Letter to the Editor misses key information, understanding of the Dalai Lama

Some 15-year-old who was nearly immediately ousted from power isn’t responsible for his entire culture’s history. Just as I am not personally responsible for America’s history, both good and bad.

I did not win World War II nor did I force Native Americans onto reservations. This argument against a man is nationalistic prejudice at heart. There is precious little in the letter to the editor about the man himself and his actions. It is simply an indictment of the lot in life he was born into.

Who you are at birth is something none of us control. You’d be hard pressed to find anyone without feudalism or patriarchy in his or her cultural past. The best we can do is try to understand history in context and not repeat mistakes.

Also, the letter states: “A return to the rule of the Dalai Lama would be a historic setback for the Tibetan people. It would result in Tibet being a virtual client state to the West and would undoubtedly result in another U.S. military base being propped up.”

To that I say: “Lol, what?”

A deposed Dalai Lama is an even better slack job than vice president or deputy governor. He isn’t trying to retake any amount of ruling power. He has stated as much. He preaches a “middle way” with the Chinese.

Basically, he is trying to preserve his religion and cultural identity without conflict. The Dalai Lama continually calls for “realistic” expectations on Tibet’s future, reasserts his belief that “complete independence is … out of the question.” The notion he is going to seize power and start subjugating women is a red herring. Also, the U.S. military is no more likely to prop up a military base in a Chinese protectorate than China would open some real estate in Puerto Rico. Also what would be the point of that?

And what part of this event fits into this “plan” for the woman-hating tyrant and pawn of the CIA to take territory away from the nation with the world’s largest air force? Have Nas’ rhymes been weaponized? They are “Illmatic,” but I didn’t know they were biological agents. I don’t know much about coup d’etats, but I’m pretty sure they don’t involve concerts at basketball stadiums.

The stated goal of the event “asks us all to remember our common origins, to respect our religious and cultural differences, and to recognize our shared compassion and humanity.”

If that doesn’t resonate with you, don’t go. Sling your half-baked conspiracies elsewhere.

Alan Goos
Fourth-year graduate student

Chemistry department