Tibetan protesters stormed the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu. Hundreds of protesters were held back by Nepalese policeman as they protested Chinese control of their homeland. The protesters that were detained will be released according to police.

Even though it has not made the news much, Tibetan protesters have been protesting in Nepal since March on a very frequent basis. In fact, protests have been staged just about every day since then. It seems that protest that are not near the embassy have not been disrupted to the point that this one was. Nepal will not tolerate any protest near the Chinese embassy because they are on good terms with China.

The protest against the Chinese government’s control of Tibet have not been very successful. It seems that the Chinese government is not open to negotiation, for the most part with Tibet. The country has made it very clear that they are not big fans of the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet. They also have made it clear that they are not interested in leaving Tibet. This makes a solution very unlikely and difficult to imagine.

With the Olympic games just a few weeks away, the protest of China’s occupation of Tibet will likely continue and intensify. At what point does the Chinese government recognize that something must be done and that talks must begin? Why allow Tibet to be in turmoil and protests to rage around the world over the subject of Tibet? The world has got enough problems.

What will happen around the world when the Olympics are underway? Athletes from around the world will gather in China for the games. What will the world uncover when they step foot into China? The truth of what is going on in Tibet will probably not be evident during the game. The Chinese government has been very secretive about all types of things that go on behind the red curtain of China. I am sure that any troubles that can be covered up will be while the games are going on. Tibet will need to lay silent while the games are going on to remain safe. I don’t think that the Chinese government will do anything that will be judged as inappropriate while the world is in China but what will happen when everyone goes home?

The clash with Tibetan protesters and police in Kathmandu is just one example of protesters in a part of the world other than Tibet where people are upset about Chinese occupation of Tibet. Whether or not China is right or wrong or Tibet is right or wrong, something needs to be figured out for this situation. Some level heads need to come together and work out a feasible deal that will work for both sides. A compromise is the only way to settle the issue of Chinese occupation of Tibet. At some point the two sides will have to come together, possibly with a mediator, and come up with something that works for both of them.

Tibet allowed the Olympic torch to enter the city without incident. There was some political rhetoric but the presence of people hat did not want the torch there was small. Most locals stayed away from the entire scene.

The 5.8 mile run began in Norbulingka where the Dalai Lama’s former summer palace is and ended at the Potala Palace. This occurred just three months after violent protest of the Olympics in Lhasa. It is reported that some residents were told to stay hoe and not attend the rally.

The running of the Olympic torch which is supposed to be a symbol of great freedom and spirit. So why would Chinese officials use the running of the torch as a time to sprout pro-Chinese rhetoric? I mean, come on, weren’t they the ones that wanted the politics out of the Olympics? I guess things change when the shoe is on the other foot.

Beijing Olympic officials claim that of the 156 torchbearers that ran through Lhasa 75 were ethnic Tibetans. While that may be so, the arguments over the Dalai Lama and the status of Tibet have not stopped. The fact the ordinary Tibetans were not allowed to go to the running of the torch is also very disturbing. If China Tibet to be a part of China I think they should start considering how they can be a part of China.

Of course, after the terrible earthquakes that took place in China recently it was nice to see the torch be run through the streets of Tibet without trouble. At this point I am sure that like myself, many Chinese just want safety and calm, no matter what part of the country they may be in. The devastation of the earthquakes and mud slides will resound for a long while to come.

Even though there were issues with the running of the torch the ceremony was reportedly beautiful and festive. The crowd was controlled and the torch was delivered without fail. The Olympics are not that far off now and it will be interesting to see what happens when they world enters the borders of China.

I hope that the games go on without any terrible incidents. The Olympics should a wonderful experiences were the entire world comes to play. Victories and defeats and pride should be the result of the Olympic games, not political strife. China needs to find some kind of a middle ground to deal with the Dalai Lama and Tibet. Making silly declarations like “the stars of China will forever fly over Tibet and we can smash the Dalai clique” is not productive. Especially at the running of the Olympic torch. Hopefully there will not be that kind of foolishness being said at the actual Olympic games. No one cares to hear such a one side, closed minded piece of rhetoric. Let the Olympic games go on and leave the political issues for China to deal with without the world or world events being pulled into it.

There is talk that the Dalai Lama nad China will be meeting to have talks about the uprising in Tibet. This is a great development in an unfortunate situation. However, soon after the news hit that the Dalai Lama was ready to have dialogue with the Chinese government, there were more verbal attacks from the latter. Now I know that there are two sides to every story and that I haven’t lived in Tibet, ever, but I do want to say this.

So, last Sunday when I went to se the Dalai Lama, there were plenty of protesters in front of the venue. Now, I am always open to a good protest and people standing up for what they believe. Even though I was there to see the Dalai Lama, I was willing to listen to the issues that the protesters were stating. Unfortunately, the issues were pretty shallow, in my opinion. There were signs that said “Don’t Ruin The Olympics! And “Olympics And Politics Do Not Mix!” Okay, so, like I’ve stated before, the big protest are about someone ruining China’s big party? Come on. If there are issues, valid ones, protest and tell the world why there should be no protest in Tibet and give good reasons for the exile of the Dalai Lama. Clue the world in with valid arguments that maybe, just maybe, you will win some support.

China has come a long way in the past fifty years. Outside of their shaky human rights history, China seems like a place I would want to visit. The Olympics will be wonderful and athletes will go there and give each competition their all. People around the global will travel to China to cheer on their countries and loved ones and the event will be a great success, most likely. However, the more that China goes on the defense, the more it looks like there are reasons to suspect that there is something going on in Tibet that the Chinese government does not want us to know about.

I love the Olympics, and I will watch some events, I’m sure, but I do wonder, what does the Chinese government not want us to know? Hopefully, talks between China and the Dalai Lama start soon and some type of agreement can be met. I hate the fact the people fight over pieces of the earth, like man could ever truly own parts of such a magnificent creation as the earth. It always disturbs me when people can not live with one another simply because they are different. It also troubles me when one group things that they are the rightful owners of any stretch of land. It is a simple, silly notion, but would it be possible for all of the cultures living in Tibet to co-exist? Could we extend that notion to the Middle East and the lands there that blood is shed in the name of ownership for an endless amount of time? Why can’t we live with one another? When will humans reach that level of elementary understanding that the land we live on is there both before and after we live on it and there is no reason to fight over it.

Compromise is a common word that many people use but never truly put into practice. A compromise is a meeting in the middle, a way that both parties get some of the things that they want but neither one gets all of their demands met. A compromise is what needs to be made in Tibet.

So Tibet wants the world to know that the Chinese government has done them wrong. Burning down mosques is not the way to get international sympathy. Rioting is not the way to get the world to listen to the fact that your spiritual leader is in exile. Of course, staging tours from international reports from some countries is not the way to ease the world’s worries that the Chinese government is strong arming Tibetans. Also, complaining that Tibet is simply trying to ruining the Olympics for China and talking bad about the Dalai Lama is not wise either.

I am not there in Lhasa so I can’t say exactly what is going on but I will say that it sounds like both sides need to reevaluate their tactics. I am not on one side or the other. I hear the arguments of both groups I understand that there are forty years of anger and mistrusts wrapped up in everything that is said. There is a right and wrong in the situation but I do not know which is which because the situation started long before I was born and I’ve missed some of the incidents that have led up to the current unrest. I absolutely can not stand when an “oppressed” group decides to attack another group. If the Tibetans what to show that they are upset and want changes, attacking Muslims is not a good way to show the world that they are being persecuted. I know that protests are probably not the way to go but think about it, the entire world will be in town soon. Why not remain peaceful until the guests arrive…that is the time to sing like a bird.

The Chinese government officials that are putting down the Dalai Lama must be careful with what they say. The Dalai Lama is a much respected international figure and spiritual leader. Also, he has been known to speak less about Tibet gaining an autonomous “freedom” from China and more about the two sides coming together and talking, something that the exiled Tibetan government has not been happy about in the past. I think that talking to the Dalai Lama instead of talking about him might at least ease tensions, if nothing else.

China has been in Tibet for decades now. There are people that live in the area that had nothing to do with the occupation of Tibet. Individuals on both sides of the argument that call the region home and lay claim to the land. The idea of who owns the land and has more right to it is one that has no right or wrong answer. I think that the two sides need to reach a compromise that both of them can live with. I believe that there is a way to meet in the middle.

The Olympic Games are one of the few places where people from around the word can gather peacefully and compete against one another. The medals that the athletes win are badges of pride for themselves and their countries. I always find myself in awe of the determination of the athletes that participate in the games and the emotions that winning and competing bring out.

This year the Olympic Games will take place in China, a place that is making great strides in the world, but not progressing in some areas at all. With so much focus going to the troubles in the Middle East, it can be easy to forget about some of the other areas of the world where trouble is constantly brewing. Tibet was overtaken by the Chinese in 1959 and has remained under Chinese rule, continuously since that time. This is a struggle that does not get attention at all until something happens, such as the recent protest that have been going on over the past week or so.

Over the last few months there have been a few big names that have quietly declined from attending or participating in the Olympics. With the exception of Prince Charles, most of those figures have been individuals that were neither competing in the games or a part of government. However, as the turmoil increases and more and more people are paying
attention to this struggle, the call for protests have begun to spring up.

The type of protest that seems to be getting the most attention is the idea of boycotting the opening ceremonies. This seems to be a mild way of showing that some countries are not happy with the way that the Chinese government is dealing with the issues in Tibet. While I can understand the urge to want to do something to show discontent, I have to wonder why now? Tibet has been under Chinese rule for quite some time now. The world has been aware of this for decades and boycotting the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games seems like a very easy, hands off approach to showing Chinese government officials that they are displeased with the situation in Tibet. Also, what exactly would boycotting the opening ceremonies mean? What statement would these governments be making? Are they saying that the Chinese should give Tibet their freedom? Or are they simply saying that the violence of recent protest is unacceptable? If the latter is the statement, then why boycott? If the message is, manage your problems better instead of fixing them by giving Tibet freedom or reaching some sort of compromise, I think the gesture is a waste.

When I speak of freedom for Tibet, I understand that completely relinquishing control may not be realistic at this point. However, the increase of human rights in the region and allowing people that live there to practice their beliefs would be a start. Compromising and taking some peaceful measures may help to ease tensions and bring a stop to recent violence. While it may seem a little rude for Tibet to stage these protest now, it is kind of hard to stay quiet while the government that oppresses you throws a party for the entire world.