I can hardly believe it but this will more than likely be my last post in this setting. Unbelievable, it seems like it was yesterday when we began this class and I was dreading this whole blogging experience. Today, I am about to put the finishing touches on my efforts of the last 6 weeks. Wow!
The point of this entry is to summarize my experience with blogging. As I sat here for a few moments thinking about how to describe it, two words immediately came to mind, great experience! This class has helped me in two main areas, well maybe three. The first two are pretty obvious. I have become a bit more comfortable with computers since so much of this class was conducted using a computer. The second is that I may have improved upon and refined my writing skills, but I'll leave that determination to other people.
Being a history buff, the biggest takeaway for me was learning more about Tibet. I don't think that I have reached the expert level but I sure do know a lot more today than when I first started. I have a greater understanding of what the Tibetan people have been through and I can understand why they reacted as they have in recent weeks. Decades of pent up discontent have spilled over onto the world stage as China prepares to host the Olympics. Like it or not, the Olympics have become a vehicle for the Tibetan people to get their story out front and center stage for all the world to see.
I actually posted a comment in my blogging community during this class. From reading my blog you can tell that I am firmly in the pro-Tibet camp and when I posted my comment, I got more than a few comments directed at me. Some were pretty tame but there were a few that were downright nasty. To use a term that I learned in this class, I was "flamed"! That was an interesting experience.
I am pleased to say that as I am finishing up on this assignment, I have learned that the Chinese government is now willing to talk to representatives of the Dalai Lama. What a great way to end this blog!
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Chinese rule of Tibet: Beneficial or not?
On this point we find the two sides are once again on the opposite end of the spectrum. Pro-Tibet supporters claim that Chinese rule has been brutal and oppressive in virtually every area possible. Pro-China supporters will tell you that the Chinese liberated the Tibetans from a cruel feudal system under which the Tibetan peasants were exploited by their greedy landlords.
It is true that Tibetan society was operating under a feudal type system prior to the Chinese Communist invasion of 1950. It is true that there were some monks and landlords who abused and took advantage of the Tibetan people. It is therefore also true that there were abusive practices in the religious establishment and in the land management arena. There were also some abusive government officials. However, it should be noted that the 13th Dalai Lama had begun reforms aimed at eradicating these abuses but unfortunately he died before he was able to finish the job. By the time of the Chinese invasion of 1950, the 14th Dalai Lama was still very young and unable to rule in his own right.
So, the Chinese did in fact rid Tibet of the old feudal system. But was the Communist system that replaced the old Tibetan system any better? Or was it worse? I would have to say worse. Prior to the invasion of 1950 I have seen no evidence of any popular uprisings against the Tibetan government or religious establishment. However, since the Chinese took over there have been three such uprisings, in 1959, 1989 and again in 2008. Many Tibetans have fled into exile to escape Chinese Communist rule, again I have found no evidence of this under the Tibetan regime. I have found evidence of human rights abuses under the Communist Chinese government, for more information please visit the UN website at: http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G06/117/50/PDF/G0611750.pdf?OpenElement
Additionally, in a report on Tibet dated 24 July 1959, The International Commission of Jurists even went so far as to raise the question of genocide. For more information on this please visit the ICJ website at: http://www.icj.org/news.php3?id_article=3430&lang=en If this is not enough evidence, then all one has to do is look into the recent unrest in Tibet to see that something there is not right.
Leaving the Human Rights arena, we have to look at the question of Chinese monetary investment in Tibet. Pro-China supporters will point to the many improvements the Chinese government has made in Tibet, such as roads and railroads. While they have actually made such improvements, the reason why is in question. Was it to benefit the Tibetan people or was it to benefit China? Please refer to my post entitled "The Communist invasion of Tibet" for more information. Based on what I have read it appears that it was for the benefit of China first and then if it also benefited the Tibetans eventually then that was OK too.
In summary, although the Chinese Communists did free the Tibetans from the feudal system they lived under previously, the communist system that replaced it turned out to be worse. Plainly put, Communist rule of Tibet has not been beneficial for the Tibetans.
It is true that Tibetan society was operating under a feudal type system prior to the Chinese Communist invasion of 1950. It is true that there were some monks and landlords who abused and took advantage of the Tibetan people. It is therefore also true that there were abusive practices in the religious establishment and in the land management arena. There were also some abusive government officials. However, it should be noted that the 13th Dalai Lama had begun reforms aimed at eradicating these abuses but unfortunately he died before he was able to finish the job. By the time of the Chinese invasion of 1950, the 14th Dalai Lama was still very young and unable to rule in his own right.
So, the Chinese did in fact rid Tibet of the old feudal system. But was the Communist system that replaced the old Tibetan system any better? Or was it worse? I would have to say worse. Prior to the invasion of 1950 I have seen no evidence of any popular uprisings against the Tibetan government or religious establishment. However, since the Chinese took over there have been three such uprisings, in 1959, 1989 and again in 2008. Many Tibetans have fled into exile to escape Chinese Communist rule, again I have found no evidence of this under the Tibetan regime. I have found evidence of human rights abuses under the Communist Chinese government, for more information please visit the UN website at: http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G06/117/50/PDF/G0611750.pdf?OpenElement
Additionally, in a report on Tibet dated 24 July 1959, The International Commission of Jurists even went so far as to raise the question of genocide. For more information on this please visit the ICJ website at: http://www.icj.org/news.php3?id_article=3430&lang=en If this is not enough evidence, then all one has to do is look into the recent unrest in Tibet to see that something there is not right.
Leaving the Human Rights arena, we have to look at the question of Chinese monetary investment in Tibet. Pro-China supporters will point to the many improvements the Chinese government has made in Tibet, such as roads and railroads. While they have actually made such improvements, the reason why is in question. Was it to benefit the Tibetan people or was it to benefit China? Please refer to my post entitled "The Communist invasion of Tibet" for more information. Based on what I have read it appears that it was for the benefit of China first and then if it also benefited the Tibetans eventually then that was OK too.
In summary, although the Chinese Communists did free the Tibetans from the feudal system they lived under previously, the communist system that replaced it turned out to be worse. Plainly put, Communist rule of Tibet has not been beneficial for the Tibetans.
Tibet: Always a part of China?
Pro-China supporters have maintained for quite some time now that Tibet is, was and ALWAYS has been a part of China. They make the assertion that since Tibet has always been a part of China, the recent unrest there is merely an internal issue for China alone to handle. There are many, many people who hold this belief and it transcends national boundaries and ethnicity. However, my research has lead me to believe that this is just not true.
Before I get started with this point, I have to beg forgiveness now. In dealing with this argument, I feel it is absolutely necessary to introduce evidence other than my own opinions to support my position. But hey, the two posts previous to this one contained no sources other than my own so hopefully I'll be forgiven here... Now that I have asked for forgiveness in advance, have a seat, buckle up and let's get started!
The statement that Tibet is, was and always has been a part of China is only partially true. The part that is false is the claim that Tibet has ALWAYS been a part of China. Tibet has NOT always been a part of China. Mary Craig tells us that the Tibetans are not related to the Chinese in racial origins or language, that in itself is an indicator of separateness. In the opening chapters of his book "The Historical Status of Tibet", Mr. Tieh-Tseng Li treats Tibet and China as two independent nations. More evidence is found in the first chapter of Mary Craig's book "Tears of Blood, A Cry For Tibet". On the very first page of this chapter we find the following:
China and Tibet shall abide by the frontiers of which they are now in occupation. All to the east is the country of Great China; and all to the west is, without question, the country of Great Tibet. Henceforth on neither side shall there be waging of war nor seizing of territory... Between the countries no smoke nor dust shall be seen. There shall be no sudden alarms and the very word "enemy" shall not be spoken... All shall live in peace and share the blessing of happiness for ten thousand years. (23)
The above quote from Mary Craig's book is part of a treaty that was signed by the kings of China and Tibet in AD 821/822. This proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Tibet has NOT ALWAYS been a part of China.
However, Tibet was firmly within the Chinese sphere of influence from the early 1700s on but this was more of an autonomous arrangement than anything else. There were Chinese government officials resident in Tibet but for the most part the Tibetans were in charge of their own affairs as long as Manchu power was respected. This continued until the Manchu dynasty was overthrown in 1911. After the revolution in Beijing, Tibet was free from Chinese interference and operated independently from 1912 until 1950. Again, this shows that Tibet has NOT ALWAYS been a part of China.
Sadly for the Tibetans, Tibet is now a part of China. On a brighter note, when I logged on to the Internet this morning I saw an article that said the Chinese government is now willing to hold talks with the Dalai Lama's representatives. So, perhaps there is hope. Although I do not see independence for Tibet on the horizon, perhaps real autonomy may be granted. Genuine autonomy would be a great start but it must be followed with a reversal of the effects of decades of oppressive Chinese government policies and actions.
References:
Craig, Mary. Tears of Blood, A Cry For Tibet. Washington DC: Counterpoint, 1999.
Before I get started with this point, I have to beg forgiveness now. In dealing with this argument, I feel it is absolutely necessary to introduce evidence other than my own opinions to support my position. But hey, the two posts previous to this one contained no sources other than my own so hopefully I'll be forgiven here... Now that I have asked for forgiveness in advance, have a seat, buckle up and let's get started!
The statement that Tibet is, was and always has been a part of China is only partially true. The part that is false is the claim that Tibet has ALWAYS been a part of China. Tibet has NOT always been a part of China. Mary Craig tells us that the Tibetans are not related to the Chinese in racial origins or language, that in itself is an indicator of separateness. In the opening chapters of his book "The Historical Status of Tibet", Mr. Tieh-Tseng Li treats Tibet and China as two independent nations. More evidence is found in the first chapter of Mary Craig's book "Tears of Blood, A Cry For Tibet". On the very first page of this chapter we find the following:
China and Tibet shall abide by the frontiers of which they are now in occupation. All to the east is the country of Great China; and all to the west is, without question, the country of Great Tibet. Henceforth on neither side shall there be waging of war nor seizing of territory... Between the countries no smoke nor dust shall be seen. There shall be no sudden alarms and the very word "enemy" shall not be spoken... All shall live in peace and share the blessing of happiness for ten thousand years. (23)
The above quote from Mary Craig's book is part of a treaty that was signed by the kings of China and Tibet in AD 821/822. This proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Tibet has NOT ALWAYS been a part of China.
However, Tibet was firmly within the Chinese sphere of influence from the early 1700s on but this was more of an autonomous arrangement than anything else. There were Chinese government officials resident in Tibet but for the most part the Tibetans were in charge of their own affairs as long as Manchu power was respected. This continued until the Manchu dynasty was overthrown in 1911. After the revolution in Beijing, Tibet was free from Chinese interference and operated independently from 1912 until 1950. Again, this shows that Tibet has NOT ALWAYS been a part of China.
Sadly for the Tibetans, Tibet is now a part of China. On a brighter note, when I logged on to the Internet this morning I saw an article that said the Chinese government is now willing to hold talks with the Dalai Lama's representatives. So, perhaps there is hope. Although I do not see independence for Tibet on the horizon, perhaps real autonomy may be granted. Genuine autonomy would be a great start but it must be followed with a reversal of the effects of decades of oppressive Chinese government policies and actions.
References:
Craig, Mary. Tears of Blood, A Cry For Tibet. Washington DC: Counterpoint, 1999.
Continuing on...
Thursday night we had a discussion on blogs and how sometimes groups form on both sides of the issue being discussed. Inevitably there are those that support the issue and on the other side of the fence, there are those that oppose it. When that issue is one that brings out strong emotions in people, the discussions usually become passionate and heated. Sometimes the discussions get downright nasty and hateful with attacks being directed at people who hold opposing viewpoints. People are often ganged up on, a practice know as "flaming". I have seen this in blogs and I have experienced it myself. I must say that for a first timer, it can be a bit unsettling.
The topic that I have chosen to write about is one of those issues that brings out strong emotions in people. There seems to be little or no middle ground, you are either pro-Tibet or pro-China. On the blogs that I have read, there seems to be about an equal number supporting either side. However, in the actual street demonstrations this may not always be true. In some of the accounts I have read, the pro-China side has outnumbered the pro-Tibet side. However, the fact that pro-China demonstrators have outnumbered pro-Tibet demonstrators should not come as a surprise to anyone given the the size of the Chinese population.
Switching back to the blogs, although there are many thoughts and opinions presented, I would like to focus my attention on the arguments that I most frequently encountered. There are several of these and I would like to list them and then discuss them briefly. The pro-Tibet side usually puts forth the following arguments: First, China illegally invaded a free and independent nation. Second, Chinese rule has been oppressive and has sought to stamp out Tibetan culture and religion. And finally, Chinese rule has brought much destruction to Tibet. To counter these arguments, the pro-China side offers the following: First, Tibet is, was and has always been a part of China. Second, the Chinese liberated the Tibetans from an oppressive feudalistic society. Lastly, China has done much to improve life in Tibet by investing heavily in things like roads and railroads to name but a few.
That brings this session to a close. In my next blogs, I will discuss the arguments presented above. I hope that you will return and give my next offerings some of your attention.
The topic that I have chosen to write about is one of those issues that brings out strong emotions in people. There seems to be little or no middle ground, you are either pro-Tibet or pro-China. On the blogs that I have read, there seems to be about an equal number supporting either side. However, in the actual street demonstrations this may not always be true. In some of the accounts I have read, the pro-China side has outnumbered the pro-Tibet side. However, the fact that pro-China demonstrators have outnumbered pro-Tibet demonstrators should not come as a surprise to anyone given the the size of the Chinese population.
Switching back to the blogs, although there are many thoughts and opinions presented, I would like to focus my attention on the arguments that I most frequently encountered. There are several of these and I would like to list them and then discuss them briefly. The pro-Tibet side usually puts forth the following arguments: First, China illegally invaded a free and independent nation. Second, Chinese rule has been oppressive and has sought to stamp out Tibetan culture and religion. And finally, Chinese rule has brought much destruction to Tibet. To counter these arguments, the pro-China side offers the following: First, Tibet is, was and has always been a part of China. Second, the Chinese liberated the Tibetans from an oppressive feudalistic society. Lastly, China has done much to improve life in Tibet by investing heavily in things like roads and railroads to name but a few.
That brings this session to a close. In my next blogs, I will discuss the arguments presented above. I hope that you will return and give my next offerings some of your attention.
Friday, April 25, 2008
I wrote about that so I could write about this...
Greetings one and all. In my previous posts I talked about Tibetan history from the earliest times up until the Communist invasion and annexation of that independent country. And yes, I said it, Tibet was in fact, a free and independent country from 1912 until the time of the Chinese invasion of 1950. Once again. in order to understand and speak intelligently about the present, one must understand and have a knowledge of the past. So, I told you all of that so I could tell you all of this...
As I have shown, Tibet was independent until conquered by the Mongol's in the 13th century. In the early 1700s, Mongol power was broken by the Manchus and it was then that Tibet came under Chinese control. Tibet remained under Manchu dominance until the early part of the 2oth century when revolution in Beijing brought the Manchu dynasty down. The Republic of China still claimed Tibet to be a part of China but was unable to enforce that claim. Seizing the opportunity, Tibet declared her independence. Due to the difficulties that the Nationalist Chinese Government faced, Tibet was able to remain free until 1950. The Communists invaded in that year and embarked on a path to make Tibet and it's people Chinese. Those are the facts.
Now for my opinion...
For all of our lives (those of us presently in Engl 112) Tibet has been a part of China. Apart from that fact, most of us knew little about Tibet. But suddenly Tibet has been thrust into the spotlight, a main character on the world stage. Why is that? With China hosting the Olympics, many Tibetans recognized that the time was right for them to put their case in front of the whole world. So, starting March 10th, the demonstrations began. First in Tibet and then in neighboring provinces with large Tibetan populations. After that, the demonstrations followed the Olympic torch to other countries as well. We saw demonstrations in Paris, London and San Francisco. There were demonstrations and protests in other cities around the world in addition to those that hosted the torch. Why is all of this happening?
All of this is happening because the Communist government of China invaded and annexed Tibet. China has oppressed the Tibetan people and has suppressed Tibetan culture. They have taken Tibetan resources and have settled many ethnic Chinese in Tibet in an effort to maintain their hold on the country. Today, as in 1959 and 1989, the Tibetan people have had enough. They have risen up in defiance of Chinese rule. And, with the world's attention focused on China and the Olympics, the time is right to draw attention to Tibet's plight.
As I have shown, Tibet was independent until conquered by the Mongol's in the 13th century. In the early 1700s, Mongol power was broken by the Manchus and it was then that Tibet came under Chinese control. Tibet remained under Manchu dominance until the early part of the 2oth century when revolution in Beijing brought the Manchu dynasty down. The Republic of China still claimed Tibet to be a part of China but was unable to enforce that claim. Seizing the opportunity, Tibet declared her independence. Due to the difficulties that the Nationalist Chinese Government faced, Tibet was able to remain free until 1950. The Communists invaded in that year and embarked on a path to make Tibet and it's people Chinese. Those are the facts.
Now for my opinion...
For all of our lives (those of us presently in Engl 112) Tibet has been a part of China. Apart from that fact, most of us knew little about Tibet. But suddenly Tibet has been thrust into the spotlight, a main character on the world stage. Why is that? With China hosting the Olympics, many Tibetans recognized that the time was right for them to put their case in front of the whole world. So, starting March 10th, the demonstrations began. First in Tibet and then in neighboring provinces with large Tibetan populations. After that, the demonstrations followed the Olympic torch to other countries as well. We saw demonstrations in Paris, London and San Francisco. There were demonstrations and protests in other cities around the world in addition to those that hosted the torch. Why is all of this happening?
All of this is happening because the Communist government of China invaded and annexed Tibet. China has oppressed the Tibetan people and has suppressed Tibetan culture. They have taken Tibetan resources and have settled many ethnic Chinese in Tibet in an effort to maintain their hold on the country. Today, as in 1959 and 1989, the Tibetan people have had enough. They have risen up in defiance of Chinese rule. And, with the world's attention focused on China and the Olympics, the time is right to draw attention to Tibet's plight.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Pondering the "dreaded" Analysis Paper
Ah yes, the "dreaded" analysis paper... And while I'm at it, the "dreaded" blog post about the "dreaded" analysis paper... I'm sitting here with a touch of writer's block, if I rate to use that phrase when referring to myself, an obvious amateur. Writing about potential sources for my paper should be a simple thing to do but for some reason I'm having a hard time getting started. UUUGGGHHH!!! I know, I know, it's a small price to pay and the rewards are great so I'll quit complaining and get to it.
Since I started this project some weeks ago I have been doing quite a bit of reading, both on the internet news sites and from two books that I checked out of the library. The books have helped me tremendously with gaining an historical understanding of Tibet and it's relationship with China. The internet news sites have helped provide me with an abundance of data about the current events there, soon I will put that information to work.
For the analysis paper I will be using the World Blog on MSNBC.com as my primary source. I stumbled onto this site at the begining of the class and it has been a great source of information. I have found the articles posted there to be clear, concise and to the point. Also of great benefit is the fact that the stories on the Tibet of today have gotten loads of comments from readers on both sides of the issue. Another reason is that since I have used this site many times, I can get to it quite easily now, and that's an obvious plus for a guy who's computer skills are somewhat lacking.
Another source that I plan on using is Time.com. I've taken a peek or three at it in the computer lab during class. It also has some good articles posted on it that have gotten some good comments, again from both sides. In the event that neither of these sites work I'll go surfing...
Since I started this project some weeks ago I have been doing quite a bit of reading, both on the internet news sites and from two books that I checked out of the library. The books have helped me tremendously with gaining an historical understanding of Tibet and it's relationship with China. The internet news sites have helped provide me with an abundance of data about the current events there, soon I will put that information to work.
For the analysis paper I will be using the World Blog on MSNBC.com as my primary source. I stumbled onto this site at the begining of the class and it has been a great source of information. I have found the articles posted there to be clear, concise and to the point. Also of great benefit is the fact that the stories on the Tibet of today have gotten loads of comments from readers on both sides of the issue. Another reason is that since I have used this site many times, I can get to it quite easily now, and that's an obvious plus for a guy who's computer skills are somewhat lacking.
Another source that I plan on using is Time.com. I've taken a peek or three at it in the computer lab during class. It also has some good articles posted on it that have gotten some good comments, again from both sides. In the event that neither of these sites work I'll go surfing...
Saturday, April 19, 2008
The Communist invasion of Tibet
Before we move forward, I'd like to briefly summarize some important points from my last piece which brought us into the first half of the 20th century. The early 1900s saw Tibet as a pawn in a developing struggle for power and influence between Great Britain, Tsarist Russia and China. The British moved quickly when they became convinced that Russia was about to establish her influence in Tibet and in 1904, they invaded and signed a trade agreement with the Tibetan authorities. After the agreement was signed, the British withdrew. In anger over the British actions in Tibet, the Chinese invaded in 1905 and by 1910 had sacked Lhasa. In 1911 revolution in Beijing saved Tibet from further bloodshed at the hands of the Chinese. A combination of Tibetan efforts and Chinese infighting forced the withdrawal of Chinese troops and Tibet declared her independence. Tragically, there was no official recognition of Tibet's independence anywhere in the world. However, due to internal problems facing the new Nationalist government of China, Tibet was able to maintain her independence until 1950.
It was in this period that the 13th Dalai Lama recognized that he had to modernize Tibet as quickly as possible if he was to keep Tibet free from foreign domination. He set out to tackle corruption in the government and in the religious establishment. He also made moves to steer the country away from it's feudal past. He made many other attempts at modernization, however, not without opposition from some in the upper echelons of Tibetan society. Sadly for Tibet, he died before he as able to bring the country out of the past and into the 20th century. After his death in 1933, his reforms stalled and the old ways continued.
In October of 1949, the Communists came to power in China. One year later on 7 October 1950, Chairman Mao sent the People's Liberation Army into Tibet to restore Chinese rule there. There were several reasons given by the Communists for the invasion, the first, broadcast by Radio Beijing, was that it was undertaken to "free three million Tibetans from imperialist oppression and to consolidate national defenses on the western borders of China" (qtd in Craig 50). Another was that they were invading to free the Tibetan people from the oppression of their Tibetan landlords who operated under a feudal system. A third was that they intended to modernize Tibet and to reunite it with the Motherland. Although they had many reasons with which to justify their actions, the fact remains that they used overwhelming military force to impose their will on a country that had operated independently since 1912.
After the invasion in 1950, the new Dalai Lama was only a boy of 15 years. However, due to the conditions in which Tibet found herself, the Dalai Lama was forced into the role of leadership of his country. The details of the invasion and its aftermath are long and extensive and I will not get into all of them here. For brevity's sake I will try my best to provide an accurate summary. The invasion was brutal and the Chinese ruthlessly stamped out any resistance. There were many Tibetan lives lost and much destruction. After the initial chaos of the invasion, the Chinese set about accomplishing the goals stated earlier. Mary Craig tells us that initially they tried to handle things in the following manner:
For the first year or so, the Chinese trod carefully, courting the landlords and chiefs, hinting at the possibility of independence if they would co-operate. Mao knew that communism had few natural friends in Tibet and that a softly-softly approach was needed. He urged caution on the soldiers, restraint and courtesy towards their Tibetan "brothers" in order to win them over. Besides, until the roads to Lhasa from China could be built, the PLA were unable to bring their tanks and armored cars into Tibet; for the moment, therefore, it was imperative to maintain good relations with their hosts. (62)
Once the communists felt their position was safe, they began to employ more ruthless methods to impose their ideology and way of life on the Tibetans. Human rights abuses of all kinds abounded. Imprisonment and torture were widespread. Forced indoctrination was instituted in order to bring the young up as good communists and the adults were subjected to re-education. Many Tibetans lost their lives and many more fled into exile. The communist government flooded Tibet with Chinese settlers. The Tibetans rebelled against the communists and were crushed in 1959, this resulted in the Dalai Lama being smuggled out of the country to safety in India. In the end, the communists proved to be far worse than the Tibetan government they toppled. As Mary Craig puts it, "The liberators stood revealed as oppressors" (68).
References:
Craig , Mary. Tears of Blood, A Cry For Tibet. Washington, DC: Counterpoint, 1999.
Photos courtesy of: Wikipedia
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