Tibet

[Doug Henwood]

I was at a party the other night populated mainly by amiable meatheads, and
one of them started in on Clinton's comments that the Chinese and Tibetans
should talk with each other, negotiations that would be premised on Tibetan
recognition of Chinese authority over Tibet. "Tibet is not part of China!
Free Tibet!!," he exhorted, in a departure for a conversation that was
mainly about sports and bad movies. I was surprised to hear this fellow
getting so exercised about any political issue, which made me wonder once
again - what is it about Tibet and the Dalai Lama? Why are it and he such
obsessions among otherwise nonpolitical types? And is he really the abused
innocent that Richard Gere and Patti Smith would have us believe? Can
anyone elighten me?

Doug