The Dalai Lama is coming to Ann Arbor this weekend. Why should that concern anyone in Michigan or Livingston County? Isn't this just a matter of interest to those left-wing radicals down in Washtenaw County?
Michigan Liberal for Wednesday (April 16, 2008) touts the Dalai Lama as bringing a message of uplift to our state in a time of economic suffering. And its link to Our Michigan has the details on the visit, highlighting the possiblity of protests by pro-Chinese demonstrators who want to make sure the controversy over Tibet does not ruin China's chance to showcase its progress during the summer Olympics.
But the presence of the Dalai Lama is about a lot more than whether China gets embarrassed this summer and whether we get to watch this world-wide sporting event this summer.
Actually, the presence of the Dalai Lama is really about human rights -- and jobs in Michigan. And the two go together.
The Dalai Lama is a symbol of non-violent resistance in the face of one of the most brutal, long-running repressions by a modern nation -- the repression of Tibet by the government of China. And Tibet is a symbol of what our nation's trade policies help fund.
Every time we buy a piece of clothing, a toy -- or an auto part -- from China, we help fund the massive Chinese military presence that has led to decades of abuse, torture, religious restrictions, forced sterilizations, and forced relocations that are the lot of everyday Tibetans.
These are the same trade policies that put Michigan residents out of work when their jobs are transferred to political prisoners in Tibet.
If you doubt that, watch this video filmed secretly by a Tibetan refugee who returned to Tibet with a hidden camera. Mere possession of the camera would have earned him a prison sentence had he been caught -- which should be a tip-off that the Chinese have something to hide.
What happens in Tibet, doesn't stay in Tibet. It comes to Michigan, and affects us all.
No comments:
Post a Comment