|
March 31st 2008
01:06:27 PM Name: (Required)
John
Location:
Manitoba
Comment:
It
is about time the Canadian Government starts talking peace in
Afghanistan. $ 150000 per shot artillery shells will not do much for
our or the Afghan economy except pollute the area more.
It’s Time to Promote Peace in Afghanistan March 31st 2008
10:41:18 AM Name: (Required)
brian h
Location:
toronto
Comment:
CTV:
Canadians still
trashing TVs, batteries and meds
But to be fair, a lot of well meaning people really don't know where to get rid of electronic stuff... I have always been particularly keen to find out how to dispose of old smoke detectors? As I understand it they contain radio active matl's. Still wondering. YYC: Hi Brian: An American website called "Obviously.com" - which if it were their recycling page wouldn't be needed - provides a list of recycleables that includes smoke alarms and says a "Canadian firm called American Sensors" (humorous or what) will take back smoke detectors. The company's real name is Dicon Global Inc. and I didn't see an invitation on their website to return your old smoke detector, but you could say America sent you. "Obviously" has many other items listed and all joking aside it seems well kept up to date and a good page to bookmark. But you know what, the local fire departments should be the ones to take back smoke alarms since they were the ones who insisted on them in the first place. March 30th 2008
02:21:24 PM Name: (Required)
John
Location:
Manitoba
Comment:
British reports seem to confirm the claim by the
Dalai Lama that the violence during the protest in Tibet was staged by
the Chinese army.
YYC: Thanks John. This reminds me that I earlier should have said that both American and British undercover intelligence may have been instigators. Plain logic tells me the last thing the Chinese want is any kind of controversy at this time. I keep remembering Burma and the uprising of monks there, and how China, as a major investor in Burma, was given the onus by the US and Britain of putting pressure on the military junta regarding human rights. Downplayed was that Britain and the US are also major investors in Burma in direct competition with the Chinese. But the focus is now off Burma and onto Tibetans. Again, I don't think this is about freedom for anybody on the part of the US and British; it's about demonizing China for economic purposes. I wouldn't put it past them to stage some sort of near miss when Bush attends the Olympics. March 29th 2008
01:37:52 PM Name: (Required)
Marlyn
Location:
British Columbia
Comment:
Even
though China is possibly/probably being set up by the West for some
kind of confrontation, it should be noted that the Chinese occupation
of Tibet has been extremely brutal and they have definitely not acted
in a gentle or peace loving manner with the Tibetan people. I do agree
with HH Dalai Lama that "cultural genocide" has been a big part of the
Chinese government's agenda in Tibet. HH Dalai Lama has stated that he
knows that Tibet cannot become an independent nation once again but
even so, being able to maintain traditional cultural values is not too
much to ask. As I have mentioned, the Chinese government has, over the
years, tried to stamp out the Tibetan Buddhist culture which has been
built up over centuries and the Tibetans have been treated as second
class citizens within their own country. This, definitely, is not
justice and this issue is the one that needs to be addressed.
Where this is all heading is the big question but I do think that the US empire definitely has its sights on a confrontation with China and Russia in the not too distant future. I really hope I am wrong about this. One of Tibet's revered yogis, Chatral Rinpoche, wrote a beautiful prayer on the averting of nuclear war. I do appreciate your taking the time to respond to my comments. I do agree with you that the west has not given a damn about the Tibetans until now and that’s why I am suspicious of how this whole event is being played out. I have a couple of Tibetan friends who seem to think that the West Is genuinely trying to help them and that the extensive media coverage is an indication of the West’s growing concern for their plight. They seem to believe that the West has the power and the will to help and that is so sad. The only reason the Western governments have ever come to the aid of another country, is when they can see an economic advantage down the road. One of my Tibetan friends was saying that where he was living before coming to Canada all the people thought anything Western (like Coca Cola etc) was so exceptional and desirable to have. I think we can infer that, if the West sent infiltrators into Tibet the young people could be easily duped into believing they were finally going to get some help from the rest of the world. I agree with you that China is being poked and prodded right now and the US, EU, Canada etc. have no moral authority to condemn China’s actions. Anyway, thanks again for your response and I will continue to look forward to your posts. YYC: Thanks, Marlyn, for your honest and insightful comments. It's sad that Bush is displaying generosity by going to the Olympics instead of boycotting while at the same time he bears a dangerous malice toward China and uses Tibetan suffering as a handy tool. News or dramatic effect - Behind the Tibetan protest March 28th 2008
07:33:24 PM Name: (Required)
Brian
Website Title:
Rustynode Blog
Location:
North Bay, CANADA
Comment:
Re: News or
dramatic effect?
'A small correction to your item titled "How Green is our May?" You mistakenly referred to Green Party leader Elizabeth May as Elaine May. Elaine was a stand-up comedienne, wasn't she? YYC: Thank you Brian! You've given me a good laugh at myself. Sometimes I get worried when people don't seem to notice my mistakes. I'll issue a correction right away. March 28th 2008
06:44:12 PM Name: (Required)
Marlyn
Location:
British Columbia
Comment:
You made the
comment
"Note that he is declining to enter into talks with Beijing just now, saying it might raise false hopes. I'm sorry, but such a lame excuse makes me wonder if he's waiting for an all clear from the US." HH Dalai Lama has tried for many years to meet with the Chinese government for talks and has always been refused. Even during this upheaval he has said that he will meet with government officials, just that he will not go to China to meet with them. He has asked for a neutral meeting place. As you may be aware, the Dalai Lama fled Tibet when information came to his supporters that the Chinese had plans to shell the Potala Palace with the Dalai Lama and everyone else inside. The Chinese have already kidnapped and are holding hostage the Panchen Lama who is the second highest ranking Lama in Tibetan Buddhism. What makes you think they would not do the same with the Dalai Lama? The Dalai Lama is far more beneficial to the world alive and speaking freely than if he were kept in a Chinese prison for the rest of his life. Many Tibetan monks have spent years in prison for their beliefs and for practicing Buddhism. I can always recall the story of one Tibetan monk who, after spending thirty years in a Chinese prison being tortured daily, said that the one fear he had was that he might lose his compassion for those who were torturing him. Upon first hearing that story, I was incredulous that he could possibly think like that. But the more I learn about Buddhist philosophy and practice the more his story makes sense. I do believe that the Dalai Lama's approach to this situation is the only sensible course to take. For him to go to China under the present circumstances would not be helpful to anyone. Please do a little background reading on the Dalai Lama before condemning and lumping him in with all the political psychopaths he has to deal with, both in the West and in China. YYC: Thanks for your comments Marlyn. We are more in agreement than you may think. Basically, I think China should leave the Tibetans alone to live as they wish. I just have a different approach to this matter, mine coldly logical and impersonal, and yours from the viewpoint of great sympathy and admiration for the Dalai Lama and Buddhism in general. Both are valid responses, I think. As you know, I believe in freedom of religion, but in a diverse world I personally think religious belief should be a private matter. I agree with Aldous Huxley who said something to the effect that true spirituality is not seeking Nirvana on a secluded island but being able to live in London without being a Cockney. And history has shown that it's always incendiary to mix religion with politics. I agree that the Dalai Lama wants the freedom to practise his religion, but he wants more than that. He wants his own official language, and he wants his own system of law based on Buddhist tradition. In other words, he wants his own secluded island inside a country with a vastly different way of doing things. As I've said before, more power to the Tibetans if they are able to accomplish this. Whatever I believe personally, I would never begrudge anyone's good fortune. I apologize for coming across as snide when I talked about Quebec and the Vatican, but I really thought I was making more or less valid comparisons. Quebec has its own official language and a different law system, based on French Civil Law with some of it derived from canon (religious) law. The rest of Canada uses Common Law, albeit the two systems have gradually grown more compatible due to broader interpretations. The Vatican, of course, is a religious community but also an autonomous city within a city, with its own governance - in other words, it is religious and political. As to my suggestions that the Dalai Lama is worried about his image, and that he is taking direction from the US: to me it stands to reason that since he asked the US for assistance he has to work around their agenda, and he is also very likely getting more than he bargained for. I agree with you that there may well have been CIA infiltrators in the demonstrations. And since the Dalai Lama is media savvy he would be remiss not to worry about how things look to his support base - especially westerners drawn to him because of his gentle persona. He has probably received advice that it doesn't look good to be so picky about where negotiations take place, and he knows that now is the appropriate time to say that he is willing to go to Beijing, but he has to consider the concerns of his local support as well (the "clique" that the Chinese say surrounds him). Maybe that's not such a lame excuse after all, but the fact remains the US agenda will take precedence. I really appreciate you writing your thoughts, Marlyn. Discussion helps us all to sort out our own responses to the world's many human tragedies. I could say more, but I'm getting tired of the sound of my own voice in my head. ;-) March 28th 2008
06:42:24 PM Name: (Required)
Marlyn
Location:
British Columbia
Comment:
A few thoughts
arose as I read
your posts today:
"The Chinese government is not exaggerating the violence if the Dalai Lama himself has had to admonish the demonstrators to cease their violence (GulfTimes), no doubt because they are making his projected aura of peacefulness look false." I felt I had to comment on this harsh assessment of the Dalai Lama's motivation in admonishing the demonstrators. You seem to imply that he was only concerned about how the violence would reflect on him. Do you not think that you are assuming too much here. How can you possibly know his motivation in asking the demonstrators not to use violence? If you knew anything about Buddhism and the Dalai Lama you would know that both are against the use of violence. The Dalai Lama has been absent from Tibet for almost fifty years and until recently Buddhism was not allowed to be openly practiced in Tibet. How much influence do you think the Dalai Lama and Buddhist philosophy has on young Tibetans today? Certainly, he is revered by many but the young people in Tibet have not had a strong grounding in Buddhist belief and philosophy because of the suppression of those beliefs since the Chinese began their occupation. I think it is much more likely that Tibetans have been infiltrated with "agents provocateurs" to stir things up and to incite demonstrations which then turned violent. As the world knows, the Chinese hold great reserves of US dollars and the Americans would like nothing better than to start a conflict with the Chinese. What better way than to create a situation where they are seen to be going to the aid of a helpless people under the tyranny of the Chinese? In this scenario, the Tibetans are more like pawns in the great chess game of global domination, as others have suggested. "The Chinese constitution already mentions autonomy [for Tibet]. So that should not be just a word on paper but implemented on the spot," he said, sitting in front of a statue of the Buddha. "The whole world knows Dalai Lama is not seeking independence, one hundred times, a thousand times I have repeated this. It is my mantra � we are not seeking independence." That last snide comment does not do justice to your usual penetrating insight into complex issues. No, the Dalai Lama has stated on many, many occasions that the autonomy that he seeks is the right of the Tibetans to practice Buddhism, if that is what they wish to practice. As you probably know, Tibet had over 6,000 monasteries at the time China invaded. All but 12 of those monasteries were destroyed along with thousands of precious volumes of written commentary on Buddhist philosophy. The Chinese government has only recently allowed monasteries to open but even so there is strict control of what the monks learn and how they practice. They are asked to denounce the Dalai Lama and they are made to study for many hours each day about China and the cultural revolution. Young Tibetans are forced to study Chinese language and are led to believe that their own language and culture is inferior to the Chinese. Sort of like what we did to the native people here in Canada. I agree that the West is making a huge issue of the uprising in Tibet and it sets off alarm bells for me that there is much more to this than we are being told in the media. There are several good articles on GlobalResearch.ca about the role of the CIA and British intelligence forces working inside Tibet. There are rumours and counter rumours. However,after having studied Buddhism for many years it is my assessment that HH Dalai Lama would be the last person on this planet to be assisting or promoting the horrific outcome which the West is planning in setting this scenario in place. Anyway, keep up the good work. I know you try very much to keep an open mind. March 28th 2008
10:54:10 AM Name: (Required)
John
Location:
Manitoba
Comment:
A beauty contest with a difference, however
tragic.
Miss landmine 2008 held in Angola. The contestants all have lost a leg due to a landmine explosion. The winner will get an artificial leg or Prothese/ YYC: Thanks, John. Here's the English version. As much as I hate the objectification of women for any purpose, let's hope this stops the use of landmines. By the way, surely there are some beautiful men who have lost limbs in landmine explosions. March 27th 2008
10:25:45 PM Name: (Required)
John
Location:
Manitoba
Comment:
Looks like the
Canadian Human
Rights commission
Is spiking their own cases. Their staff is placing hate messages on a website before they take that site to court. National Post: Jeers and Loathing at Rights Tribunal YYC: Yeah, I know of this case. It wasn't open to the public or I would have attended. I'm surprised Ezra Levant wasn't there, but maybe he doesn't qualify as press anymore. He did write an article about the case a while ago. I never thought I would agree with anything Levant has to say, but I'm glad to see he's consistent in his support of free speech, and not just when it comes to publishing Mohammed cartoons. March 25th 2008
06:54:37 PM Name: (Required)
richard aka
Ironheart
Location:
pumpitout.com
Comment:
pumpitout.com
just banned me for proving them wrong not once did i use foul language
or any type of mean remarks all i did was prove a few easy to prove
facts and was banned from their fourm I see how they complain that no
one can dispute their writings or they would do so here well i tried
and an admin by the name of "shure" banned me for proving he was wrong
March 24th 2008
06:09:23 PM Name: (Required)
John
Location:
Manitoba
Comment:
Ottawa Turns Off Tap On Right To Water
As it stands, Canada and the United States are the only two countries to go on record at the United Nations to oppose the right to water. The Liberal party defended the Harper government's position in the media earlier this week, claiming that a right to water would make Canada vulnerable to bulk water exports. This is utterly untrue. ((All transboundary water issues were explicitly excluded from the scope of the resolution. A human rights convention is between a government and its citizens. Recognition of the right to water in no way affects a country's sovereign right to manage its own resources. YYC: Good timing, John. This is an excellent complement to my latest (Mar. 25) post on self-defeating greed. You'll notice I was also able to use the article about the bees that you sent by email. March 21st 2008
05:03:52 PM Name: (Required)
John
Location:
Manitoba
Comment:
FYI!!
This year's term: Political Correctness. "Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end." YYC: Quite. In fact, there's no end of turds in the world. Hey, I know what the verbal equivalent of tongs is: the euphemism! March 18th 2008
10:55:36 AM Name: (Required)
Brent
Website Title:
Knowledge Driven
Revolution
Location:
Ontario
Comment:
Hello YayaCanada
community. I
thought you may be interested in this short series of articles I wrote.
Take care.
Brent The Club of Rome is a premiere think tank composed of approximately 100 members including leading scientists, philosophers, political advisors and many other characters who lurk in the shadows of power. This series of articles describes the major conclusions of the 1974 book Mankind at the Turning Point: The Second Report to The Club of Rome. Part 1 describes their desire for the development of a totalitarian world system presented under the euphemism of an "organic society". Part 2 describes the need to create a new value system to ensure the acceptance of the upcoming world government. This new value system will be based on a "world consciousness." The final article in this series describes a planned world economy as called for in Mankind at the Turning Point. March 17th 2008
01:14:50 PM Name: (Required)
Jack C
Location:
Troy, Mi, usa
Comment:
You all better
check out this
article at http://pacificfreepress.com/content/view/2396/81/
You are all but the fifty-first state of w's North American Union. If you don't like the idea or statement that is being made here, then you need to take serious action against the officials in your own country who are selling you out to bush&co., et al. It seems that harper and dione (and probably a bunch more there) are two of the best officials MONEY CAN (and, it seems did) BUY and the New World Order's idea of a wet dream come true. This aint "conspiracy theory 101", this has happened in Canada already. Your own leaders have agreed to US troop deployment on Canadian soil ALREADY!!! Time to either start actively moving and shaking for the sake of Canadian sovereignty or get ready to start seeing the stars and stripes everywhere you look. The choice is still yours, but not for very much longer. God Bless and Save Canada. I think it's too late over here. YYC: As usual, Jack, you're right on the mark. Last night I saw a film entitled "The Panama Deception" dealing with how the US invaded Panama under the guise of removing Noriega when it was really about destroying Panama's military capability and planting US soldiers there instead. For years Canadians have had to listen to right wing Americans belittle us with the old saw that we are so weak militarily the US has had to protect us, and we just don't appreciate what's been done for us. It occurred to me after watching the Panama film that if we did have a powerful military, the US would have invaded us with bombs and tanks. Instead they have done it without firing a shot. While I appreciate a non-violent approach, I still have to say, nice work, America - with protectors like you, who needs Islamic terrorism? March 14th 2008
07:57:51 PM Name: (Required)
John
Location:
Manitoba
Comment:
Afghanistan: Why Canada Should Withdraw Its Troops
The Government of Canada made a grave error by taking sides in this conflict and by using alleged war criminals as allies in its stabilisation and reconstruction strategy. Rewarding rather than prosecuting alleged war criminals delegitimates Canadian foreign policy and undermines Canada’s potential role as a neutral mediator and peacekeeper. If Canadians truly believe in self-determination and democracy, we will immediately withdraw the Canadian Forces from the illegitimate war in Afghanistan. March 13th 2008
10:00:27 AM Name: (Required)
John
Location:
Manitoba
Comment:
An interesting report about the damage done by the
Israeli attack on Lebanon a few years ago.
Did Harper call it a measured response. I wonder what his definition of that term might be? March 9th 2008
05:44:10 PM Name: (Required)
YayaCanada
Comment:
More
and more I am confronted by the weirdness of my own sense of humour.
The way I interpret our firearm legislation is that it's okay to kill
someone with a "long gun" but not with a hand gun.
Still, it seems both kinds must be registered even if a large percentage of their owners don't bother to comply, and don't seem to be hassled for that. Strangely, although "getting tough on crime" is a good election theme, according to the statistics Canadians are offing themselves more than one another. And when they do kill somebody else, they use much safer instruments than guns. Knives, for instance. All of my little black jokes were inspired by a Wikipedia article. Home invasions were declining prior to 2000. The new gun laws were enacted in 2001. Here are the stats on all crimes between 2001 and 2006. It shows a drop in home invasions, but a decided rise in residential burglaries - which, according to the movies, involve only a large sac (borrowed from Santa?), a black outfit, a flashlight and probably a crow bar, so don't count as invasions. March 9th 2008
04:19:54 PM Name: (Required)
Jack C
Website Title:
Grand Refrizzicator
Location:
Troy, Mi., usa
Comment:
I think I might be
opening a can
of worms with this question but here goes anyway.
I have heard conflicting reports on whether your "gun control law" was first passed, then modified, then repealed. Could you or any of your readers please edify me on this point? The primary reason being interviews I have seen on the web with normal Canadian Law Enforcement agents speaking on the record that have noted a rather alarming increase in home invasions in Canada since the enactment of the aforementioned law. (before any of you get too wound up, Australia did the same kind of law and now has a HUGE problem with home invasions-the bad guys have all the guns now-think before you repond too vehemently to my inquiry) So . . . is it still around? Has anything been done to modify it? Have "you" had it repealed? Have "you" booted the responsible parties for this idiotic legislation out on their collective asses yet, or what? There is a great video pertaining to this on a website called "OpenYourMindsEye", but I wasn't sure how old or even reliable the info on it is. Thanks for any responsible, intelligent answers I might get regarding this matter. March 8th 2008
05:24:06 PM Name: (Required)
Marc
Location:
Montreal
Comment:
The Stanford
Experiment seemed
to have spread all over North America.
The experiment conducted in the department of psychology of the Stanford University where ordinary people and students were asked to simulate prison like conditions and was abruptly interrupted before the end, revealed that given supreme powers, normal people could turn into aggressors, abusers and even torturers. In a larger scale, we can understand what happened in South American countries and other places around the world, including Abu Ghraib in Iraq, which became known for extreme violence against other humans beings. Since that behavior is a known fact, then why are governments still putting people in situation that would lead them to become torturers? Is it because they like it or because they are ignorant about it or even because they don't care about it? I pick the later. In law practice, the one that pays another to commit a crime is as guilty as the one who commits the crime. Does that mean that we are guilty of torture since we are the ones that are paying our leaders to do their jobs? It's tough to swallow but basically, that's the case. The good news is that, since we are supposed to be the boss, we technically could either warn the people who do not respect our will, or fire them if they pursue in their wrong doing. Let's not take to long to decide while our soldiers and innocent people are paying the ultimate price. |
|
April 1st 2008
12:11:57 AM Name: (Required)
Murray
Comment:
re:
"You do realize that you can turn off your lights, and do other things
to conserve energy or help the environment any time you want, right?
And you don't need to register with any websites; you can just go ahead
and do it."
One measly hour for Earth Hmmmm. The time should have been, oh say, 6:00 to 7:00 PM local time, but the MSM talking mouthpieces wouldn't like that, would they? Have an awesome day. YYC: Not a bit. No sir. All that advertising and mis/disinfo gone to waste? The Ottawa snooze had nothing to worry about though. I looked out after 8 PM and my downtown neighbourhood looked no different than usual. March 31st 2008
01:06:27 PM Name: (Required)
John
Location:
Manitoba
Comment:
It
is about time the Canadian Government starts talking peace in
Afghanistan. $ 150000 per shot artillery shells will not do much for
our or the Afghan economy except pollute the area more.
It’s Time to Promote Peace in Afghanistan March 31st 2008
10:41:18 AM Name: (Required)
brian h
Location:
toronto
Comment:
CTV: Canadians still
trashing TVs, batteries and meds
But to be fair, a lot of well meaning people really don't know where to get rid of electronic stuff... I have always been particularly keen to find out how to dispose of old smoke detectors? As I understand it they contain radio active matl's. Still wondering. YYC: Hi Brian: An American website called "Obviously.com" - which if it were their recycling page wouldn't be needed - provides a list of recycleables that includes smoke alarms and says a "Canadian firm called American Sensors" (humorous or what) will take back smoke detectors. The company's real name is Dicon Global Inc. and I didn't see an invitation on their website to return your old smoke detector, but you could say America sent you. "Obviously" has many other items listed and all joking aside it seems well kept up to date and a good page to bookmark. But you know what, the local fire departments should be the ones to take back smoke alarms since they were the ones who insisted on them in the first place. March 30th 2008
02:21:24 PM Name: (Required)
John
Location:
Manitoba
Comment:
British reports seem to confirm the claim by the
Dalai Lama that the violence during the protest in Tibet was staged by
the Chinese army.
YYC: Thanks John. This reminds me that I earlier should have said that both American and British undercover intelligence may have been instigators. Plain logic tells me the last thing the Chinese want is any kind of controversy at this time. I keep remembering Burma and the uprising of monks there, and how China, as a major investor in Burma, was given the onus by the US and Britain of putting pressure on the military junta regarding human rights. Downplayed was that Britain and the US are also major investors in Burma in direct competition with the Chinese. But the focus is now off Burma and onto Tibetans. Again, I don't think this is about freedom for anybody on the part of the US and British; it's about demonizing China for economic purposes. I wouldn't put it past them to stage some sort of near miss when Bush attends the Olympics. March 29th 2008
01:37:52 PM Name: (Required)
Marlyn
Location:
British Columbia
Comment:
Even
though China is possibly/probably being set up by the West for some
kind of confrontation, it should be noted that the Chinese occupation
of Tibet has been extremely brutal and they have definitely not acted
in a gentle or peace loving manner with the Tibetan people. I do agree
with HH Dalai Lama that "cultural genocide" has been a big part of the
Chinese government's agenda in Tibet. HH Dalai Lama has stated that he
knows that Tibet cannot become an independent nation once again but
even so, being able to maintain traditional cultural values is not too
much to ask. As I have mentioned, the Chinese government has, over the
years, tried to stamp out the Tibetan Buddhist culture which has been
built up over centuries and the Tibetans have been treated as second
class citizens within their own country. This, definitely, is not
justice and this issue is the one that needs to be addressed.
Where this is all heading is the big question but I do think that the US empire definitely has its sights on a confrontation with China and Russia in the not too distant future. I really hope I am wrong about this. One of Tibet's revered yogis, Chatral Rinpoche, wrote a beautiful prayer on the averting of nuclear war. I do appreciate your taking the time to respond to my comments. I do agree with you that the west has not given a damn about the Tibetans until now and that’s why I am suspicious of how this whole event is being played out. I have a couple of Tibetan friends who seem to think that the West Is genuinely trying to help them and that the extensive media coverage is an indication of the West’s growing concern for their plight. They seem to believe that the West has the power and the will to help and that is so sad. The only reason the Western governments have ever come to the aid of another country, is when they can see an economic advantage down the road. One of my Tibetan friends was saying that where he was living before coming to Canada all the people thought anything Western (like Coca Cola etc) was so exceptional and desirable to have. I think we can infer that, if the West sent infiltrators into Tibet the young people could be easily duped into believing they were finally going to get some help from the rest of the world. I agree with you that China is being poked and prodded right now and the US, EU, Canada etc. have no moral authority to condemn China’s actions. Anyway, thanks again for your response and I will continue to look forward to your posts. YYC: Thanks, Marlyn, for your honest and insightful comments. It's sad that Bush is displaying generosity by going to the Olympics instead of boycotting while at the same time he bears a dangerous malice toward China and uses Tibetan suffering as a handy tool. News or dramatic effect - Behind the Tibetan protest March 28th 2008
07:33:24 PM Name: (Required)
Brian
Website Title:
Rustynode Blog
Location:
North Bay, CANADA
Comment:
Re: News or dramatic effect?
'A small correction to your item titled "How Green is our May?" You mistakenly referred to Green Party leader Elizabeth May as Elaine May. Elaine was a stand-up comedienne, wasn't she? YYC: Thank you Brian! You've given me a good laugh at myself. Sometimes I get worried when people don't seem to notice my mistakes. I'll issue a correction right away. March 28th 2008
06:44:12 PM Name: (Required)
Marlyn
Location:
British Columbia
Comment:
You made the comment
"Note that he is declining to enter into talks with Beijing just now, saying it might raise false hopes. I'm sorry, but such a lame excuse makes me wonder if he's waiting for an all clear from the US." HH Dalai Lama has tried for many years to meet with the Chinese government for talks and has always been refused. Even during this upheaval he has said that he will meet with government officials, just that he will not go to China to meet with them. He has asked for a neutral meeting place. As you may be aware, the Dalai Lama fled Tibet when information came to his supporters that the Chinese had plans to shell the Potala Palace with the Dalai Lama and everyone else inside. The Chinese have already kidnapped and are holding hostage the Panchen Lama who is the second highest ranking Lama in Tibetan Buddhism. What makes you think they would not do the same with the Dalai Lama? The Dalai Lama is far more beneficial to the world alive and speaking freely than if he were kept in a Chinese prison for the rest of his life. Many Tibetan monks have spent years in prison for their beliefs and for practicing Buddhism. I can always recall the story of one Tibetan monk who, after spending thirty years in a Chinese prison being tortured daily, said that the one fear he had was that he might lose his compassion for those who were torturing him. Upon first hearing that story, I was incredulous that he could possibly think like that. But the more I learn about Buddhist philosophy and practice the more his story makes sense. I do believe that the Dalai Lama's approach to this situation is the only sensible course to take. For him to go to China under the present circumstances would not be helpful to anyone. Please do a little background reading on the Dalai Lama before condemning and lumping him in with all the political psychopaths he has to deal with, both in the West and in China. YYC: Thanks for your comments Marlyn. We are more in agreement than you may think. Basically, I think China should leave the Tibetans alone to live as they wish. I just have a different approach to this matter, mine coldly logical and impersonal, and yours from the viewpoint of great sympathy and admiration for the Dalai Lama and Buddhism in general. Both are valid responses, I think. As you know, I believe in freedom of religion, but in a diverse world I personally think religious belief should be a private matter. I agree with Aldous Huxley who said something to the effect that true spirituality is not seeking Nirvana on a secluded island but being able to live in London without being a Cockney. And history has shown that it's always incendiary to mix religion with politics. I agree that the Dalai Lama wants the freedom to practise his religion, but he wants more than that. He wants his own official language, and he wants his own system of law based on Buddhist tradition. In other words, he wants his own secluded island inside a country with a vastly different way of doing things. As I've said before, more power to the Tibetans if they are able to accomplish this. Whatever I believe personally, I would never begrudge anyone's good fortune. I apologize for coming across as snide when I talked about Quebec and the Vatican, but I really thought I was making more or less valid comparisons. Quebec has its own official language and a different law system, based on French Civil Law with some of it derived from canon (religious) law. The rest of Canada uses Common Law, albeit the two systems have gradually grown more compatible due to broader interpretations. The Vatican, of course, is a religious community but also an autonomous city within a city, with its own governance - in other words, it is religious and political. As to my suggestions that the Dalai Lama is worried about his image, and that he is taking direction from the US: to me it stands to reason that since he asked the US for assistance he has to work around their agenda, and he is also very likely getting more than he bargained for. I agree with you that there may well have been CIA infiltrators in the demonstrations. And since the Dalai Lama is media savvy he would be remiss not to worry about how things look to his support base - especially westerners drawn to him because of his gentle persona. He has probably received advice that it doesn't look good to be so picky about where negotiations take place, and he knows that now is the appropriate time to say that he is willing to go to Beijing, but he has to consider the concerns of his local support as well (the "clique" that the Chinese say surrounds him). Maybe that's not such a lame excuse after all, but the fact remains the US agenda will take precedence. I really appreciate you writing your thoughts, Marlyn. Discussion helps us all to sort out our own responses to the world's many human tragedies. I could say more, but I'm getting tired of the sound of my own voice in my head. ;-) March 28th 2008
06:42:24 PM Name: (Required)
Marlyn
Location:
British Columbia
Comment:
A few thoughts arose as I read
your posts today:
"The Chinese government is not exaggerating the violence if the Dalai Lama himself has had to admonish the demonstrators to cease their violence (GulfTimes), no doubt because they are making his projected aura of peacefulness look false." I felt I had to comment on this harsh assessment of the Dalai Lama's motivation in admonishing the demonstrators. You seem to imply that he was only concerned about how the violence would reflect on him. Do you not think that you are assuming too much here. How can you possibly know his motivation in asking the demonstrators not to use violence? If you knew anything about Buddhism and the Dalai Lama you would know that both are against the use of violence. The Dalai Lama has been absent from Tibet for almost fifty years and until recently Buddhism was not allowed to be openly practiced in Tibet. How much influence do you think the Dalai Lama and Buddhist philosophy has on young Tibetans today? Certainly, he is revered by many but the young people in Tibet have not had a strong grounding in Buddhist belief and philosophy because of the suppression of those beliefs since the Chinese began their occupation. I think it is much more likely that Tibetans have been infiltrated with "agents provocateurs" to stir things up and to incite demonstrations which then turned violent. As the world knows, the Chinese hold great reserves of US dollars and the Americans would like nothing better than to start a conflict with the Chinese. What better way than to create a situation where they are seen to be going to the aid of a helpless people under the tyranny of the Chinese? In this scenario, the Tibetans are more like pawns in the great chess game of global domination, as others have suggested. "The Chinese constitution already mentions autonomy [for Tibet]. So that should not be just a word on paper but implemented on the spot," he said, sitting in front of a statue of the Buddha. "The whole world knows Dalai Lama is not seeking independence, one hundred times, a thousand times I have repeated this. It is my mantra � we are not seeking independence." That last snide comment does not do justice to your usual penetrating insight into complex issues. No, the Dalai Lama has stated on many, many occasions that the autonomy that he seeks is the right of the Tibetans to practice Buddhism, if that is what they wish to practice. As you probably know, Tibet had over 6,000 monasteries at the time China invaded. All but 12 of those monasteries were destroyed along with thousands of precious volumes of written commentary on Buddhist philosophy. The Chinese government has only recently allowed monasteries to open but even so there is strict control of what the monks learn and how they practice. They are asked to denounce the Dalai Lama and they are made to study for many hours each day about China and the cultural revolution. Young Tibetans are forced to study Chinese language and are led to believe that their own language and culture is inferior to the Chinese. Sort of like what we did to the native people here in Canada. I agree that the West is making a huge issue of the uprising in Tibet and it sets off alarm bells for me that there is much more to this than we are being told in the media. There are several good articles on GlobalResearch.ca about the role of the CIA and British intelligence forces working inside Tibet. There are rumours and counter rumours. However,after having studied Buddhism for many years it is my assessment that HH Dalai Lama would be the last person on this planet to be assisting or promoting the horrific outcome which the West is planning in setting this scenario in place. Anyway, keep up the good work. I know you try very much to keep an open mind. March 28th 2008
10:54:10 AM Name: (Required)
John
Location:
Manitoba
Comment:
A beauty contest with a difference, however
tragic.
Miss landmine 2008 held in Angola. The contestants all have lost a leg due to a landmine explosion. The winner will get an artificial leg or Prothese/ YYC: Thanks, John. Here's the English version. As much as I hate the objectification of women for any purpose, let's hope this stops the use of landmines. By the way, surely there are some beautiful men who have lost limbs in landmine explosions. March 27th 2008
10:25:45 PM Name: (Required)
John
Location:
Manitoba
Comment:
Looks like the Canadian Human
Rights commission
Is spiking their own cases. Their staff is placing hate messages on a website before they take that site to court. National Post: Jeers and Loathing at Rights Tribunal YYC: Yeah, I know of this case. It wasn't open to the public or I would have attended. I'm surprised Ezra Levant wasn't there, but maybe he doesn't qualify as press anymore. He did write an article about the case a while ago. I never thought I would agree with anything Levant has to say, but I'm glad to see he's consistent in his support of free speech, and not just when it comes to publishing Mohammed cartoons. March 25th 2008
06:54:37 PM Name: (Required)
richard aka
Ironheart
Location:
pumpitout.com
Comment:
pumpitout.com
just banned me for proving them wrong not once did i use foul language
or any type of mean remarks all i did was prove a few easy to prove
facts and was banned from their fourm I see how they complain that no
one can dispute their writings or they would do so here well i tried
and an admin by the name of "shure" banned me for proving he was wrong
March 24th 2008
06:09:23 PM Name: (Required)
John
Location:
Manitoba
Comment:
Ottawa Turns Off Tap On Right To Water
As it stands, Canada and the United States are the only two countries to go on record at the United Nations to oppose the right to water. The Liberal party defended the Harper government's position in the media earlier this week, claiming that a right to water would make Canada vulnerable to bulk water exports. This is utterly untrue. ((All transboundary water issues were explicitly excluded from the scope of the resolution. A human rights convention is between a government and its citizens. Recognition of the right to water in no way affects a country's sovereign right to manage its own resources. YYC: Good timing, John. This is an excellent complement to my latest (Mar. 25) post on self-defeating greed. You'll notice I was also able to use the article about the bees that you sent by email. March 21st 2008
05:03:52 PM Name: (Required)
John
Location:
Manitoba
Comment:
FYI!!
This year's term: Political Correctness. "Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end." YYC: Quite. In fact, there's no end of turds in the world. Hey, I know what the verbal equivalent of tongs is: the euphemism! March 18th 2008
10:55:36 AM Name: (Required)
Brent
Website Title:
Knowledge Driven Revolution
Location:
Ontario
Comment:
Hello YayaCanada community. I
thought you may be interested in this short series of articles I wrote.
Take care.
Brent The Club of Rome is a premiere think tank composed of approximately 100 members including leading scientists, philosophers, political advisors and many other characters who lurk in the shadows of power. This series of articles describes the major conclusions of the 1974 book Mankind at the Turning Point: The Second Report to The Club of Rome. Part 1 describes their desire for the development of a totalitarian world system presented under the euphemism of an "organic society". Part 2 describes the need to create a new value system to ensure the acceptance of the upcoming world government. This new value system will be based on a "world consciousness." The final article in this series describes a planned world economy as called for in Mankind at the Turning Point. March 17th 2008
01:14:50 PM Name: (Required)
Jack C
Location:
Troy, Mi, usa
Comment:
You all better check out this
article at http://pacificfreepress.com/content/view/2396/81/
You are all but the fifty-first state of w's North American Union. If you don't like the idea or statement that is being made here, then you need to take serious action against the officials in your own country who are selling you out to bush&co., et al. It seems that harper and dione (and probably a bunch more there) are two of the best officials MONEY CAN (and, it seems did) BUY and the New World Order's idea of a wet dream come true. This aint "conspiracy theory 101", this has happened in Canada already. Your own leaders have agreed to US troop deployment on Canadian soil ALREADY!!! Time to either start actively moving and shaking for the sake of Canadian sovereignty or get ready to start seeing the stars and stripes everywhere you look. The choice is still yours, but not for very much longer. God Bless and Save Canada. I think it's too late over here. YYC: As usual, Jack, you're right on the mark. Last night I saw a film entitled "The Panama Deception" dealing with how the US invaded Panama under the guise of removing Noriega when it was really about destroying Panama's military capability and planting US soldiers there instead. For years Canadians have had to listen to right wing Americans belittle us with the old saw that we are so weak militarily the US has had to protect us, and we just don't appreciate what's been done for us. It occurred to me after watching the Panama film that if we did have a powerful military, the US would have invaded us with bombs and tanks. Instead they have done it without firing a shot. While I appreciate a non-violent approach, I still have to say, nice work, America - with protectors like you, who needs Islamic terrorism? March 14th 2008
07:57:51 PM Name: (Required)
John
Location:
Manitoba
Comment:
Afghanistan: Why Canada Should Withdraw Its Troops
The Government of Canada made a grave error by taking sides in this conflict and by using alleged war criminals as allies in its stabilisation and reconstruction strategy. Rewarding rather than prosecuting alleged war criminals delegitimates Canadian foreign policy and undermines Canada’s potential role as a neutral mediator and peacekeeper. If Canadians truly believe in self-determination and democracy, we will immediately withdraw the Canadian Forces from the illegitimate war in Afghanistan. March 13th 2008
10:00:27 AM Name: (Required)
John
Location:
Manitoba
Comment:
An interesting report about the damage done by the
Israeli attack on Lebanon a few years ago.
Did Harper call it a measured response. I wonder what his definition of that term might be? March 9th 2008
05:44:10 PM Name: (Required)
YayaCanada
Comment:
More
and more I am confronted by the weirdness of my own sense of humour.
The way I interpret our firearm legislation is that it's okay to kill
someone with a "long gun" but not with a hand gun.
Still, it seems both kinds must be registered even if a large percentage of their owners don't bother to comply, and don't seem to be hassled for that. Strangely, although "getting tough on crime" is a good election theme, according to the statistics Canadians are offing themselves more than one another. And when they do kill somebody else, they use much safer instruments than guns. Knives, for instance. All of my little black jokes were inspired by a Wikipedia article. Home invasions were declining prior to 2000. The new gun laws were enacted in 2001. Here are the stats on all crimes between 2001 and 2006. It shows a drop in home invasions, but a decided rise in residential burglaries - which, according to the movies, involve only a large sac (borrowed from Santa?), a black outfit, a flashlight and probably a crow bar, so don't count as invasions. March 9th 2008
04:19:54 PM Name: (Required)
Jack C
Website Title:
Grand Refrizzicator
Location:
Troy, Mi., usa
Comment:
I think I might be opening a can
of worms with this question but here goes anyway.
I have heard conflicting reports on whether your "gun control law" was first passed, then modified, then repealed. Could you or any of your readers please edify me on this point? The primary reason being interviews I have seen on the web with normal Canadian Law Enforcement agents speaking on the record that have noted a rather alarming increase in home invasions in Canada since the enactment of the aforementioned law. (before any of you get too wound up, Australia did the same kind of law and now has a HUGE problem with home invasions-the bad guys have all the guns now-think before you repond too vehemently to my inquiry) So . . . is it still around? Has anything been done to modify it? Have "you" had it repealed? Have "you" booted the responsible parties for this idiotic legislation out on their collective asses yet, or what? There is a great video pertaining to this on a website called "OpenYourMindsEye", but I wasn't sure how old or even reliable the info on it is. Thanks for any responsible, intelligent answers I might get regarding this matter. March 8th 2008
05:24:06 PM Name: (Required)
Marc
Location:
Montreal
Comment:
The Stanford Experiment seemed
to have spread all over North America.
The experiment conducted in the department of psychology of the Stanford University where ordinary people and students were asked to simulate prison like conditions and was abruptly interrupted before the end, revealed that given supreme powers, normal people could turn into aggressors, abusers and even torturers. In a larger scale, we can understand what happened in South American countries and other places around the world, including Abu Ghraib in Iraq, which became known for extreme violence against other humans beings. Since that behavior is a known fact, then why are governments still putting people in situation that would lead them to become torturers? Is it because they like it or because they are ignorant about it or even because they don't care about it? I pick the later. In law practice, the one that pays another to commit a crime is as guilty as the one who commits the crime. Does that mean that we are guilty of torture since we are the ones that are paying our leaders to do their jobs? It's tough to swallow but basically, that's the case. The good news is that, since we are supposed to be the boss, we technically could either warn the people who do not respect our will, or fire them if they pursue in their wrong doing. Let's not take to long to decide while our soldiers and innocent people are paying the ultimate price. |
|
April 1st 2008
12:11:57 AM Name: (Required)
Murray
Comment:
re:
"You do realize that you can turn off your lights, and do other things
to conserve energy or help the environment any time you want, right?
And you don't need to register with any websites; you can just go ahead
and do it."
One measly hour for Earth Hmmmm. The time should have been, oh say, 6:00 to 7:00 PM local time, but the MSM talking mouthpieces wouldn't like that, would they? Have an awesome day. YYC: Not a bit. No sir. All that advertising and mis/disinfo gone to waste? The Ottawa snooze had nothing to worry about though. I looked out after 8 PM and my downtown neighbourhood looked no different than usual. March 31st 2008
01:06:27 PM Name: (Required)
John
Location:
Manitoba
Comment:
It
is about time the Canadian Government starts talking peace in
Afghanistan. $ 150000 per shot artillery shells will not do much for
our or the Afghan economy except pollute the area more.
It’s Time to Promote Peace in Afghanistan March 31st 2008
10:41:18 AM Name: (Required)
brian h
Location:
toronto
Comment:
CTV: Canadians still
trashing TVs, batteries and meds
But to be fair, a lot of well meaning people really don't know where to get rid of electronic stuff... I have always been particularly keen to find out how to dispose of old smoke detectors? As I understand it they contain radio active matl's. Still wondering. YYC: Hi Brian: An American website called "Obviously.com" - which if it were their recycling page wouldn't be needed - provides a list of recycleables that includes smoke alarms and says a "Canadian firm called American Sensors" (humorous or what) will take back smoke detectors. The company's real name is Dicon Global Inc. and I didn't see an invitation on their website to return your old smoke detector, but you could say America sent you. "Obviously" has many other items listed and all joking aside it seems well kept up to date and a good page to bookmark. But you know what, the local fire departments should be the ones to take back smoke alarms since they were the ones who insisted on them in the first place. March 30th 2008
02:21:24 PM Name: (Required)
John
Location:
Manitoba
Comment:
British reports seem to confirm the claim by the
Dalai Lama that the violence during the protest in Tibet was staged by
the Chinese army.
YYC: Thanks John. This reminds me that I earlier should have said that both American and British undercover intelligence may have been instigators. Plain logic tells me the last thing the Chinese want is any kind of controversy at this time. I keep remembering Burma and the uprising of monks there, and how China, as a major investor in Burma, was given the onus by the US and Britain of putting pressure on the military junta regarding human rights. Downplayed was that Britain and the US are also major investors in Burma in direct competition with the Chinese. But the focus is now off Burma and onto Tibetans. Again, I don't think this is about freedom for anybody on the part of the US and British; it's about demonizing China for economic purposes. I wouldn't put it past them to stage some sort of near miss when Bush attends the Olympics. March 29th 2008
01:37:52 PM Name: (Required)
Marlyn
Location:
British Columbia
Comment:
Even
though China is possibly/probably being set up by the West for some
kind of confrontation, it should be noted that the Chinese occupation
of Tibet has been extremely brutal and they have definitely not acted
in a gentle or peace loving manner with the Tibetan people. I do agree
with HH Dalai Lama that "cultural genocide" has been a big part of the
Chinese government's agenda in Tibet. HH Dalai Lama has stated that he
knows that Tibet cannot become an independent nation once again but
even so, being able to maintain traditional cultural values is not too
much to ask. As I have mentioned, the Chinese government has, over the
years, tried to stamp out the Tibetan Buddhist culture which has been
built up over centuries and the Tibetans have been treated as second
class citizens within their own country. This, definitely, is not
justice and this issue is the one that needs to be addressed.
Where this is all heading is the big question but I do think that the US empire definitely has its sights on a confrontation with China and Russia in the not too distant future. I really hope I am wrong about this. One of Tibet's revered yogis, Chatral Rinpoche, wrote a beautiful prayer on the averting of nuclear war. I do appreciate your taking the time to respond to my comments. I do agree with you that the west has not given a damn about the Tibetans until now and that’s why I am suspicious of how this whole event is being played out. I have a couple of Tibetan friends who seem to think that the West Is genuinely trying to help them and that the extensive media coverage is an indication of the West’s growing concern for their plight. They seem to believe that the West has the power and the will to help and that is so sad. The only reason the Western governments have ever come to the aid of another country, is when they can see an economic advantage down the road. One of my Tibetan friends was saying that where he was living before coming to Canada all the people thought anything Western (like Coca Cola etc) was so exceptional and desirable to have. I think we can infer that, if the West sent infiltrators into Tibet the young people could be easily duped into believing they were finally going to get some help from the rest of the world. I agree with you that China is being poked and prodded right now and the US, EU, Canada etc. have no moral authority to condemn China’s actions. Anyway, thanks again for your response and I will continue to look forward to your posts. YYC: Thanks, Marlyn, for your honest and insightful comments. It's sad that Bush is displaying generosity by going to the Olympics instead of boycotting while at the same time he bears a dangerous malice toward China and uses Tibetan suffering as a handy tool. News or dramatic effect - Behind the Tibetan protest March 28th 2008
07:33:24 PM Name: (Required)
Brian
Website Title:
Rustynode Blog
Location:
North Bay, CANADA
Comment:
Re: News or dramatic effect?
'A small correction to your item titled "How Green is our May?" You mistakenly referred to Green Party leader Elizabeth May as Elaine May. Elaine was a stand-up comedienne, wasn't she? YYC: Thank you Brian! You've given me a good laugh at myself. Sometimes I get worried when people don't seem to notice my mistakes. I'll issue a correction right away. March 28th 2008
06:44:12 PM Name: (Required)
Marlyn
Location:
British Columbia
Comment:
You made the comment
"Note that he is declining to enter into talks with Beijing just now, saying it might raise false hopes. I'm sorry, but such a lame excuse makes me wonder if he's waiting for an all clear from the US." HH Dalai Lama has tried for many years to meet with the Chinese government for talks and has always been refused. Even during this upheaval he has said that he will meet with government officials, just that he will not go to China to meet with them. He has asked for a neutral meeting place. As you may be aware, the Dalai Lama fled Tibet when information came to his supporters that the Chinese had plans to shell the Potala Palace with the Dalai Lama and everyone else inside. The Chinese have already kidnapped and are holding hostage the Panchen Lama who is the second highest ranking Lama in Tibetan Buddhism. What makes you think they would not do the same with the Dalai Lama? The Dalai Lama is far more beneficial to the world alive and speaking freely than if he were kept in a Chinese prison for the rest of his life. Many Tibetan monks have spent years in prison for their beliefs and for practicing Buddhism. I can always recall the story of one Tibetan monk who, after spending thirty years in a Chinese prison being tortured daily, said that the one fear he had was that he might lose his compassion for those who were torturing him. Upon first hearing that story, I was incredulous that he could possibly think like that. But the more I learn about Buddhist philosophy and practice the more his story makes sense. I do believe that the Dalai Lama's approach to this situation is the only sensible course to take. For him to go to China under the present circumstances would not be helpful to anyone. Please do a little background reading on the Dalai Lama before condemning and lumping him in with all the political psychopaths he has to deal with, both in the West and in China. YYC: Thanks for your comments Marlyn. We are more in agreement than you may think. Basically, I think China should leave the Tibetans alone to live as they wish. I just have a different approach to this matter, mine coldly logical and impersonal, and yours from the viewpoint of great sympathy and admiration for the Dalai Lama and Buddhism in general. Both are valid responses, I think. As you know, I believe in freedom of religion, but in a diverse world I personally think religious belief should be a private matter. I agree with Aldous Huxley who said something to the effect that true spirituality is not seeking Nirvana on a secluded island but being able to live in London without being a Cockney. And history has shown that it's always incendiary to mix religion with politics. I agree that the Dalai Lama wants the freedom to practise his religion, but he wants more than that. He wants his own official language, and he wants his own system of law based on Buddhist tradition. In other words, he wants his own secluded island inside a country with a vastly different way of doing things. As I've said before, more power to the Tibetans if they are able to accomplish this. Whatever I believe personally, I would never begrudge anyone's good fortune. I apologize for coming across as snide when I talked about Quebec and the Vatican, but I really thought I was making more or less valid comparisons. Quebec has its own official language and a different law system, based on French Civil Law with some of it derived from canon (religious) law. The rest of Canada uses Common Law, albeit the two systems have gradually grown more compatible due to broader interpretations. The Vatican, of course, is a religious community but also an autonomous city within a city, with its own governance - in other words, it is religious and political. As to my suggestions that the Dalai Lama is worried about his image, and that he is taking direction from the US: to me it stands to reason that since he asked the US for assistance he has to work around their agenda, and he is also very likely getting more than he bargained for. I agree with you that there may well have been CIA infiltrators in the demonstrations. And since the Dalai Lama is media savvy he would be remiss not to worry about how things look to his support base - especially westerners drawn to him because of his gentle persona. He has probably received advice that it doesn't look good to be so picky about where negotiations take place, and he knows that now is the appropriate time to say that he is willing to go to Beijing, but he has to consider the concerns of his local support as well (the "clique" that the Chinese say surrounds him). Maybe that's not such a lame excuse after all, but the fact remains the US agenda will take precedence. I really appreciate you writing your thoughts, Marlyn. Discussion helps us all to sort out our own responses to the world's many human tragedies. I could say more, but I'm getting tired of the sound of my own voice in my head. ;-) March 28th 2008
06:42:24 PM Name: (Required)
Marlyn
Location:
British Columbia
Comment:
A few thoughts arose as I read
your posts today:
"The Chinese government is not exaggerating the violence if the Dalai Lama himself has had to admonish the demonstrators to cease their violence (GulfTimes), no doubt because they are making his projected aura of peacefulness look false." I felt I had to comment on this harsh assessment of the Dalai Lama's motivation in admonishing the demonstrators. You seem to imply that he was only concerned about how the violence would reflect on him. Do you not think that you are assuming too much here. How can you possibly know his motivation in asking the demonstrators not to use violence? If you knew anything about Buddhism and the Dalai Lama you would know that both are against the use of violence. The Dalai Lama has been absent from Tibet for almost fifty years and until recently Buddhism was not allowed to be openly practiced in Tibet. How much influence do you think the Dalai Lama and Buddhist philosophy has on young Tibetans today? Certainly, he is revered by many but the young people in Tibet have not had a strong grounding in Buddhist belief and philosophy because of the suppression of those beliefs since the Chinese began their occupation. I think it is much more likely that Tibetans have been infiltrated with "agents provocateurs" to stir things up and to incite demonstrations which then turned violent. As the world knows, the Chinese hold great reserves of US dollars and the Americans would like nothing better than to start a conflict with the Chinese. What better way than to create a situation where they are seen to be going to the aid of a helpless people under the tyranny of the Chinese? In this scenario, the Tibetans are more like pawns in the great chess game of global domination, as others have suggested. "The Chinese constitution already mentions autonomy [for Tibet]. So that should not be just a word on paper but implemented on the spot," he said, sitting in front of a statue of the Buddha. "The whole world knows Dalai Lama is not seeking independence, one hundred times, a thousand times I have repeated this. It is my mantra � we are not seeking independence." That last snide comment does not do justice to your usual penetrating insight into complex issues. No, the Dalai Lama has stated on many, many occasions that the autonomy that he seeks is the right of the Tibetans to practice Buddhism, if that is what they wish to practice. As you probably know, Tibet had over 6,000 monasteries at the time China invaded. All but 12 of those monasteries were destroyed along with thousands of precious volumes of written commentary on Buddhist philosophy. The Chinese government has only recently allowed monasteries to open but even so there is strict control of what the monks learn and how they practice. They are asked to denounce the Dalai Lama and they are made to study for many hours each day about China and the cultural revolution. Young Tibetans are forced to study Chinese language and are led to believe that their own language and culture is inferior to the Chinese. Sort of like what we did to the native people here in Canada. I agree that the West is making a huge issue of the uprising in Tibet and it sets off alarm bells for me that there is much more to this than we are being told in the media. There are several good articles on GlobalResearch.ca about the role of the CIA and British intelligence forces working inside Tibet. There are rumours and counter rumours. However,after having studied Buddhism for many years it is my assessment that HH Dalai Lama would be the last person on this planet to be assisting or promoting the horrific outcome which the West is planning in setting this scenario in place. Anyway, keep up the good work. I know you try very much to keep an open mind. March 28th 2008
10:54:10 AM Name: (Required)
John
Location:
Manitoba
Comment:
A beauty contest with a difference, however
tragic.
Miss landmine 2008 held in Angola. The contestants all have lost a leg due to a landmine explosion. The winner will get an artificial leg or Prothese/ YYC: Thanks, John. Here's the English version. As much as I hate the objectification of women for any purpose, let's hope this stops the use of landmines. By the way, surely there are some beautiful men who have lost limbs in landmine explosions. March 27th 2008
10:25:45 PM Name: (Required)
John
Location:
Manitoba
Comment:
Looks like the Canadian Human
Rights commission
Is spiking their own cases. Their staff is placing hate messages on a website before they take that site to court. National Post: Jeers and Loathing at Rights Tribunal YYC: Yeah, I know of this case. It wasn't open to the public or I would have attended. I'm surprised Ezra Levant wasn't there, but maybe he doesn't qualify as press anymore. He did write an article about the case a while ago. I never thought I would agree with anything Levant has to say, but I'm glad to see he's consistent in his support of free speech, and not just when it comes to publishing Mohammed cartoons. March 25th 2008
06:54:37 PM Name: (Required)
richard aka
Ironheart
Location:
pumpitout.com
Comment:
pumpitout.com
just banned me for proving them wrong not once did i use foul language
or any type of mean remarks all i did was prove a few easy to prove
facts and was banned from their fourm I see how they complain that no
one can dispute their writings or they would do so here well i tried
and an admin by the name of "shure" banned me for proving he was wrong
March 24th 2008
06:09:23 PM Name: (Required)
John
Location:
Manitoba
Comment:
Ottawa Turns Off Tap On Right To Water As it stands, Canada and the United States are the only two countries to go on record at the United Nations to oppose the right to water. The Liberal party defended the Harper government's position in the media earlier this week, claiming that a right to water would make Canada vulnerable to bulk water exports. This is utterly untrue. ((All transboundary water issues were explicitly excluded from the scope of the resolution. A human rights convention is between a government and its citizens. Recognition of the right to water in no way affects a country's sovereign right to manage its own resources. YYC: Good timing, John. This is an |