tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.post8078198252891040049..comments2024-03-27T06:56:10.255+00:00Comments on Broad Oak Magazine: Any room for dissent?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.post-72035937902056745492008-05-19T22:28:00.000+01:002008-05-19T22:28:00.000+01:00points well made sackers. China has many problems ...points well made sackers. China has many problems all hidden from us now; but not for long.CityUnslickerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15929544047783163175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.post-43885415440371981332008-05-19T11:46:00.000+01:002008-05-19T11:46:00.000+01:00Hi, Ryan. At least it's not so aggressive as under...Hi, Ryan. At least it's not so aggressive as under Mao. But we're going to need a lot of skilled diplomacy to defuse awkward situations as China thrashes about against her constraints. <BR/><BR/>I understand that the Dalai Lama is not asking for Tibetan independence - who would enforce that? - but for more humane treatment of his countrymen and more religious and social liberty. <BR/><BR/>Many in the USA will have their own views about China, Burma, North Korea etc, but it's going to be a question of agreeing the best realistic compromise, and taking care to save face. I think Burma's reluctance to let in outsiders may be an indication that our opinion matters to some extent, and this is something that good diplomats could build on. That's why, on the whole, I think we shouldn't boycott the Olympics but use them as an opportunity for the sensitive application of pressure.<BR/><BR/>I think we'll all be treading on eggshells for the next 50 years.Sackersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09410040031410954403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.post-55346349600162453922008-05-19T10:47:00.000+01:002008-05-19T10:47:00.000+01:00"The oppression in Tibet continues"Not just Tibet...."The oppression in Tibet continues"<BR/><BR/>Not just Tibet. The horrific socialist junta in Burma also relies on China for its continued existence.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.post-23252829979996876332008-05-19T06:06:00.000+01:002008-05-19T06:06:00.000+01:00Anon: not at all. But "history?". The oppression i...Anon: not at all. But "history?". The oppression in Tibet continues, and could stop. Forced sterilisation and the takeover by the Communist Party of Tibet's cultural roots, especially the (drastically-reduced) monasteries, are not necessary unless the plan is indeed what the Dalai Lama has called it, "cultural genocide".<BR/><BR/>And you will see that the bulk of my post addresses larger issues of China's own structural crises. I am trying to see why they're doing what they're doing.<BR/><BR/>The panellists on AQ used a couple of emo techniques - a dramatic present concern cancels all consideration of eveything else, and gosh isn't China better than wicked old Burma. These people are supposed to offer some wisdom and perspective. History is memory, and without memory there is no learning.<BR/><BR/>DM: West, South-west and North, possibly. Perhaps we'll simply watch as they claim their Sudetenlands. A worry is that as China's problems grow, the ruling junta will try to ease the pressure on themselves by diverting aggression to other targets. After all, Mao set the Red Guard on the Party and then the peasants on the Red Guard.Sackersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09410040031410954403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.post-2378071892906096742008-05-18T20:46:00.000+01:002008-05-18T20:46:00.000+01:00I suspect you've identified the solution for China...I suspect you've identified the solution for China: "Meanwhile, Russia's population threatens to decline to such a degree ....". Go west young man.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.post-27333353939865375802008-05-18T20:31:00.000+01:002008-05-18T20:31:00.000+01:00It sounds that you care more about the history tha...It sounds that you care more about the history than the current tragedy in the earthquake.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com