />
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And playing tulku? Claiming to be recognized and a reincarnation? Don't even get me started. Yeah, I'm sure it all seems like fun and games: it's not. It's an actual, 900 year old theological system. And whether you think it's real or not, it is part of the religion and culture and don't you go trivializing it just because you want to play god! Do you walk around claiming to be the pope, saying that you are the one truly ordained by God and that the election of the college of cardinals doesn't count? I don't think so. <br />
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This is straight up exploitation of Tibetan culture for the sake of money and fame. </div>
Metakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01073619786043008627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645158726513920812.post-23459445294118121562014-04-01T17:44:00.002-04:002014-04-01T17:44:07.064-04:00Like Us on Facebook!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We have a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OverlookingTibet" target="_blank">Facebook presence</a>! Check it out. It's a great way to interact, leave comments, post thoughts, and send us messages and ideas. We look forward to seeing what you have to say!<br />
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https://www.facebook.com/OverlookingTibet</div>
Metakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01073619786043008627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645158726513920812.post-22509076313163935332014-04-01T17:39:00.001-04:002014-04-01T17:39:18.329-04:00March 10th: Missing the Point<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
There are lots of things I could say, but it's easier to let the Facebook poster who actually met this dude speak:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBimXaiBORAiCBh-JY9rhCX_5G7m5Fi4RyLljRJo8jmJMroYzNDF4NatmlN4VEGpmLbqn4jfbnMF5s43EW_30JcSV9QuYrU9829_8-RQK8DXW3R5YmikBQR_ObkEZRQ4upwA14g4CknII/s3200/m10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBimXaiBORAiCBh-JY9rhCX_5G7m5Fi4RyLljRJo8jmJMroYzNDF4NatmlN4VEGpmLbqn4jfbnMF5s43EW_30JcSV9QuYrU9829_8-RQK8DXW3R5YmikBQR_ObkEZRQ4upwA14g4CknII/s3200/m10.jpg" height="317" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXW6lpoQqDH9DWPvZOUnC36gQp4yzRIZOp3LBfgGb3_M4VqUBx0v2X93s-_MrR7m3tcwbvqchtEpdO9ZC9y2SV9ASIjRGNFGR-Zw2Lit34q80s2wD0Ez0ZL21RwHYRfL5q_G4AXtfVXpU/s3200/m10+b.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXW6lpoQqDH9DWPvZOUnC36gQp4yzRIZOp3LBfgGb3_M4VqUBx0v2X93s-_MrR7m3tcwbvqchtEpdO9ZC9y2SV9ASIjRGNFGR-Zw2Lit34q80s2wD0Ez0ZL21RwHYRfL5q_G4AXtfVXpU/s3200/m10+b.png" height="283" width="400" /></a></div>
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Let's have some fun with this jackass' photo. First, love the bloody tears. Classy, man. I'm sure you, looking for your parties and using Tibetans for their sob stories, are truly shedding tears of blood. Stay strong, white tourist, stay strong. <br />
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Does he have any idea what the protest is about? I doubt it. He made that pretty damn clear when he wanted to know about the party opportunities. (I also trust the original FB poster in that she talked to this guy and he had no clue what the uprising day is all about). So what is it for him? A chance to party, a chance to be noticed with his sign and face paint. A chance to be the "socially conscious" white hero with a pretend bigger and grander agenda ("Globalize Empathy"?).<br />
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Gotta love the dirty looks he's getting from the Tibetans around him.<br />
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He's in it for the party and the attention. And the media gave it to him.<br />
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Despite the fact that <i>thousands</i> of Tibetans were gathered there, AP and other news sources chose to concentrate on this guy, a white attention seeker with a <i>sign that has nothing to do with the Tibetan issue</i>, as the central image. The Tibetans are background. They are the T&A. As usual, the media would prefer to put a white face as the star. In a way, turning the white face into the image of the simultaneous "victim" and "savior" of the Tibetan struggle, the one here protesting with bloody tears. I can't even put into words how wrong this is on so many levels.<br />
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Metakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01073619786043008627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645158726513920812.post-67911272210800525872014-03-06T22:35:00.000-05:002014-03-07T01:15:54.162-05:00Happy Losar (Except for you guys)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We from Overlooking Tibet would like to wish everyone a happy Losar. We had a Losar post, but in Tibetan culture it's bad form to scold during the first 3 days of Losar, so we decided to wait.<br />
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Some of you may have noticed that last month, about one day off of Chinese New Year, many Khampa and Amdowa Tibetans posted about their Losar celebrations, as did Tibetan practitioners of the Karma Kagyu school. Every year this causes a bit of confusion and discussion, especially among Tibetans residing in exile where (except for especially devout practitioners of the Karma Kagyu School and people from Kongpo) Losar is pretty standardized (and even in these two cases, they usually celebrate "standard/phuglug Losar" as well.)<br />
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But this year, I got to see this: <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5K2K7eQd3n-ptYNNxZS8-G2MgY2Yb7aHTroknNtMFcOfOV5c5jHmP6GMdXEMrcDnN_pQON6na5m7eQ4SCn2n-J4ha86nPGlc2H_f3xyCGa1LHBIrPoqd4ExOsyBqvELKSuyaoMlakowA/s1600/edit+anon+fake+losar+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5K2K7eQd3n-ptYNNxZS8-G2MgY2Yb7aHTroknNtMFcOfOV5c5jHmP6GMdXEMrcDnN_pQON6na5m7eQ4SCn2n-J4ha86nPGlc2H_f3xyCGa1LHBIrPoqd4ExOsyBqvELKSuyaoMlakowA/s1600/edit+anon+fake+losar+2.jpg" height="356" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiea1s4FBbJEbkfCLydo_UguWd8MWQiV_HepIVcbePftG4ETz39vTB1tZKpKp9FIxor_BPbIv_pWtQVpDr8Jf2tblwK7tAzXmRPIhtWku3h2_JDOtjrzeO0rvmIZJsiKa6XtLdmmZjESYw/s1600/edit+anon+fake+losar+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiea1s4FBbJEbkfCLydo_UguWd8MWQiV_HepIVcbePftG4ETz39vTB1tZKpKp9FIxor_BPbIv_pWtQVpDr8Jf2tblwK7tAzXmRPIhtWku3h2_JDOtjrzeO0rvmIZJsiKa6XtLdmmZjESYw/s1600/edit+anon+fake+losar+3.jpg" height="327" width="400" /></a></div>
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Followed not long after by this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK6XGpe4nWrwLNwCaHQXpwaNISGp8DBir3GJ8elwyQfVHLuxtx7pm4HBY2wciK8IrkzncI2H6i_1kf5fD5d1T2w-I4QHp-8fy04AIT7FbjrA7sDhm3Vouzq89MpRd7Cr_8t_I30YTT054/s1600/Edit+anon+serta+losar+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK6XGpe4nWrwLNwCaHQXpwaNISGp8DBir3GJ8elwyQfVHLuxtx7pm4HBY2wciK8IrkzncI2H6i_1kf5fD5d1T2w-I4QHp-8fy04AIT7FbjrA7sDhm3Vouzq89MpRd7Cr_8t_I30YTT054/s1600/Edit+anon+serta+losar+1.jpg" height="382" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHn_TguIG-1_GbrwyItfQQNe_jIQAfUy0oIwRkSBSOlmnzLZjxRFFEZ7-rH1mFwiKY2JOXgCb7lf_ZrXGUERE4I7T5aLW2IhERPoAshCvagmu2wTLc0v7Ue4scdm0jGu6ClvbYWNy9Cxk/s1600/Edit+anon+serta+losar+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHn_TguIG-1_GbrwyItfQQNe_jIQAfUy0oIwRkSBSOlmnzLZjxRFFEZ7-rH1mFwiKY2JOXgCb7lf_ZrXGUERE4I7T5aLW2IhERPoAshCvagmu2wTLc0v7Ue4scdm0jGu6ClvbYWNy9Cxk/s1600/Edit+anon+serta+losar+2.jpg" height="345" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
T is the only Tibetan anywhere in this conversation. Everyone else, most importantly A, the original poster, is a westerner.<br />
<br />
I started with annoyance, then moved to disgust at her move of publicly shaming Tibetans in Tibet for celebrating the new year on the timing it is celebrated in their region. I then moved on to rage when she went so far as to call them "collaborators". For what? For celebrating Losar on a different date? Then "<i>Chinese</i> Losar in Serta: Some Tibetans celebrated with Chinese army" (emphasis my own.) Excuse me? Chinese Losar?<br />
<br />
First: Brief lesson. Losar is widely celebrated across different dates in Tibet. Many parts of Eastern Tibet, such as Minyak in Kham and several different areas of Amdo, have historically celebrated Losar one month early, nearly or exactly coinciding with the Chinese New Year. Is it Chinese new year? No. It coincides. There are <i>a lot</i> of overlaps between the Tibetan calendar and the Chinese one. For example, it's the wood horse year all across Asia, not just Tibet. Not just China! Mongolian new year also falls within a few days of Chinese new year, similar to the Amdo Tibetan new year. Would she also like to argue that the Mongolians have lost their culture and are collaborators?<br />
<br />
Another group that celebrates Losar on a slightly different calendar which usually falls within 2 days of Chinese new year are followers of the Tsurlug calendar. Even the <a href="http://www.men-tsee-khang.org/index2.htm" target="_blank">Official Website of the Tibetan Astrological And Medical Institute,</a> founded in Dharamsala by the Dalai Lama <a href="http://www.men-tsee-khang.org/tibastro/origin_classification.htm" target="_blank">acknowledges the validity of the Tsurlug calendar</a> as one of the "two major traditions of Tibetan astrology." (The other is the more mainstream, and slightly newer Phuglug calendar, which coincides with the Chinese new year every other year <i>anyway</i>).<br />
<br />
Kongpo Losar generally falls between October and Decembera nd is widely celebrated by Kongpo Tibetans in Tibet and exile. It is radically different from Phuglug Losar, but since it doesn't fall near Chinese new year ever, it is never a source of controversy. <br />
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Second and worst: Who does A think she is to publicly shame and condemn Tibetans? She reports that <i>last year</i> Lobsang Sangay asked Tibetans not to celebrate Losar, who is she to condemn them for celebrating this year? There has been no call from inside Tibet that I know of (or in exile for that matter) not to celebrate Losar! Why should they have to give up their holiday and chance for enjoyment? Worse yet, she makes herself out as the victim in this scenario "I feel devastated in my desire to help the preservation of Tibetan culture. Looks like they really do not mind." What? By celebrating <i>their holiday</i> according to <i>their regional calendar</i> she feels "devastated"? Who does she think she is? The holder of Tibetan culture?<br />
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These photos, she acknowledges, were sent to her by friends on WeChat. I think it's a safe assumption, based on her own comments, that they were sent by Tibetan friends enjoying Losar and wanting to share their enjoyment of the new year with her. I wonder how her "friends" would feel knowing that she is referring to them as "collaborators"? I wonder how they would react to her using their uncensored photos, sent in conversation of celebration, to publicly shame Tibetans?<br />
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Does she really think she's aiding the "unity" of Tibetans by accusing Tibetan celebrants of being collaborators? By condemning the unique cultural practices that differ across Tibet?<br />
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But you know what? It's Losar. So on behalf of us at Overlooking Tibet, whether you celebrate Phuglug Losar now, Tsurlug, Amdo Losar or Tsagaan Sar a month ago, or Kongpo Losar in autumn, Happy Losar. </div>
Metakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01073619786043008627noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645158726513920812.post-61259626197469591672014-03-01T00:05:00.000-05:002014-03-01T00:05:02.950-05:00Holier Than Thy Autocorrect<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3rd3MUnMWrRsYlhySNjnp-2P6ed8hhxh-Ys0maZCKMrDWY6-EFHYnX7yy48w0nmhW2jk9iBjTQ32zeR_mJrb3EZDWozi5VX6HYo6AYwMyga-jaRAnOnERZ8_vGyjCfXfv1j9BoHZFMg/s1600/unnamed.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3rd3MUnMWrRsYlhySNjnp-2P6ed8hhxh-Ys0maZCKMrDWY6-EFHYnX7yy48w0nmhW2jk9iBjTQ32zeR_mJrb3EZDWozi5VX6HYo6AYwMyga-jaRAnOnERZ8_vGyjCfXfv1j9BoHZFMg/s1600/unnamed.png" height="175" width="640" /></a></div>
This little number popped up in response to a photo of HHDL on facebook. The first person was a Tibetan and the second person, white. Let's call them "Tsering" and "Max" for the sake of ease. <br />
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When I saw this interaction, I was so shocked by how quickly and harshly Max jumped on Tsering that I had trouble identifying what was the shocking part. It took me a while to realize that it was a combination of factors. <br />
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Let's be clear: was Tsering, when wishing Long Life to HHDL purposely mispelling lama? Not a chance. I do, however, challenge any reader, Tibetan or not, to honestly tell me that they've NEVER had "lama" autocorrected to "Lana", "lame" or some other variant while using the ever-popular iphone. I know I certainly have hit "send" before realizing that I've referenced the Lana visiting the local Buddhist center. (Other favorites, asking my Tibetan friends what China they are wearing for Losar, instead of chuba, and referring to Hatches Rinpoche instead of Garchen Rinpoche.)<br />
<br />
So, chances are Tsering, like the vast majority of Tibetans who want to have easy access to Tibetan language while texting, was using an iphone and it autocorrected Lama to lame. An unfortunate autocorrect, but one that I hope most people would just get an embarrassed giggle out of. But not in this case. In Max's effort to show his own holiness and how he is a better servant/representative/whatever of the Dalai Lama than Tsering, he attacks. <br />
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Not only that, but "the Precious One"? I did a quick look at this guy's page. He generally refers to HHDL as "HH." Yep. Two letters. But in this case, "the Precious One"? Really? Sorry, that sounds a bit forced to me.<br />
<br />
Then his charming comment about "write in your own language." What on earth is that? OK, good, he acknowledges that English is likely not Tsering's first language, but then denies Tsering the right to <i>choose</i> to comment in English, the primary language of this thread (and facebook in general)? Let's make the assumption for the moment (and this is a total assumption, because we have no way to know) that Tsering is, like many Tibetans, not fluent in English. And let's make a second assumption that the error was neither an autocorrect, nor a typo, but an actual spelling error based on difficulty with English. Who the hell does Max think he is to tell a Tibetan, who is clearly trying his best to use the language of the conversation in order to express <i>his own</i> devotion to the spiritual leader of <i>his own</i> people, that Tsering doesn't have the right to use English unless he can use it perfectly? <br />
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This is <i>just</i> as bad as when white supporters demand that Tibetans, in a Tibetan space, speak English. But in this case, instead of acknowledging that learning a second (or, as is the case of most Tibetans, likely a third or fourth) language is difficult and the effort should be lauded and encouraged, he feels like he should flaunt his own supposed holy superiority and basically demand that 'if you can't speak English, go home.'<br />
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All this for what was probably a stupid autocorrect.</div>
Metakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01073619786043008627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645158726513920812.post-56545179896445962652014-02-23T21:59:00.000-05:002014-02-23T21:59:07.148-05:00White Saviour Slacktivism at its Finest<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
One Tibet Support Group (TSG) just hit 20,000 likes on their facebook page and posted this infographic to remind everyone of "how you really make a difference for Tibet."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYb0hVR8ILw0XbcIM3d0n8El1m5mdkMjisSO8eDOAEQ0ajF8vWBmN46sNS-ibJSb3TbJIMzNh_tpLLEW3iMPfJ8r6gQ9p_ClR_Vv3VPDJpsAHtCsiLZ2hAGcnzepTz2ik6oR_5_9ECpm8/s1600/1796069_1007062942642669_1559566683_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYb0hVR8ILw0XbcIM3d0n8El1m5mdkMjisSO8eDOAEQ0ajF8vWBmN46sNS-ibJSb3TbJIMzNh_tpLLEW3iMPfJ8r6gQ9p_ClR_Vv3VPDJpsAHtCsiLZ2hAGcnzepTz2ik6oR_5_9ECpm8/s1600/1796069_1007062942642669_1559566683_o.jpg" height="320" width="143" /></a></div>
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First of all, this infographic is giving three big cheers to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slacktivism" target="_blank">slacktivism</a>. You are at the "centre of freeing Tibet" just by sitting at a computer and clicking 'share'! Wow! And <i>that</i> is that is at the <i>centre</i> (their word, not mine.)<br />
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Do you know what's <i>not</i> at the center according to them? Take a nice look at those teeny tiny figures up in the right hand corner. That group of characters that could easily be fit 3 times into the "centre" circle of YOU at your laptop (capital letters their choice, not mine.) What are those minuscule figures in the periphery? "Tibetan protesters" and "Tibetans risk[ing] arrest and torture for sharing information". Man, I'm sure glad to know that these guys feel that privileged folk sitting on facebook clicking 'like' and 'share' are the ones freeing Tibet, not the thousands of Tibetans risking their lives protesting, organizing grassroots boycott campaigns inside of Tibet, promoting Tibetan identity through Lhakar and risking (as the infographic acknowledges) torture and arrest to make sure Tibetan voices are heard. I bet it makes all their facebook fans with the Free Tibet bumper stickers feel all warm and fuzzy inside. <br />
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And yes, I acknowledge the irony of ranting about this on a blog.</div>
Metakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01073619786043008627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645158726513920812.post-43363615590223716822014-02-20T01:03:00.000-05:002014-02-20T01:06:14.652-05:00Tibetan Studies Conference: Tibetans Not Welcome Here<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recently the blog <a href="http://angrytibetangirl.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Angry Tibetan Girl</a> posted a guest rant about <a href="http://angrytibetangirl.tumblr.com/post/76438209399/double-standards-at-symposiums-on-tibet" target="_blank">Symposiums on Tibet.</a> The article highlighted one of the <i>many</i> big issues in Tibetan academia (alright, let's be honest, any academia concentrating on a non-white area). The heart of the article is really summarized in these paragraphs (although I encourage reading the whole thing):</span><br />
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Aren’t you tired of the double standard that comes with academics/intellectuals that are doing Tibet related stuff? I recently noticed a symposium on Tibet and realized only a few Tibetan names. Here’s the thing, for a Tibetan to be invited to these things, they need to</div>
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1. Have published several academic papers already</div>
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2. Weirdly, be of a certain age, and most likely, has to be a man.</div>
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... </div>
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For a westerner to be invited to these, only few things are required, they need to not be Tibetan, studying Tibet as a graduate school or working at a Tibet NGO</div>
</blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And yeah, that sounds about right. Read the article, there isn't all that much I can add to it. But I do want to try to expand based on my experience, and the experience of many of my friends, wandering through the labyrinth of academia. This doesn't just happen at seminars. Take a look at staff. Of the Tibetan studies staff at the SOAS in London, <a href="http://www.soas.ac.uk/cia/tibetanstudies/staff/" target="_blank">out of ten, only one is Tibetan. And he is a research associate.</a> At Columbia University, one of the few schools to have a modern Tibetan studies program, out of three, t<a href="http://www.columbia.edu/cu/weai/faculty.html#tibet" target="_blank">he only Tibetan is the Tibetan language instructor.</a> The director, as well as the lecturers on "<span style="background-color: white;">Modern Tibetan history; Manchu Qing Empire frontiers; role of Tibetan Buddhism in Sino-Tibetan relations, </span><span style="background-color: white;">Culture and politics; film and television in Inner Asia; nationality issues in China" are all non-Tibetans. Where are the Tibetan lecturers on Modern Tibetan culture? </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">Many academics make the excuse that, of course Tibetans would be biased! Well, if that's the case, let's remove every American from American history and American studies lectures, every European from European History and most philosophy lecture positions! Do you see that happening? I certainly don't! All I can think back to is what a professor said to me years ago, and which I posted about early on, this idea of <a href="http://overlookingtibet.blogspot.com/2010/04/baby-sitting-tibetans.html" target="_blank">knowing better than Tibetans</a>, or being the "true" safeguards of Tibetan history. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">And it's sick.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">But back to symposiums. There are other issues at hand too: Tibetan studies symposiums often, in their structure, isolate or make it especially difficult for even the most qualified of Tibetan scholars to attend! The best way to illustrate this is actually to look at two conferences that avoided some of those problems, because the measures they took help illustrate the institutionalized failure of academia to attempt to work with Tibetan scholars. The two conferences I would like to look at are the International Association of Tibetan Studies (IATS) 13th Seminar, hosted in Ulaanbaatar Mongolia in 2013, and the Third International Conference on Tibetan Language, hosted in New York, USA in 2012 (For short ICTL). I was only able to attend one, but I heard back from many people who attended both. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">First of all, the IATS conference was located in Mongolia. This served as a neutral location so Tibetans from India and from Tibet could attend. It is also a less expensive location, which again serves to make it feasible to Tibetans on Chinese or Indian salaries. Furthermore, the Mongolian government is very generous with visas. In fact, the conference was largely, if not overwhelmingly, Tibetan and there should have been even more from Tibet! The biggest issue preventing scholars from Tibet from attending was none other than the Chinese government's refusal to issue passports or exit permits. Apparently, some panels were missing half or more of their speakers, who last minute were denied exit from China.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">ICTL was located in New York, much more expensive and far more difficult to get a Visa. I personally know one highly esteemed Tibetan writer who got all of his documents from the Chinese and was then denied a visa by the US consulate. To make matters worse, when he tried (through friends in America) to contact ICTL organizers to get an additional call or letter to support his claim that he was attending a conference, they were virtually impossible to reach. I am sure this choice of location proved prohibitive to many. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">However, to ICTL's credit, they had spontaneous translation with radio headphones! All talks and the following question/answer sessions were simultaneously translated into English, Tibetan and Chinese. As a result, no Tibetan scholars felt unwelcome due to language barriers. This is a huge issue in virtually every Tibetan studies conference, where speeches must be given in English or another European language, thereby prohibiting many of the most highly qualified Tibetan scholars from attending or speaking. IATS, a far larger conference was also at a lower budget location. They did not have simultaneous radio translation, but speakers had the option to present in Tibetan, as well as English and a few other languages. I was surprised that Chinese was not included, considering that many Tibetan scholars in Tibet learn to present in Chinese, in part to overcome dialectical barriers, and I feel this was a great failure on the part of IATS. None the less, many panels were conducted in English and Tibetan and it was the responsibility of the non-Tibetan attendees to be sufficiently conversant in Tibetan. There were several cases where Non-Tibetan attendees were asked to reiterate a point in Tibetan, and therefore had to re-state their conclusions in Tibetan! During the opening speeches, translations were projected on a screen next to the speaker.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">At both conferences, Tibetan scholars from Tibet, India, Nepal and residing across the world, were in attendance and formed a substantial portion, if not the majority of speakers. A far cry from virtually every other symposium or conference! What could possibly cause this difference? Well, both organizations have many Tibetans in decision making positions. IATS even has a Tibetan scholar who was just elected as its president.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is it this rare to have Tibetans as decision makers in Academia? And as long as they aren't there, are conferences going to continue hosting the same few scholars in a sea of non-Tibetan faces? Is this what academia is all about?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course it is. It's about white scholars sitting in their offices telling everyone else that <i>they</i> know about the non-whites. And until that changes, until academic colonialism is finished, until we stand up against it, there will not be a fair chance for Tibetans in scholarship.</span></div>
Metakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01073619786043008627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645158726513920812.post-37202971190679650462014-02-11T22:11:00.002-05:002014-02-11T22:11:34.851-05:00Sacrifices on the Altar of Academia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I am so pissed off about this that I'm having trouble even clarifying exactly what I'm angry about. It's just so encompassing.<br />
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While looking or some help on an independent research project that dealt with people inside of Tibet, I was given the name of a professor at my university. We'll call her Ms. R. Ms. R. has worked frequently as a researcher in an occupied region that is frequently a war zone. Kidnappings, torture, bombings and shootings are very commonplace. Since I was specifically looking for someone who would understand the sensitivities of dealing with a place like Tibet and working with people inside of Tibet, she seemed like a good bet.<br />
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We talked for a while to discuss my goals and I brought up, at the very beginning, that I don't want to be a university professor. My goal is not in academia. (If you can't tell from the rest of this blog, we here at OT have some issues with how academia deals with Tibet.) As our conversation continued and she heard about my own political experiences in Tibet and Tibetan communities in exile, she kept putting pressure on me to publish a book based on my research and experiences. I explained that:<br />
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<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>I had no interest in being in academia, as I had already told her <i>several</i> times</li>
<li>If I published, I would very likely be preventing myself from going back to Tibet and doing any meaningful work in Tibet.</li>
<li>(And by far the most important): Try as I might, I cannot guarantee the anonymity of my sources.</li>
</ol>
It's one thing to do a research project for a school on a non-political topic, it's another to publish research and experiences as part of a book dealing with Tibetan politics.<br />
<br />
She kept putting the pressure on: how I needed to publicize the normalization of terror and fear in Tibet, the intimate aspects of life that the Chinese government were effecting, all of these issues which she felt I could write a good book about. When I tried to explain that I was concerned for the safety of my friends in Tibet, her response floored me:<br />
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"By publishing this, you will get the word out and bring attention! It will do so much good!"<br />
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Really? Stop for a moment. How many people, outside of academia, read academic publications? Yeah, there are some, but not a heck of a lot. Is it going to make a difference? And even if it does, do I have the right to decide on behalf of the people I know in Tibet that their safety is an acceptable risk? Absolutely not.<br />
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But it really sickens me, the idea that when academics publish something, they are helping. Yeah, they are putting out information, which will generally be used in a self-affirming circle of more research and more publications by people sitting in nice, ergonomically designed chairs in offices in the ivory towers of universities. It's a paper to make your name look good on your CV. Does it actually <i>help</i> anyone? I'm pretty damn skeptical of that. If I, or anyone, has the ability to travel in Tibet and actually do meaningful work with communities to try and provide some benefit, should I throw this all away because "that would make a great paper"? And even more, does any academic have the right to decide on behalf of their sources that this publication is for the "greater good", and justifies the sources being sacrificed on the altar of academia?<br />
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She told me her stories of her time in her research location like a classic western explorer: glorifying all she saw and wrote, justifying it by peppering it with stories of drinking tea with families and how the community let her talk to them. This was then followed by harrowing tales of police kidnappings and tortures of local people, of of which she was able to escape after a few hours of questioning and a plane ride to a neutral country. What about her "friends" who invited her over for tea? Did they escape that fate? Does she really think that this book that she has published, that is for sale through an academic press for more than a hundred dollars, is being ready by people who will actually <i>do</i> something? Who will protect her contacts on the ground?</div>
Metakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01073619786043008627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645158726513920812.post-8348780229475874242013-04-06T15:33:00.000-04:002013-04-06T18:07:02.418-04:00The Success of Tibetans: Choeying Kyi's Bronze<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This past summer, during the London Olympics, something very unusual happened:<br />
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Tibetans, the world over, cheered as a competitor wearing the People's Republic of China uniform raced for, and eventually won, a bronze metal.<br />
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Another unusual event occurred as well.<br />
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Chinese, the world over, cheered as a Tibetan competitor raced for, and eventually won, a bronze metal.<br />
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Why? Because for the first time ever, a Tibetan competed in the olympics. Unsurprisingly, she was competing under the Chinese flag. I say 'unsurprisingly' because statistically, with roughly 150,000 Tibetans in exile and 6,000,000 Tibetans in Tibet, there is a larger pool of potential athletes to choose from Inside of Tibet and therefore under Chinese domain should they wish to compete in the olympics.<br />
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Tibetans, almost uniformly, were thrilled to finally see a Tibetan face in the olympics. Choeying Kyi, a young woman from a nomadic family in Amdo, not only was able to compete in the women's 20 km racewalk, she took home the bronze metal. She wasn't just the first Tibetan competitor in the Olympic Games, she was the first ever Tibetan medalist.<br />
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Along the track, Tibetan flags waved alongside Chinese ones, and banners written in both Tibetan and Chinese urged Choeying Kyi to win. <br />
<br />
Of course, there were those who felt uncomfortable cheering on an athlete under the Chinese flag and understandably so. I am sure that there are many Tibetan athletes who might be of olympic quality but wouldn't feel comfortable competing as a representative from China. <br />
<br />
But there was a far more vocal group as well, primarily consisting of Western "supporters" who plastered the word "COLLABORATOR" over the photos of Choeying Kyi winning the race and campaigned and wrote on how she was a traitor, how she should have stood up for Tibet and protested or defected.<br />
<br />
I ask these people: what do you think would have happened to her family if she had done this? It's easy to say that, but would you risk your family? You don't have to!<br />
<br />
I use Choeying Kyi as an example, because she was one of the first Tibetans under a Chinese passport to make a big name in the international media in recent years. However, I consider this just another symptom of a greater problem that I've seen among so-called "supporters." And it is the idea that Tibetans cannot be successful unless they are collaborators, the idea that Tibetans can never be truly Tibetan without being protestors.<br />
<br />
But that request boils down to this: Asking that Tibetans in Tibet risk their lives and safety, their families' lives, for the sake of politics. Asking Tibetans to forfeit the right to just try to live a normal life. Asking Tibetans to forfeit the right to try and be successful, just because they would have to play within China's rules. Who will they condemn next? The composers who must submit their music to 'copyright offices' where they are judged by censors? The singers who's concerts and music videos must be published on a state run television? The Tibetan film directors who have no choice but to play their films on state run television stations because no others exist? <br />
<br />
It's fine if you don't want to cheer Choeying Kyi on, but she isn't putting Tibetans in jail, she isn't making propaganda speeches about how Tibetans are So Happy Under the Great Motherland. She's living a dream under the restrictions that have been imposed on her. <br />
<br />
So don't cheer for her if you don't want to, but how can people declare her and by extension any Tibetan who chooses to pursue success over mediocrity and safety over extreme danger for the sake of a political battle they don't know if they can win, a "collaborator"?</div>
Metakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01073619786043008627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645158726513920812.post-42795057625682844872013-04-03T16:36:00.001-04:002013-04-06T15:36:35.130-04:00Doing Things Right<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Recently I've seen this article being passed around, <a href="http://aconerlycoleman.wordpress.com/2013/03/30/an-open-letter-to-self-identified-allies-to-marginalized-group/" target="_blank">"An Open Letter to Self-Identified Allies to [Marginalized Group]"</a> With the last post being about how I couldn't even express how many things were wrong, this article had overwhelmed me with all that was <i>right</i>. So rather than summarize it, I'll just post the first point of the letter and I hope you will all read and pass this great open letter on!<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Remember that your identity as an “ally” is contingent upon the maintenance of the status quo.</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
In other words, your identity as an “ally” has its basis in the continued oppression of marginalized groups. In the possible future reality of a just world, your identity as an “ally” would be obsolete. Work toward putting yourself out of a “job.” An effective ally’s goal should be toward obsolescence.</div>
</blockquote>
<br /></div>
Metakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01073619786043008627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645158726513920812.post-25913395551891226272013-04-01T15:41:00.000-04:002013-04-06T15:38:14.816-04:00Where to even start<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A reader sent us the following facebook conversation. It's honestly hard to even start with what's wrong with this. For privacy, we've covered all names, but B is the only Tibetan in the conversation. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtjRKqNkXY4pi2Nn2u56KIo0ZP9sQIqeOoiTBKRrzTrbM8oOy5JuK0Sk9RtVHfY79AfgpwdAYdh5-XMAVNiB9UGp7k_QzO48-BzW-v1HqLif7OzPF3W0UYf88PvsuaGbJZFuMHzxH1kw/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-02-24+at+1.23.44+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtjRKqNkXY4pi2Nn2u56KIo0ZP9sQIqeOoiTBKRrzTrbM8oOy5JuK0Sk9RtVHfY79AfgpwdAYdh5-XMAVNiB9UGp7k_QzO48-BzW-v1HqLif7OzPF3W0UYf88PvsuaGbJZFuMHzxH1kw/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-02-24+at+1.23.44+AM.png" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div>
<br />
What really gets to me here goes back to one of our age-old points: entitlement. The writer points out how much they've done for Tibetans as if they expect some sort of reward or immunity from responses to their criticisms of Tibetan communities. Remember, people, if you're doing this do get something, you're doing it for the wrong reasons.<br />
<br />
The C responds. Mass generalizations about tibetans as "childlike and egotistical" followed "Tibetans are in a negative karmic cycle". Well, that's some victim blaming! The whole comment is victim blaming. <br />
<br />
But wait guys. That's not all:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlK2o5bv02Umqaa6RcXohsRfQySk33EkzNWy_HWWbtMWW4tpLFg0U-Rx_HMqFAtHs381rTI-UstgAMDw4uyUV_J_PScn7rZv00YFiPPFws6J0R2B2rHWUxd8SFlSj3pw0PJjbbVYlEqpQ/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-02-24+at+1.23.55+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlK2o5bv02Umqaa6RcXohsRfQySk33EkzNWy_HWWbtMWW4tpLFg0U-Rx_HMqFAtHs381rTI-UstgAMDw4uyUV_J_PScn7rZv00YFiPPFws6J0R2B2rHWUxd8SFlSj3pw0PJjbbVYlEqpQ/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-02-24+at+1.23.55+AM.png" /></a></div>
A's comment: Threatened? Come on. The statement was that there would be backlash. Let's be honest, any time anyone writes something critical there is backlash. And considering A's comments as this post continues, the backlash of her supposed critiques is probably deserved. C continues with Tibetans now being "Fascist and authoritarian". <br />
<br />
Now B, a Tibetan woman based in the west, comes into the conversation, calling C out on his degrading generalizations about the Tibetan community. She also seems to be very gently asking A to reconsider her critiques for the same reasons. I want to note the gentleness, because it reminded me of a comment we got from a Tibetan reader a long time ago. The reader mentioned how lots of Tibetans felt pressured to be overly nice and polite to foreign "supporters" and avoid criticizing them. I can't speak to B's intention here, so I don't know if that's what's going on, but it definitely reminded me of that comment. B Then is forced to point out another major racist pattern: when one, non-white, person does something, the whole group gets blamed. B goes on to call C out on his ignorant bullshit and self-purported rationality. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxS8Wkf1Eot6yXNLWBn4nLtqeNPHoiqx-MFyfWD48xcyUx_7-17C6wksFnWXTOSZHmtfnc3SjC74VOlnlQrZK0EYPrYrD_nrC3ZI98t32ddF9kyeKDTlgCFZpwwzlb5PjId2KbJPoS9J4/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-02-24+at+1.24.09+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxS8Wkf1Eot6yXNLWBn4nLtqeNPHoiqx-MFyfWD48xcyUx_7-17C6wksFnWXTOSZHmtfnc3SjC74VOlnlQrZK0EYPrYrD_nrC3ZI98t32ddF9kyeKDTlgCFZpwwzlb5PjId2KbJPoS9J4/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-02-24+at+1.24.09+AM.png" /></a></div>
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</div>
Now A joins on the faux-Buddhist, victim blaming bandwagon. And yes! My bingo card is filling right up! Quoting important Tibetan figures out of context! I wonder what Jamyang Norbu would say to being referenced like this...<br />
<br />
C's apology is even worse. Like any good fake apology, we get the "Sorry...but" and then goes on to call B's response a "typical Tibetan ethnocentric hyper-defensive response..." but seems to be absolving himself by saying "it could be argued" (Weasel words, anyone?) And then, no not all tibetans are bad "but what if half"...really? And this is coming from someone who lives in Tibetan communities and claims to love Tibetans. I don't even.... Seriously. I'm having trouble with words.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyFfeBB64TS4TUZbM0soMqOg6F4JDgwkV07r6Hei2inl7hE_3a0lQ6dALC6yqo9X0LaUjpihSDR294WJ7RNvlO4VW0eXJFeGB2ZA84w5jwZd23ly_kwhUGs4zqNETGbOD_hWDbul8_CMg/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-02-24+at+1.24.24+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyFfeBB64TS4TUZbM0soMqOg6F4JDgwkV07r6Hei2inl7hE_3a0lQ6dALC6yqo9X0LaUjpihSDR294WJ7RNvlO4VW0eXJFeGB2ZA84w5jwZd23ly_kwhUGs4zqNETGbOD_hWDbul8_CMg/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-02-24+at+1.24.24+AM.png" /></a></div>
<br />
B, the only Tibetan in the conversation I want to emphasize again brings up the important point that it's not that Tibetans are bad, it's that one Tibetan did something.<br />
<br />
C: Fundamentalist fascistic Tibetans? Man. I have to wonder what was under that "see more" link.<br />
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Finally:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOgiw-VpLdA5w8VjtHNKPz3RDzsJmuPEKqOa6fO53bpdejNPqGjiLrleO-TDGteymCBzh7TQD8mGP2bZh_GNwLpD3I9-AFd1kAPCpobXci-pXXvRNT5a10lVQROsxjcaxdAYM9nvJffQ/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-02-24+at+1.24.40+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOgiw-VpLdA5w8VjtHNKPz3RDzsJmuPEKqOa6fO53bpdejNPqGjiLrleO-TDGteymCBzh7TQD8mGP2bZh_GNwLpD3I9-AFd1kAPCpobXci-pXXvRNT5a10lVQROsxjcaxdAYM9nvJffQ/s320/Screen+shot+2013-02-24+at+1.24.40+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
C, you are the master of the backhanded compliment. Once again, how Tibetans are "far from great thinkers". Wow. So they're jerks, lying assholes, fundamentalist fascists, but they're mostly OK even though they are kind of stupid? Tell me, C, how is it you hold them in such high regard? That statement just reeks of self importance.<br />
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Seriously. I can't even analyze this. I'm done.</div>
Metakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01073619786043008627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645158726513920812.post-83692395348756868222012-05-16T14:36:00.000-04:002012-05-16T14:36:38.940-04:00Being "Better Than"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have to say, it sometimes amazes me how people can fail to recognize how offensive and racist they are being.<br />
<br />
I occasionally read a blog called <a href="http://angrytibetangirl.tumblr.com/">Angry Tibetan Girl (warning: NSFW Language)</a>, and she reads OT as well (thanks for the blog shout-out, ATG.) We have the same opinion about each other's blogs. To quote her: "I'm not down with every post, but I like it for the most part." We also express ourselves very differently, specifically since she's <i>angry</i> Tibetan girl, it's a lot of ranting. But a lot of her stuff is interesting and on point, even if we don't agree all the time. <br />
<br />
Now, other than pointing out an interesting blog, why is this here? A western reader on her blog sent her quite a diatribe (linked <a href="http://angrytibetangirl.tumblr.com/post/22168641473/and-the-self-righteous-tibetan-hater-speaks">here </a>and copied below) in response to <a href="http://angrytibetangirl.tumblr.com/post/22098230913/someones-a-fan-of-yours">another post</a>. We've seen our fair share of diatribes here, so it's rare that one actually surprises me with it's venom and racism. This one did. It seemed to come down to two overwhelming points: White people are better than Tibetans. Tibetans are lower than white people. How is this <i>not </i>racism? Read it for yourself below:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Response to Hypocritical Tibetan Poster Girl: Don’t see her point. She doesn’t address what I said at all, only hurls insults. She brings up the “ungrateful” bit but doesn’t comment on how it’s not true. To wit: “failed at living in their own community..” — Angry Tibetan Girl clearly fails at living in the West, in fact her blog is a good example of that.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
And many Tibetans fail at living in Tibet, India, and the West, in a myriad of ways, I certainly didn’t fail at anything,</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I would be great either in the West or here in India. In fact,</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I sacrificed a nice life in the West in order to preserve Tibetan culture and religion.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“Feel important and valued” — same idea, the racist and hypocritical Tibetans like ATG want to believe that they are somehow superior and special based on their ethnic background and that they are inherently better than everyone due to their race, and resent the people that help them, how much help they and their community has received from the West and how much they themselves actually know about Tibetan culture and religion</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
(probably not much, who wants to bet I can read Tibetan better than ATG?).</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“Helped individuals perpetuate their ‘entitledness’” — maybe by acting like jerks like her and thus making us realize just how unsophisticated some Tibetans can be.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“Whiteness” — just a clear example of her racism.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
This girl is the Tibetan equivalent of an Alabaman KKK member.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Proves my point. Unless, she’s jealous of “whiteness and entitlement/ privilege”… “Enji” —</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
it’s spelled Inji,</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
and it’s a totally retarded and inaccurate word anyway. That she doesn’t realize this shows the depth of her lack of deep thinking about the issues.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Of course we can forgive most Tibetans for using the word, but someone who is fluent in English and lives in the West?</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“I’m not saying all Injis are crazy” —</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I like to joke that to some Tibetans “Injis” seem crazy because they can hold a logical argument together without resorting to superstitions and stereotypes, and are capable of having more than 10 original thoughts in their heads a day.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
This girl must have had some pretty redneck backward parents to talk this way, unfortunately not uncommon in the Tibetan community,</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
as I am saying. Her response proves all my points quite nicely.</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<br />
According to this writer: Westerners are better at living in the west <i>and</i> east, and we shouldn't forget his brave sacrifice in coming here! He is better at reading Tibetan! He knows more about Tibetan culture! He is more sophisticated! He has better spelling of <i>phonetic interpretations of Tibetan words which are based on individual dialect and accent. </i>He is a deeper thinker! He can hold more thoughts in his head than a Tibetan! He doesn't believe in superstitions or stereotypes! And here's the clincher: the Tibetan community is full of "redneck, backwards" Tibetans. <br />
<br />
And of course there is the whole "they resent me for all the help I give when they should be grateful" mentality. Regarding that, I want to leave the last word to a Tibetan in Tibet, who may have summarized it best:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"We don't need your 'help', you are not here for 'helping' us. You are here to benefit yourself as well. We don't want you guys to 'save' us. We are developed in our standard, you are developed in your standard. No one is lagging behind or backwards."</blockquote>
<br /></div>Metakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01073619786043008627noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645158726513920812.post-72576128084363626052012-03-28T14:58:00.000-04:002012-03-28T14:58:43.854-04:00Using Tibetan martyrs for shameless judgmental self-promotionWow. I'm nearly beyond words on what I found today, which was enough to make me write my first contribution to this blog in over a year. I was looking on Facebook for updates on Jamphel Yeshi's condition after his self-immolation, and I found <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.346546595391818.80025.100001094412626&type=3">this</a>:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtK6lDnJFkK-v1J1vC-WReNk6_AqH-VXSbPG0q7d9nFnQhkQrNS8IgePoPDc3eIuAScIR7-UGI-D_AsvZUl3d8o_5VDfop9yUVmL90KqRHuM4vCc852Jp1lcICzN_-QynH2-b1ExoOemy9/s1600/joemickey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtK6lDnJFkK-v1J1vC-WReNk6_AqH-VXSbPG0q7d9nFnQhkQrNS8IgePoPDc3eIuAScIR7-UGI-D_AsvZUl3d8o_5VDfop9yUVmL90KqRHuM4vCc852Jp1lcICzN_-QynH2-b1ExoOemy9/s1600/joemickey.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Not only does this person find himself entitled to judge Tibetans' political actions, but he's made a very emotional space that was intended to be for those following and praying for Jamphel Yeshi-la's condition into an advertisement of his own pet project, delusions of grandeur, and patronizing claims that he can teach Tibetans to "speak to the world" better than their direct action and acts of extreme self-sacrifice have already done.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Wow, I really don't know what to say beyond this...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645158726513920812.post-34614622197171146022012-03-01T13:31:00.001-05:002012-03-01T21:36:14.695-05:00More on the immolations...<span><span style="font-size: 100%;">The ongoing immolations seem to be bringing the worst out in foreign "supporters." I know we talked about this </span></span><a href="http://overlookingtibet.blogspot.in/2011/10/on-recent-crisis-in-ngawa.html" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">before</a><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">, but I am seeing it again. Specifically, I've seen several foreigners on forums like twitter and facebook, demanding that Tibetans not only stop the self immolations but stop showing any respect for the immolators, such as calling them Pawo and Pamo (hero and heroine) or martyr. </span></span><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; "><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">I use the word "demanding" for a reason. These aren't requests or advice, but demands. These people will quote lamas such as HH Karmapa completely out of context in order to "prove" that they have the right to demand Tibetans follow their ideas of political activism. In addition, these are almost uniformly people who have few, if any, deep connections within the Tibetan community. Needless to say, not one of them could communicate successfully in Tibetan if they tried. None of them, to my knowledge, had ever set foot in Tibet.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; "><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">But even if they had, even if they had lived in Tibetan communities for years, spoke fluent Tibetan, had dozens of very close Tibetan friends who were practically family: they would still not have the right to demand Tibetans conform to their ideas of correct activism. How many times does it need to be said? Tibet is a Tibetan issue! Tibetans are the only ones who should decide how to take it forward. We are supporters. Our job is to <i>support.</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; "><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">In a case of violence, such as a bombing killing civilians, outsiders would have the right to object to the violence and stand in defense of the victims. However, in the case of immolations the victims are the perpetrators. These young men and women have decided to take their own lives in a form of protest that shares a long history across many cultures. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; "><br /></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">Does that mean outsiders should condone the immolations? Not </span>necessarily<span style="font-size: 100%;">. Tibetans are the ones who decide how to take their activism forward. We, as foreigners, can try to be respectful supporters and voice our opinions, but we can make no demands in either direction whether saying "you must do this" or "you must not do this." And everyone, Tibetan or foreigner, has the right to their own opinion. Therefore, it is absolutely okay to choose not to condone the immolations. But the difference is this: If we, as foreign supporters, do not agree with the actions of Tibetans; we must recognize that it is not our country, not our lives and therefore not our choice. As abhorrent as one might find the immolations, and as many do, we are not the ones who need to deal with the Chinese on a daily basis. </span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">So it comes down to this: We can accept that we support Tibetans and their rights to decide their own future for their country and their rights to decide how to achieve that, even if we find a certain tactic </span>distasteful<span style="font-size: 100%;">, or we can walk away and give up our self declared, innacurate title of "supporter".</span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">If you truly believe that your right to object is more important than the Tibetan people's right to self determination, whether for their country as a whole or even just in terms of deciding how to protest, then you object to Tibetans' rights to decide for themselves. The whole goal is for Tibetans to regain that right to self governance. If you object to that, you have no business here.</span></span></div>Metakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01073619786043008627noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645158726513920812.post-13703267372333315502012-02-28T13:02:00.002-05:002012-02-28T13:07:26.181-05:00Aaaand we're back!Sorry, guys. The past few months the authors of this blog have been scattered in different locations, and with commitments, life and the amazing ability to procrastinate, no posts have been published. BUT, we're back. Seriously. There is absolutely no shortage of inspiration for posts (sadly.) That said, if you want to talk about something that we haven't covered, by all means, contact us!Metakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01073619786043008627noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645158726513920812.post-57253773565046207682011-10-28T13:34:00.003-04:002011-10-28T18:51:53.904-04:00Common Misconceptions: The Panchen Lama and the Dalai Lama's RebirthOn this blog, we usually address actions by non-Tibetans that harm Tibetans. For many of these actions, the cause is ignorance. Today, rather than talking about behaviors, I want to try and clear up a very common misconception shared by many, if not most, foreign supporters. <div><br /></div><div>It is the role of the Panchen Lama in the discovery of the Dalai Lamas. </div><div><br /></div><div>Let us pretend for a moment that this is one of those tricky college exams:</div><div><br /></div><div>True or False: It is the duty of the Panchen Lama, exclusively, to recognize the reincarnation of the next Dalai Lama?</div><div><br /></div><div>Most people, including myself up until a few years ago, would answer "True." However, they would be wrong. </div><div><br /></div><div>The Tibetan system of reincarnation is very complex, and so in general conversation, it is boiled down to its simplest terms. And in those simplest terms, the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama have a joint relationship whereby one recognizes the other. And, in those simplest terms, it brings up the uncomfortable question that the Tibetan community is currently faced with: Gendun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama recognized by HH the 14th Dalai Lama, has been missing since May 17th, 1995. He was only 6 years old when Chinese security forces disappeared him and his family. Without the Panchen Lama, who will recognize the 15th Dalai Lama when the current Dalai Lama passes? </div><div><br /></div><div>Based on this belief, many fear that if Tibet is not free prior to the passing of the 14th Dalai Lama, Tibet will, for all intents and purposes, cease to exist. This belief creates a false sense of urgency, whereby there is an extremely limited amount of time to solve the Tibet problem. Many people faced with this misconception urge forms of sudden-death compromise. Although I fully believe that the situation in Tibet must be remedied as soon as possible, I have to ask: is this deadline real?</div><div><br /></div><div>Let's put the situation into western terms. </div><div><br /></div><div>In the United States government, we have a Vice President. In the <i>simplest terms</i> the Vice President's duty is to take over the roll of president in the case that the president dies or is otherwise incapacitated. In doing so, a smooth government continues and upheaval is prevented. </div><div><br /></div><div>However, let us take instead the possibility that the President and Vice President are travelling together and there is some sort of accident: Both are incapacitated. If we were only looking at <i>the simplest terms</i>, then the country would be in very big trouble! However, an entire hierarchy exists within the US government which would cause a series of shifts, thus providing a new president and guaranteeing a smooth continuance of government and prevention of major upheaval. </div><div><br /></div><div>This safety net provides two functions: Firstly, it guarantees that if something were to happen to both the President and Vice President, someone would still be running the country. However, secondly and far more relevant to our case, it guarantees that enemies of the current political regime cannot overtake the government through assassinating or kidnapping the President, Vice President or other political leaders.</div><div><br /></div><div>Likewise, the Tibetan political and religious systems have had such failsafes for years. In the case that the Panchen Lama is unavailable, other qualified lamas can recognize the new Dalai Lama. In fact, recent history shows that the system can work perfectly smoothly, even when the Panchen Lama is unavailable.</div><div><br /></div><div>For readers who have seen the Martin Scorcese film, <i>Kundun</i>, think back and try and remember the role the Panchen Lama served in the film. You may recall that he was not even mentioned! Why? Because in the case of the <i>current Dalai Lama, The Panchen Lama was unavailable!</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>How is that? The 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso, passed away in 1933. The 9th Panchen Lama, Thubten Choekyi Nyima, passed away four years later in 1937. The current Dalai Lama was born in 1935. The search for and recognition of the 14th Dalai Lama commenced in 1937 <i>after the Panchen Lama had died.</i> To put it simply, after the death of Panchen Lama there was neither a Panchen Lama available to recognize the Dalai Lama nor a Dalai Lama available to recognize the Panchen Lama. While the system of mutual recognition works perfectly when there is an age gap of at least 15 years, it fails when the deaths and births fall within about ten years of each other.</div><div><br /></div><div>Being that Buddhism teaches impermanence, the Lamas who worked within this system were painfully aware that you could not conveniently schedule death and there needed to be a back-up system in the case of the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama dying or being born at around the same time. </div><div><br /></div><div>In the case of the 14th Dalai Lama, he was recognized by another high lama: Reting Rinpoche. As we can see when we now look at HH 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, 1989 Nobel Peace Prize Winner, and recipient of the 2006 congressional Gold Medal, the system seems to have worked just fine.</div><div><br /></div><div>The disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama was one of the greatest and most tragic blows to Tibetans in their recent history. As long as he is missing, it will remain an open wound and I do not mean to dismiss that in any way. However, it is important that we remember that Tibetans and the Tibetan institution have an emergency plan, set up and practiced, for a situation in which the Panchen Lama is not available to recognize the Dalai Lama. </div><div><br /></div><div>Why did I feel that this detail of Tibetan Buddhism and politics was so important that it deserved its own post? In Tibet's current non-violent struggle, the two main weapons are truth and hope. Without truth, there is no reliability or legitimacy to the cause. Without hope, it is too easy to give up and in doing so abandon the Tibetans inside of Tibet who's lives rely on <i>not</i> giving up. While we must always struggle to move as quickly as possible, we cannot afford to create a false deadline whereby we can declare the struggle "dead." For Tibetans inside of Tibet, as long as they remain oppressed, the struggle continues. If we declare it hopeless, we withdraw our support, and that is the greatest disservice we can provide.</div>Metakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01073619786043008627noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645158726513920812.post-61889170723766132822011-10-23T10:57:00.000-04:002011-10-23T11:16:03.403-04:00The "Radical" Dalai Lama<div style="text-align: left;">The media. We haven't concentrated much on them here because, to be honest, media representation of Tibet is such a can of worms that it's overwhelming to try and cover all of the ways the media disempowers Tibet and Tibetans. Therefore, I ask of readers that you be patient with us as we cover each issue individually over time. What I want to talk about today is far from the only issue or the biggest issue of media coverage of Tibetan issues. It is just the one I saw most recently.</div><div><br /></div><div>While doing my daily BBC browse, I came upon this headline on the front page for Asia-Pacific news.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTkQhapcaHJgzw8IN95SBun-0VGOSKFfcXNjLm8NL8cmHhE9_Z_40b3knh9ZXz5udCJfvv36v9ntwYXNvedhd30jbzTWA-03dUSdCMpJo91pk8YhQQTsWjyqwURhg3NjJJ1dQI9fo7Ew/s320/DL+Headline.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664549144683098002" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 54px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>"China attack." I was shocked and interested. HH Dalai Lama has spent the past several decades attempting to negotiate with China. It had been several years since HH Dalai Lama had made any strongly worded statements critical of China. If my memory serves me right, it's been since the protests and crackdown of 2008. However, even those could barely be termed "attacks." Perhaps, with his official retirement from political power and instatement of the new Kalon Tripa, he had decided to be more vocal? </div><div><br /></div><div>The small blurb underneath was limited to saying he "criticises China," and so I decided to read the article.</div><div><br /></div><div>The moment I clicked the link I was faced with a far tamer headline:</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2GGhoseSfrVXUUB_5LO6TOmQ3zTI3OS4FbDCUS0jTntzgOsTacQ4ftP8aT_rCDj_PptDr3678iS8HARKbNr7YWU8-PIOSqmJ4Y8PSHHDh9JBMzrNMgN3pyCmOb7p7QfJ_XwFaAZ-MKI/s1600/DL+Headline+3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2GGhoseSfrVXUUB_5LO6TOmQ3zTI3OS4FbDCUS0jTntzgOsTacQ4ftP8aT_rCDj_PptDr3678iS8HARKbNr7YWU8-PIOSqmJ4Y8PSHHDh9JBMzrNMgN3pyCmOb7p7QfJ_XwFaAZ-MKI/s320/DL+Headline+3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664549373065923090" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 76px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And an article even tamer yet:</div><div><br /></div><div>This supposed attack, according to the BBC, was such things as the Dalai Lama maintaining that he, himself, made China uncomfortable for talking about the truth. "Made China uncomfortable?" If that's an attack, then tickling someone with a feather is felony assault!</div><div><br /></div><div>He continues by mentioning that "Some Chinese officials describe me as a demon so naturally they fear...the demon." Here, the Dalai Lama is referencing widely publicized incidences where major Chinese officials have called him names and then <i>showing understanding for the Chinese officials</i> by justifying that they are just scared and having a fear reaction. </div><div><br /></div><div>The so-called attack continues with (as the BBC puts it)</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYrV8xHVrUTpDKK6eKXC4EcNqLMlJGZuUv_4s_1yAD31xHnJ4f41M7LuEwPQZbgWcw0OIjBqj9dUrTonSkNIPcWBa4icTDhIoeuygd9QrFar0sqQW8CkW4Ss3k-rnoEvibtkMTXe3wRIc/s1600/DL+Headline+4a.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYrV8xHVrUTpDKK6eKXC4EcNqLMlJGZuUv_4s_1yAD31xHnJ4f41M7LuEwPQZbgWcw0OIjBqj9dUrTonSkNIPcWBa4icTDhIoeuygd9QrFar0sqQW8CkW4Ss3k-rnoEvibtkMTXe3wRIc/s320/DL+Headline+4a.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664549568904217170" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 96px; " /></a></div><div><blockquote>"He said that 'hypocrisy' has become part of the fabric of the 'communist' system and said that those who spoke the truth made China uncomfortable."</blockquote><div>Okay, I can understand the use of the word hypocrisy in quotes, but communist? While communist and socialist may be used as an accusation and insult by American conservatives, this hardly applies in the case of China <i>which describes itself as and is, according to its own constitution and ruling party, a communist nation!</i></div><div><br /></div><div>This supposed "attack" is nothing more than observations that can be backed up by any reading of the news, and a few statements that are clearly from the Dalai Lama's point of view as a representative of Tibet. Unlike China, which calls the Dalai Lama a "Wolf in sheep's clothing" or a "demon," statements which could be termed attacks, how can statements such as "Naturally they fear [me]" or the stronger statement that the truth "makes China uncomfortable" be termed an "attack"?<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This sensationalist headline, which is all that many readers will see, functions to falsely even the playing field. It makes it seem as though not only is China the rhetoric flinging, aggressive, attacking party with a total unwillingness to negotiate, but look: Even the Dalai Lama is on the attack!</div><div><br /></div><div>I know, it's the media. Sensationalist headlines is what they do. But is this even a story? </div></div>Metakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01073619786043008627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645158726513920812.post-4803078739051950472011-10-21T10:36:00.004-04:002011-10-21T10:50:26.904-04:00On the recent crisis in Ngawa:Tibet has been in the news a lot lately due to the recent crisis in Ngawa: As of the time of this writing, 8 young men and women had self immolated in protest of the Chinese occupation of Tibet during a span of roughly 2 weeks. <div><br /></div><div>This tragedy has sparked a lot of discussion from many people, including many non-Tibetans. We, here at Overlooking Tibet, wanted to share this article written for the <a href="http://lhakardiaries.com/">Lhakar Diaries</a> by a young Tibetan in New York: <a href="http://lhakardiaries.com/2011/10/19/how-about-some-r-e-s-p-e-c-t/">How About Some R-E-S-P-E-C-T?</a> I think this article perfectly articulates the fact that we should hesitate to criticize before walking a mile in someone's shoes. It also breaks down some of the common criticisms of the protests in Tibet, many of which are based on misconceptions, privilege, egocentrism and blatant misunderstandings of what drives the Tibetan cause.</div><div><br /></div><div>Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but in such a volatile situation we first must strongly and accurately consider the situation of the people who want their voices heard.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Metakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01073619786043008627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645158726513920812.post-23359127003662513602011-10-20T12:28:00.000-04:002011-10-20T13:00:09.622-04:00Language and the Private/Public Sphere<div>There are two types of people involved in Tibetan Issues: those who, through their involvement, make personal connections inside of Tibetan communities and those who do not. While people might automatically condemn those without personal connections, based on my own experience (as can be seen in previous posts) those with personal connections often do a great deal of damage as well. Likewise, there are many people doing a great job of spreading information and other activities despite being in a situation where personal interaction with Tibetans is near impossible. This is not to say one is better or worse than the other, there are good people and bad people on both sides, but there is a divide. What I really want to talk about is something that I see among people in the second group: we who make personal connections, outside of our work, study, journalism, dharma or activism, with the Tibetan community.</div><div><br /></div><div>By doing so, we enter their space. We remove ourselves from the public forum in which we conduct our other interactions. This might be physical interactions or, in this modern day and age of iphones, the world of social networking. We have moved from public business discussions into the world of friendship; the world of the private. This puts us on radically different footing.</div><div><br /></div>I was browsing Facebook the other day when I came upon a picture posted by a Tibetan man living in India. Most of his Facebook friends, not to mention real-life friends, are Tibetans and his primary language is Tibetan. The picture was from a recent Tibetan event and he captioned it in Tibetan. Most of his friends likewise responded in Tibetan. However, one of the early responses came from a foreign Tibet supporter and read "English, please, so that others can understand."<div><br /></div><div>I was immediately taken aback. He was not posting on a public, international forum or on an English language website: he was posting on the wall of his personal Facebook page. Not only that, but the primary readers of his page, his Facebook "friends" are Tibetans. What right do we, as foreigners and friends, have to demand the use of English in Tibetan personal space? Even in the case that we are invited into that personal space, it makes us no better than tourists who go to a foreign country and demand the use of English. </div><div><br /></div><div>This is not to say that I do not have sympathy for the English poster. Several of my friends on Facebook write in very high level, scholarly Tibetan which can leave me in the dust. However, there is a difference between asking for help and demanding the use of my language, which in this private space is the minority language. Why not say "Hi! I don't understand the caption. Could some one help me with it?" thereby requesting assistance while respecting the space and people around as opposed to demanding that the Tibetan-speaking majority in Tibetan-speaking space conform to one's own English speaking whims.</div><div><br /></div><div> <p class="p1">We, as Americans, are famous and notorious for demanding foreign visitors and immigrants to our shores learn English if they are going to live here. How would we feel if a Pashto speaker, for example, marched into our home and demanded that we speak Pashto so that others could understand--within the privacy of our own space? Tibetan language is an important part of Tibetan identity. If we are claiming to support Tibet, we should then encourage the use of the language. We are so used to the privilege of having everyone speak English, of believing ourselves to be welcome everywhere. Supporting Tibet means respecting Tibetans, respecting their language, and respecting their space. The option always exists to learn Tibetan or respectfully ask for assistance, rather than demand that our English-speaking needs be met</p></div>Metakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01073619786043008627noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645158726513920812.post-60888720644379825062011-10-08T01:15:00.001-04:002011-10-08T01:20:01.617-04:00k but u rong doe<blockquote>"I get that you're trying to set a mood, but why are you using Tibetan throat singing in a documentary about the Spartans, PBS?"<br /><br />- one of my friends</blockquote>Chiwahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092738332780308865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645158726513920812.post-71258571657666875732011-10-02T21:40:00.000-04:002011-10-08T19:28:04.389-04:00When the Apocalypse Comes, Only Tibet Will Be Left<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }</style> <p>This post was sparked by the following post, which I came across on tumblr:</p> <blockquote>title: “shangri-la”</blockquote> <blockquote>i always look at the world for how beautiful it is, which can be found everywhere and anywhere as long as you look for it. but one day, man will destroy all that is left of that; and when i’ve had enough and want to make the whole world disappear, i will walk into tibet and lose myself in the himalayas.</blockquote> <style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }a:link { </style>Tibet is the perfect example of the Brown Space That Is Stuck in a By-Gone Age of Meditation And/Or Flying Monks Who Live Forever and Other Peaceful Spiritual Things. Assuming that the answer to human survival will lie in the Himalayas, while the rest of the world is in flames, is ridiculous. (Makers of the film 2012: <a href="http://www.highpeakspureearth.com/2009/11/tibet-saves-world-tibetan-and-chinese.html" target="_blank">I’m looking at you</a>.) It assumes that Tibet, in its current state, is peaceful and happy and doing perfectly fine by itself—which, of course, is far from the truth. Believing this kind of tripe completely erases the last fifty years of Tibet’s history. Doesn’t it seem a bit odd to you that while Tibetans are fleeing into Nepal and India, risking limbs and life to seek freedom of religion, a good education, the chance to learn and use Tibetan in their public lives, the (usually) White Person is flying to Tibet and proclaiming it a magical place that not only can cure cancer but is Happiness and Peace made geographical?<br /> <style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }</style> <p>The saddest part about the original quote is that this individual has gone to Tibet and still walked away with this view. I guess some ignorance is hard to break, especially when it’s being subtly and blatantly enforced by the oppressors. The Chinese government is notorious for paying students to show up at big functions (such as <a href="http://www.dailycardinal.com/news/uw-students-support-protest-hu-jintao-visit-1.1905738">the arrival of Chinese delegates in foreign countries</a>) if but to give some fodder to the media that shows that people love China and it’s just a rag-tag group of “splittists” who feel a different way. The Chinese government also coerces Tibetans into lying to the media, donning traditional dress and <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2009/feb/23/world/fg-tibet-newyear23">attending festivals and holidays that they were previously boycotting</a> (knowing that it would piss China off if they refused to be puppets for China’s lie that We Keep the Tibetans Very Happy and Liberated, Yes), among many other things.</p> <style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }</style> <p>We of the West are still ignorant. We refuse to let go of the belief that Tibet is a space to be put on a pedestal and worshipped—but only while we’re taking the food off of their altars for our own private consumption. The end result of this thinking is almost always invasion, of both bodies and mind. We fear, so we invade to “liberate”; we lust after, so we appropriate. It’s been centuries and we have yet to change our outlook; we’ve just substituted our weapons—guns and Bibles when we’re entering countries of Adults and toys for when we’re entering countries of Children.</p> <style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }</style> <p>So when the apocalypse comes and you go walking into the Himalayas, I think you’ll find that not a single mountaintop has snow (thanks to global climate change), and not a single person will be there to guide you. I hope when you finally spot Lhasa and gravitate to the sparkling object in the distance, when you arrive there, you’ll find the golden arches of a McDonald’s.</p>Chiwahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092738332780308865noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645158726513920812.post-40238575418850616752011-08-09T12:51:00.000-04:002011-10-08T19:01:47.727-04:00Tibet is Not a “Cultural Experience”<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "></span><i>The following guest post is by "Chiwa," a western woman who hopefully will become a regular contributor.</i><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">In college classrooms around the country, professors and administrators insist that Tibetan organizations (like their particular branches of Students for a Free Tibet) are not "aggressive" or "hostile", that they focus on "spreading awareness of the issues" and Tibetan culture rather than Tibetan politics.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">Of course, it's really difficult to paint an accurate picture of what the "issues" are in Tibet when focusing on things like prayer flags, moos and the smiling, friendly face of His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama. The word “</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Tibet” is, at its very nature, a polarizing word. “Tibet,” as the People’s Republic of China allows it to exist, is known as the Tibetan Autonomous Region, or TAR. The TAR was created in 1965.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">The word "Tibet" is, at its very nature, a polarized word. "Tibet," as the People's Republic of China allows it to exist, is known as the Tibetan Autonomous Region, or TAR. The TAR was created in 1965.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><p></p></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><img src="http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/guides/456900/456954/img/1145611502.gif" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 416px; height: 261px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/guides/456900/456954/html/nn4page1.stm"><span class="Apple-style-span">In this illustration by the BBC</span>,</a> the Tibetan Autonomous Region is the very light beige area. The green line, extending into the Chinese provinces of Qinghai, Sichuan, and parts of Gansu and Yunnan, is often referred to as “historical” Tibet. In these areas, the vast majority of people are “ethnically” Tibetan.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><p><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaQ5YK8N9Bkbm1PJXxaNJbgp1Qx_bPmtlTnaaPaiNIEX2ynLDnzrq1dVTDopxvjMIBIXNopIytEs2rrboGivJa8h97GXHNskTAHbJ625hTPHfJNNY7dM8IlxSrjGwBYIY-Wz02Wd8UsxI/s1600/tibet-sep08.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaQ5YK8N9Bkbm1PJXxaNJbgp1Qx_bPmtlTnaaPaiNIEX2ynLDnzrq1dVTDopxvjMIBIXNopIytEs2rrboGivJa8h97GXHNskTAHbJ625hTPHfJNNY7dM8IlxSrjGwBYIY-Wz02Wd8UsxI/s320/tibet-sep08.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638901890771674866" /></a>In this illustration, the Chinese provinces are given alternate (and rightful) names— a majority of what is known as Qinghai is actually the Tibetan province of Amdo, and the Tibetan province of Kham exists in the Chinese province of Sichuan.</p><p style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; ">When the Yushu earthquake occurred in 2010 (om mani padme hum), there were many facts that were wrongly reported by the Western media—including the mislabeling of the victims as "Chinese."</p><p style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; ">The earthquake originated in what is known as the Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, where, according to the Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture Statistics Bureau in 2005, 97.25% of the population is Tibetan, with the next largest ethnic group being Han at 2.56%. The vast majority of the victims were not Chinese—they were Tibetan (Khampa).</p><p style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; ">It’s hard to claim that you’re “spreading awareness about the issues” when the issues aren’t even being discussed. Another year passes and “Seven Years in Tibet” is screened again instead of more revolutionary material, such as Dhondup Wangchen’s film “Leaving Fear Behind”, <a href="http://www.freetibetanheroes.org/home.php/profiles/dhondup-wangchen"><span class="Apple-style-span">for which he is still imprisoned</span></a>.</p><p style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; ">Violently splitting Tibetan culture from Tibetan politics and the history of the Chinese invasion in order to make the truth taste a little sweeter, the tragedy a little less brutal, is an injustice. Maybe we think that if we don’t aggressively pursue the issue, we are more likely to arouse new supporters—and I will buy this to a certain extent, because the issues of Tibet are vast. The crimes committed against the Tibetan people are not merely religious or political in nature; their lifestyles are being forcibly changed, their land is being destroyed, and in exile they face numerous issues ranging from health issues to language and cultural barriers.</p><p style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; ">I’m not interested in a “cultural experience.” Stop trying to raise awareness about the culture, stop trying to keep the Tibetan culture alive—if you’re not a Tibetan, it is not your culture to save. We should be working with them, rather than touting their culture as something unique and on the verge of extinction so we should hurry up and see it while it lasts.</p><p style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; ">Painting Tibet as a “cultural experience” is serious erasure. The image of Tibet may never recover, if college administrators (and others) do everything in their power to deny the fact that “Tibet” is a political issue at its very heart.</p><blockquote style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; ">“Twenty years ago, when the public didn’t know the first thing about Tibet, we used to pray and dream that somehow Tibet would become a household word. If people knew the truth, we believed, they would come forth and intervene. Tibet would be saved. Now Tibet was indeed a household word, but China had imposed its will, transformed it. Beyond our worst nightmares.” (one of the women in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sky-Train-Tibetan-Women-History/dp/029598953X">“<span class="Apple-style-span">Sky Train: Tibetan Women on the Edge of History</span>”</a> by Canyon Sam)</blockquote></span></div></div>Metakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01073619786043008627noreply@blogger.com4