[lbo-talk] China [was: Blowing Up an Assumption]

[Shane Mage]

Jim Devine wrote:
>...For me to say that it should be the Iraqis that decide
>the fate of Iraq is different than for me to apply the same principle
>to Tibet, since the principle of national self-determination suggests
>that people in the biggest imperialist power shouldn't dictate to
>China.
>
>BTW, in general, splitting up countries is bad karma. Among other
>things, nationalities don't correspond exactly to geographical areas,
>while there's often a lot of intermarriage.

But the Tibetans aren't demanding "national self-determination,"
they are merely asking for the autonomy promised them by China
and enshrined in Chinese constitutional law.  What's wrong with
asking any government to comply with *its own* laws--and
drawing the appropriate conclusion as to its nature from its
consistent refusal to do so?

Shane Mage

"Thunderbolt steers all things...It consents and does not
consent to be called 
Zeus."                                                         

Herakleitos of Ephesos