China

Someone needs to go lay the smack-down on China and force them into line. To my mind they're oppressive, murderous fools, and they need to be brought into modern times. I heard a rep from the Chinese government say that Tibet was part of China the same way Texas was part of the US. WTFH is he on?! Tibet is a sovereign nation that was forcefully invaded by the Chinese in 1949, and is being repressed, its spiritual and political leader forced into exile. Texas is a state within the US, one of the most blindly patriotic states in the union. How is Texas anything like Tibet? I would say I hope that the Olympics give the Tibetans and the rest of the groups China is oppressing an outlet to make themselves known more widely to the world, but with the one country with the most ability to do anything (the US) embroiled in a second Viet Nam, it may only create another excuse for China to crackdown on its own people.

Well ... as much as I am a Tibet fan (having taking the Kalachakra 3 times and the Avalokitesvara twice from the Dalai Lama), there are certain arguable parallels.

Texas was, at one point (1836-1845), a sovereign nation, having seceded from Mexico before eventually being annexed (by treaty) by the US.

Of course, being annexed by treaty (and popular vote) is a far cry from having the Red Army roll in with tanks and start shelling the monasteries, but there are enough similarities (geographic relation, etc.) that you can see why the Chinese use it as an example.

 

I'm well aware of that bit of history. Its actually part of why I can't conceive of how he'd think it was a legitimate comparison. Really, it stinks of a lack of understanding of American history and politics among other things. I also find it hilarious that he seemed to think that using such a comparison might draw support.