[finasteridonline]

Right, because they were happy peasants.

I'm not saying I'd enjoy Chinese rule either. But they have a point.

[Forex Trading Software]

Right, because they were happy peasants.

I'm not saying I'd enjoy Chinese rule either. But they have a point.

what's their point? if i had a magic wand that would turn the U.S. into a Chinese style "people's republic" and we'd be suddenly the best performing country in the world, would you accept the Faustian bargain for your soul so long as you were guaranteed a job or something similar?

[Maryjasmine]

If the US was a theocratic feudal state, then perhaps I might.

[Symnunidanimb]

If the US was a theocratic feudal state, then perhaps I might.

You'd have a point if the situation in Tibet were like that in Russia in the 19th century (Russia being the last European country to abolish the master/serf system), where the land-owners lived at a level of wealth that's unattainable today while the serfs lived in near-starvation and crushing debt. There was a vast gulf between the rich and the poor in that society.

But in Tibet before the Chinese invasion, there was little distance, economically-speaking, between the rulers and the ruled. Everyone was living at a level comparable with Europe in the 1100 or 1200's.

Yes, the serfs were poor, but the monks were poor, too.

[ambientambien]

But the fact is that you were still a serf, slaves in all but name only.

[Gaxiciverfere]

But the fact is that you were still a serf, slaves in all but name only.

I'd rather be a serf than have to deal with a capricious regime like the Communist Chinese.

To put a positive spin on it, when you're a serf, you know your place and what's expected of you. My ancestors were serfs (peasants) under the English landed gentry for hundreds of years. Back in the early Middle Ages, they all lived, worked and slept together, peasants and gentry alike. And lie I said, the Tibetan society hadn't progressed much beyond that point.

And you're still ignoring the fact that the Chinese are currently treating the Tibetans -especially those in urban areas- not even as serfs. They're treating them as a problem to be relocated or disposed of, as they see fit.

[MFSSCW2c]

But the fact is that you were still a serf, slaves in all but name only.

One more thing: don't equate serfs with slaves. A slave is chattel, something which can be bought and sold.

A serf is a person. Not a full person under the law, but one who has rights and responsibilities. While the serf is expected to produce and turn over much of what they produce to their lord or master, the lord has to respect the serf's claims to the land they worked. You can't simply get rid of them, and you can't move them around. If the serf's family has claim to farm a certain part of your estate, then you have to respect that claim, under penalty of the law.

[hygtfrdes]

I'd rather be a serf than have to deal with a capricious regime like the Communist Chinese.

To put a positive spin on it, when you're a serf, you know your place and what's expected of you. My ancestors were serfs (peasants) under the English landed gentry for hundreds of years. Back in the early Middle Ages, they all lived, worked and slept together, peasants and gentry alike. And lie I said, the Tibetan society hadn't progressed much beyond that point.

Serfdom is completely different depending on the area. Serfdom in western Europe was serfdom lite. By the end of the middle ages the concept of the yeoman, or "freeholder" had come into play, especially in England. Serfdom = slavery in eastern Europe and Russia. Serfs in Russia were sold between different landholders.

And you're still ignoring the fact that the Chinese are currently treating the Tibetans -especially those in urban areas- not even as serfs. They're treating them as a problem to be relocated or disposed of, as they see fit. I'm going to have to do some research on that.

[casinobonuswer]

Serfdom is completely different depending on the area. Serfdom in western Europe was serfdom lite. By the end of the middle ages the concept of the yeoman, or "freeholder" had come into play, especially in England. Serfdom = slavery in eastern Europe and Russia. Serfs in Russia were sold between different landholders.

Good. That was exactly the range I was trying to point out.

I'm not deeply versed in Tibetan history, but from what I know, it seems that the serf in Tibet were in the same position as French or English peasants with monastic landlords in the middle of the Middle Ages.

Also remember that Tibet considered itself an independent country when the Chinese invaded it in 1950.

I'm going to have to do some research on that. Do that. I was just doing some poking around and it appears the Chinese are currently relocating the nomadic people (2 million in all) into purpose-built villages.

[TypeTeasiaDer]

Dalai Lama appeals to China on drying Tibet rivers | Reuters

The Dalai Lama on Wednesday appealed to China to take action to stop Tibet's glaciers melting, saying the environmental crisis was more urgent than a political solution over Tibet's future.

Attending a U.N. summit on global hunger in Rome, the exiled Buddhist leader warned rivers from Tibet's glaciers and snow-covered mountains may dry up in 15 to 20 years and asked China to study the problem together with Tibetan experts.

"A political solution (for Tibet) may take time, but that's okay, we can wait," the Dalai Lama told reporters.

"But damaging the ecology, year by year, is happening, so we really need serious studies and to make a plan to protect the environment. That is very, very important."

The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is the source of many of Asia's great rivers including the Yangtze and the Mekong.

Chinese officials and envoys of the Dalai Lama have recently held eight rounds of talks over the future of Tibet but little of substance has been achieved.

The Dalai Lama, dubbed a separatist by Beijing, says he is merely seeking autonomy for his homeland, which last year erupted in riots and protests against the Chinese presence.

[ebBPxIai]

Well China can control a lot of things, but not the weather.

[patuvammnogoo]

China would rather spend its billions in laying rail lines to Tibet and border roads to India so that it can move its military with ease, nevermind the environmental impact of building. And it has had plans to dam the Tibetan rivers, including the Brahmaputra, in order to divert the waters to its parched north.

[tilmprarnerit]

Well China can control a lot of things, but not the weather.

it has been known to seed clouds using sliver compounds near Beijing in order to produce rain or snow. Not to say that China is alone in using that technology.

[casinobonuscxz]

Russia's done that too. Cloud seeding isn't really the perfect science yet.

[CicyHannyCeli]

yeah, Russia plans to use it this winter to seed clouds out in rural areas in order to rid them of moisture before they reach Moscow or other large cities-- so that they don't have to use snow plows and other machinery to keep roads clean of snow.

[WeissVine]

That's silly....What if they CAUSE a major snowstorm? lol...


Then they have to spend twice the money...

[ViagraPriceBuying]

it has been known to seed clouds using sliver compounds near Beijing in order to produce rain or snow. Not to say that China is alone in using that technology.

In one of those strange coincidences of history, it was Kurt Vonnegut's brother who came up with the idea of seeding clouding with silver nitrate.

So it goes...

[23InetrySypekek]

That's silly....What if they CAUSE a major snowstorm? lol...

They cause snowstorms in the suburbs instead! I wish we could get the reverse going here :P

In one of those strange coincidences of history, it was Kurt Vonnegut's brother who came up with the idea of seeding clouding with silver nitrate. I wonder where he came up with the idea of ice-nine then?

[BrainTop]

I wonder where he came up with the idea of ice-nine then?

I believe it did indeed come out of a discussion with his brother, whose name was Bernard.

And just to correct myself, t was silver iodide, not nitrate.

[irresseni]

Well the trip came and went, and China went back to being China and India went back to being India...

The Dalai Lama A divinity amidst us

Beijing calls the Dalai Lama a dangerous “splittist” plotting Tibetan independence, a charge His Holiness denies. He says he is merely seeking autonomy for Tibet. The Tibetan spiritual leader, defending his visit to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh said that he wasn’t surprised by Beijing’s reaction as his visit to this part was non-political. Though the visit has been embroiled in controversies, nothing could deter the infectious enthusiasm of the devotees as for them, what mattered most was catching a glimpse of the living God, who is the very core of their existence.

Despite the restrictions imposed in Arunachal Pradesh, the Dalai Lama continued to draw thousands of followers. From the very first day of his arrival till the fourth day, Tawang remained closed for about six hours as almost all its residents attended the Tibetan leader’s discourse at the Yid-Gha-Choezin Monastery. Despite the chilly weather, unprecedented enthusiasm and joy was seen along the 186-km stretch from Tawang to Bomdi La, the route the Dalai Lama had taken during his sensational flight from Tibet in 1959. Local Buddhists draped the road with thousands of five-colour religious flags and welcome arches with sacred motifs erected at numerous places. The followers of the Dalai Lama were seen going to Dirang and Bomdi La to listen to his discourses over the next two days. “We are all thrilled to find god’s reincarnation among us,” said Pema Thondup, a former Assam Rifles jawan from Themang, as he walked to the venue of the Dalai Lama’s discourse at Dirang.

During his last few days of his stay at the Last Shangri-La of Aruanchal Pradesh, His Holiness visited various monasteries where he delivered religious discourses, inaugurated a Monastery Museum, a Monastery School Library, the District hospital funded by him besides laying the foundation stone of Jibkyob Thongdrol Chorten near Urgelling, the birth place of the 6th Dali Lama Gyalma Rinchen Tsayang Gyatso. He also planted a sapling at Yid Gha Choezin (Gompa) and distributed 1500 blessed saplings to the local people, calling on them to protect the environment of the Himalayas which will reduce the impact of global warming.