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Should Obama meet the Dali Lama?

Should Obama meet the Dali Lama?

  • Yes, meet him.

    Votes: 27 77.1%

  • No, don't meet him.

    Votes: 2 5.7%

  • Wolf Blitzer's beard

    Votes: 6 17.1%
  • Total voters
    35
Peter Grimm

Peter Grimm

Banned
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Joined
Dec 13, 2011
Messages
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Location
The anals of history
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Political Leaning
Progressive
Obama is planning to host the Dali Lama for a meeting. The Chinese protest, here's what they have to say in their statement....

"By arranging a meeting between the President and the Dalai Lama, the U.S. side will grossly interfere in the internal affairs of China, seriously violate norms governing international relations and severely impair China-U.S. relations.

Tibet-related affairs fall entirely within the internal affairs of China which allow no foreign interference,"



Here is the American counter-statement:

"The United States recognizes Tibet to be a part of the People's Republic of China and we do not support Tibetan independence. The United States strongly supports human rights and religious freedom in China."


What do you think. Should Obama meet the Dali Lama, or are we meddling in another country's domestic affairs?
 
Peter Grimm said:
Obama is planning to host the Dali Lama for a meeting. The Chinese protest, here's what they have to say in their statement....

"By arranging a meeting between the President and the Dalai Lama, the U.S. side will grossly interfere in the internal affairs of China, seriously violate norms governing international relations and severely impair China-U.S. relations.

Tibet-related affairs fall entirely within the internal affairs of China which allow no foreign interference,"



Here is the American counter-statement:

"The United States recognizes Tibet to be a part of the People's Republic of China and we do not support Tibetan independence. The United States strongly supports human rights and religious freedom in China."


What do you think. Should Obama meet the Dali Lama, or are we meddling in another country's domestic affairs?
Click to expand...

That is a very good question. And, yes I think he should.
 
I think the Dalai Lama is a great man and the US, Obama and probably many other could learn a lot from him. I don't see the harm in this. If China wants to get their panties in a bunch because our leader met with this man then that is their problem. The United States official statement there makes sense and I think they are taking the right approach to this.
 
I would like to meet the Dalai Lama, and yes I think Obama should meet with anyone he wants.
 
Peter Grimm said:
Obama is planning to host the Dali Lama for a meeting. The Chinese protest, here's what they have to say in their statement....

"By arranging a meeting between the President and the Dalai Lama, the U.S. side will grossly interfere in the internal affairs of China, seriously violate norms governing international relations and severely impair China-U.S. relations.

Tibet-related affairs fall entirely within the internal affairs of China which allow no foreign interference,"



Here is the American counter-statement:

"The United States recognizes Tibet to be a part of the People's Republic of China and we do not support Tibetan independence. The United States strongly supports human rights and religious freedom in China."


What do you think. Should Obama meet the Dali Lama, or are we meddling in another country's domestic affairs?
Click to expand...

The president should go ahead and meet with the Dali Lama. He is more of a spiritual leader than a leader of a country in exile. I also feel Tibet should be free to rule itself, but in reality China isn't about to let that happen. Meeting with the Dali Lama and maintaining the status quo is all that can be hoped for at this time.
 
Peter Grimm said:
Obama is planning to host the Dali Lama for a meeting. The Chinese protest, here's what they have to say in their statement....

"By arranging a meeting between the President and the Dalai Lama, the U.S. side will grossly interfere in the internal affairs of China, seriously violate norms governing international relations and severely impair China-U.S. relations.

Tibet-related affairs fall entirely within the internal affairs of China which allow no foreign interference,"



Here is the American counter-statement:

"The United States recognizes Tibet to be a part of the People's Republic of China and we do not support Tibetan independence. The United States strongly supports human rights and religious freedom in China."


What do you think. Should Obama meet the Dali Lama, or are we meddling in another country's domestic affairs?
Click to expand...

Yes and yes. Hey, it's America. It's what we do.
 
Peter Grimm said:
Obama is planning to host the Dali Lama for a meeting. The Chinese protest, here's what they have to say in their statement....

"By arranging a meeting between the President and the Dalai Lama, the U.S. side will grossly interfere in the internal affairs of China, seriously violate norms governing international relations and severely impair China-U.S. relations.

Tibet-related affairs fall entirely within the internal affairs of China which allow no foreign interference,"



Here is the American counter-statement:

"The United States recognizes Tibet to be a part of the People's Republic of China and we do not support Tibetan independence. The United States strongly supports human rights and religious freedom in China."


What do you think. Should Obama meet the Dali Lama, or are we meddling in another country's domestic affairs?
Click to expand...

The Dalai Lama is an honorary Canadian citizen, bestowed upon him in 2006, almost ten years ago - one of only three non-Canadians to be so honoured - Nelson Mandela being one of the other two.

So what's America waiting for?
 
that official US response is what the chinese actually wanted
we have affirmed that tibet is china's to govern
that statement is the death knell to any realistic thoughts of a tibetan independence


and of course Obama should meet with the Dalai Lama, as he would meet with any other religious/philosophical leader
 
CanadaJohn said:
The Dalai Lama is an honorary Canadian citizen, bestowed upon him in 2006, almost ten years ago - one of only three non-Canadians to be so honoured - Nelson Mandela being one of the other two.

So what's America waiting for?
Click to expand...


Just to give a brief explanation on that, the US almost never extends honorary citizenship. We have seven recipients in our entire history four of which were posthumous. Of the three one was Churchill, one was Raoul Wallenberg in an effort to get the Soviets to release information and possibly produce his body, and the last was Mother Teresa which was quite controversial and none has been issued since.
 
Sherman123 said:
Just to give a brief explanation on that, the US almost never extends honorary citizenship. We have seven recipients in our entire history four of which were posthumous. Of the three one was Churchill, one was Raoul Wallenberg in an effort to get the Soviets to release information and possibly produce his body, and the last was Mother Teresa which was quite controversial and none has been issued since.
Click to expand...

The third one Canada has awarded is Wallenberg, so there's comparable views there.

Three in Canada's history indicates it's not a frivolous honour for us either.

Canada has suffered zero reprecussions from China for honouring the Dalai Lama - China is economically pragmatic these days - they need us far more than we need them - the US would be no different.
 
CanadaJohn said:
The Dalai Lama is an honorary Canadian citizen, bestowed upon him in 2006, almost ten years ago - one of only three non-Canadians to be so honoured - Nelson Mandela being one of the other two.

So what's America waiting for?
Click to expand...

Nothing, the meeting is going ahead. I was interested if anyone was going to take the Chinese side here, though.
 
If both parties consent, then I don't see why not. China can stop crying about this.
 
I think the US should stand up for freedom when we can. China is notorious for human rights violations, including religious persecution (as is the case with Tibetan Buddhism). I'm all for Obama meeting with the Dali Lama.
 
annata said:
Chinese frothing - de rigueur noises that follow His Holiness around the world.


Dalai Lama has always recognized Tibet as part of China, but autonomous, with a separate culture and identity.


China is crazed about wiping out all vestige of anything Buddhist - I suppose seeing it as a threat to their hegemony minds.

China demands Obama cancel Dalai Lama meeting - The Washington Post
Click to expand...


I started a thread ( one thing about this board is it's easy to miss concurrent ideas) so just thought to c/p other post
 
Peter Grimm said:
Obama is planning to host the Dali Lama for a meeting. The Chinese protest, here's what they have to say in their statement....

"By arranging a meeting between the President and the Dalai Lama, the U.S. side will grossly interfere in the internal affairs of China, seriously violate norms governing international relations and severely impair China-U.S. relations.

Tibet-related affairs fall entirely within the internal affairs of China which allow no foreign interference,"



Here is the American counter-statement:

"The United States recognizes Tibet to be a part of the People's Republic of China and we do not support Tibetan independence. The United States strongly supports human rights and religious freedom in China."


What do you think. Should Obama meet the Dali Lama, or are we meddling in another country's domestic affairs?
Click to expand...

China needs to get over it. Meet with the Dali Lama. He is a symbol of resistance toward a tyrannical regime. Maybe he can teach the Obama administration something. Tibet should be a self administered part of China much like Scotland has been to Britain.
 
SBu said:
China needs to get over it. Meet with the Dali Lama. He is a symbol of resistance toward a tyrannical regime. Maybe he can teach the Obama administration something. Tibet should be a self administered part of China much like Scotland has been to Britain.
Click to expand...
don't think so
read here
News | The Office of His Holiness The Dalai Lama

Appealing for peace in the world, the Dalai Lama said in the German city of Hamburg Sunday that resistance to Chinese rule in his Tibetan homeland had to remain peaceful.

'If we were to use violence, this would endanger peaceful co- existence in the future ...

'We have to co-exist with our Chinese friends ...

He told the audience of 10,000 he would like to see a worldwide organization where people could devote their lives to the cause of peace.

'We cannot change the world merely by resolutions of the United Nations. We have to start with the individual,' he said.

'People from societies that teach peacefulness, tolerance and sympathy are more peaceful by nature,' he said, adding that it was shocking that Sunnis and Shiites could fight one another in Iraq or Catholics and Protestants could do so in Northern Ireland.

'They have the same God, yet they still kill one another,' he said. 'Violence can never be the right way. We have to find a human solution to problems.'
 
Yeah, why not, he can give him the Obama's usual classless gift, a boxed DVD set of something or other. It's Carter all over again, absolutely clueless where it comes to foreign affairs.
 
justabubba said:
don't think so
read here
News | The Office of His Holiness The Dalai Lama

Appealing for peace in the world, the Dalai Lama said in the German city of Hamburg Sunday that resistance to Chinese rule in his Tibetan homeland had to remain peaceful.

'If we were to use violence, this would endanger peaceful co- existence in the future ...

'We have to co-exist with our Chinese friends ...

He told the audience of 10,000 he would like to see a worldwide organization where people could devote their lives to the cause of peace.

'We cannot change the world merely by resolutions of the United Nations. We have to start with the individual,' he said.

'People from societies that teach peacefulness, tolerance and sympathy are more peaceful by nature,' he said, adding that it was shocking that Sunnis and Shiites could fight one another in Iraq or Catholics and Protestants could do so in Northern Ireland.

'They have the same God, yet they still kill one another,' he said. 'Violence can never be the right way. We have to find a human solution to problems.'
Click to expand...

I don't see how this conflicts with what I said.
 
SBu said:
I don't see how this conflicts with what I said.
Click to expand...

i don't see his words be those of someone summoning 'resistance'
but then maybe you see him as advocating passive resistance. and to that end, i would agree with you
 
justabubba said:
i don't see his words be those of someone summoning 'resistance'
but then maybe you see him as advocating passive resistance. and to that end, i would agree with you
Click to expand...

Resistance doesn't mean fighting necessarily, and that is what I meant.
 
SBu said:
China needs to get over it. Meet with the Dali Lama. He is a symbol of resistance toward a tyrannical regime. Maybe he can teach the Obama administration something. Tibet should be a self administered part of China much like Scotland has been to Britain.
Click to expand...

yes. an autonomous zone, but even that impinges on Chinese designs. China isn't tolerant towards any religion, region. they are still imperial empire minded.
 
annata said:
yes. an autonomous zone, but even that impinges on Chinese designs. China isn't tolerant towards any religion, region. they are still imperial empire minded.
Click to expand...

China doesn't understand things like popular opinion, ethics, etc. The Tibet issue and it's status as a worldwide cause celebre is totally China's own making. They created the bad situation, then they point at us and say, 'hey, why are you telling other people about this?'
 
Of course they should meet. The Chinese may express their disquiet, but should be ignored. The DL is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists, he's no longer the leader of the Tibetan government in exile, so I can't see anything that should annoy the Chinese anyway.
 
Peter Grimm said:
Obama is planning to host the Dali Lama for a meeting. The Chinese protest, here's what they have to say in their statement....

"By arranging a meeting between the President and the Dalai Lama, the U.S. side will grossly interfere in the internal affairs of China, seriously violate norms governing international relations and severely impair China-U.S. relations.

Tibet-related affairs fall entirely within the internal affairs of China which allow no foreign interference,"



Here is the American counter-statement:

"The United States recognizes Tibet to be a part of the People's Republic of China and we do not support Tibetan independence. The United States strongly supports human rights and religious freedom in China."


What do you think. Should Obama meet the Dali Lama, or are we meddling in another country's domestic affairs?
Click to expand...

I don't think China should have a problem with Obama meeting with the man but if anti-Chinese statements or actions come from that meeting, then China will have something to complain about.

I am sure Obama just wants to see what all the fuss is about with this man.
 
Peter Grimm said:
Obama is planning to host the Dali Lama for a meeting. The Chinese protest, here's what they have to say in their statement....

"By arranging a meeting between the President and the Dalai Lama, the U.S. side will grossly interfere in the internal affairs of China, seriously violate norms governing international relations and severely impair China-U.S. relations.

Tibet-related affairs fall entirely within the internal affairs of China which allow no foreign interference,"



Here is the American counter-statement:

"The United States recognizes Tibet to be a part of the People's Republic of China and we do not support Tibetan independence. The United States strongly supports human rights and religious freedom in China."


What do you think. Should Obama meet the Dali Lama, or are we meddling in another country's domestic affairs?
Click to expand...
If this was true then I do not think we would be doing business with China and any company that outsourced to that country would be penalized.Because all these companies outsourcing line the pockets of the Chinese Government thus encouraging the same old **** in that country. When people opposed apartheid in south Africa people discouraged companies from doing business with South Africa.We also do not allow companies to do business with North Korea and other countries with economic sanctions.
 
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