Hi Michael - good to hear from you and your spendid trip. It is good to know Tibet is not as bleak as it is portraited. There is no doubt that the standard of living has improved - the same comment goes to China proper - even if some of what you ve witnessed is staged. [incidentally, interestingly I was channel surfing last night and Michael Payine {sp?] of the Monty Ptyhon [sp?] was on one of those traveling shows. His informants were forbidden further communication after the initial contact! By I digress.]
So, I don't think the Tibet issue is 100% one sided. I would go so far to think some of my hardcore tibet-sympathizer friends are equally too polemical. Having said that, I don't think the real issue is the Hans taking up permanent residence in Tibet. Personally, I believe people can go wherever they want if that is their choice and if that doesn't cause any damage to the indigenous culture. I am not in cultural purity, however. The real concern is *strip mining* [culturally and geologically]
Anyway, it is a tangled situation, but if the Berlin can come down and the Israelis and the Arab can try to make peace, maybe there is hope.
Btw, the tibetan tea is one way to fire up the system <G>. The thing is, it is really bad staple in the low land, but some of the exiled tibetans continue to consume a large quantity of it in India [note: the tibetan tea has salt and butter in it!]
Maybe Mrs Sphar can plan another trip to Dharamsala next time
best, Bosco |
