I write this with the utmost pride: Three activists, including one of our beloved Ruckutistas, climbed up the suspension cables of the Golden Gate Bridge in an action to support Tibetan independence.
For those of you who may be caught off guard as to why, all of the sudden, the whole world is screaming Free Tibet -- China has been occupying Tibet for over half a century, and throughout that time the Tibetan people have risen up in resistance. They have died in droves since then, while staying committed to nonviolence. Their leader, the Dalai Lama, has been leading in exile. Now, with the Olympics scheduled to happen in China this summer, and the theme of One World, One Dream, Tibet has a chance to raise awareness of the abuses and oppression of Chinese rule. They are raising awareness currently all along the Olympic Torch path.
San Francisco is the only city hosting the torch in the United States, and Students for a Free Tibet are responding. The message is clear and visionary: FREE TIBET!!!
Actions in Paris and London have already shown one of the ugly truths of standing up against injustuce -- the bravery of nonviolence is met with the cowardice of violence. This is true in Tibet, where 180 people have been slaughtered since March in their attempts to send a message to the world through the layers of repression of Chinese rule.
As the climbers pulled themselves higher and higher, I meditated on what this struggle is about. It is as fundamentally a fight against inequality and tyranny as the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa...it is the old world of imperialism and inequality against a new world of sovereignty and spiritual wealth.
As the banners scooted across ropes strung between the three climbers, the news media gathered four helicopters, two vans, eight photographers. The news poured in: "traffic is stopped," "five people detained on the bridge," "two diversion teams." The story ran live on CNN, CBS, NBC, and ABC. The cameraman next to me finally said it: "They've brought the city to a stop. It's amazing!"
And then the banner unfurled, white and black against the iconic red Golden Gate Bridge, and its gorgeous. "One World, One Dream: Free Tibet"
This is a huge, beautiful and strategic action; the people of Tibet had this brief window, when the whole world is watching China, the whole world is speaking of 'One Dream,' the whole world is waiting for the Olympics.
Seven activists are detained for $135,000 bail for the Tibetan dream. That dream of independence is our common dream, and we're asking you to do one thing if you are moved by the strength and perseverance of the Tibetan people and Tibetan-led Students for a Free Tibet: donate to StudentsforaFreeTibet.org to support today's action and the actions to come.
And check out these two links for a couple of visuals on the banner hang:
...and the Olympic torch isn't something to parade through your captive nations territory as a tangible symbol that they may as well stop resisting because the whole world is in the occupier's corner.
All while threatening the population of the subject nation with "severe reprisals" if anyone dares disrupt the torch's triumph.
Nonetheless, that was the Chinese government's plan, and as far as anyone knows, it's still the plan. Given this, China's apologists have absolutely no moral ground to protest anything that happens here: all we're doing is what the IOC should have been doing: making sure the torch and the Olympics don't convey the message that China's propaganda wants it to carry.
However, fewer and fewer nations can claim the ability of "casting the first stone", especially ours. Perhaps it is time to rethink the "Olympics", considering that all the athletic events offered at an Olympic venue are also offered at another "World" competition. Perhaps we are throwing money at something that has outlived it's original purpose? While the IOC rules state that the Olympics are to be non-political, few host nations past or present have viewed them as such, yet their motives are not called into question. Only those who protest (such as the black athletes did in Mexico City) are punished.
However, I would like to humbly suggest that you take a critical look at the Free Tibet movement. I did, and have become pretty skeptical of anything they say. You need not take my word for it. Do your own research and thinking on this.
Here is an interesting place to start - an extended online debate between a Free Tibet supporter and an Australian teacher:
http://discussions.pbs.org/viewtopic.pbs?t=68073. (it goes on for 7 webpages)
This blog points to some very good links.
http://www.moonofalabama.org/2008/03/tibet-uprising.html
This has me really worried.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=8442
If you have a LOT of time on your hands, then try this
http://www.iivs.de/~iivs01311/SDLE/Index.htm
Good luck to you and the Ruckutistas. Please help get us out of Iraq!
Although your enthusiasm is admirable, please read one of the most informed and thoughtful articles about the debate ANYWHERE in the media before you jump on the Free Tibet Bandwagon and lump the situation there together with with apartheid (deplorable as it is, it is nothing like what South Africa was. Not even close).
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008%5C04%5C08%5Cstory_8-4-2008_pg3_4
Liked article by Uri Avnery: An Israeli peace activist who has served three terms in the Israeli parliament (Knesset), and is the founder of Gush Shalom (Peace Bloc)