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Yahoo!After reading the article about Tibet [Voices, April 3] and this morning’s protests in London, I thought, “Now I understand how Whites feel about slavery in the US.” Like many in the US, my family didn’t own slaves nor was involved with the oppression of First People nations with shady deals to take land, property and people from Mexico. No, my family arrived on the shores of this nation in the 1940s to escape the Japanese and Communists in China. Yet as I walked through Northampton, Massachusetts during my spring break two weeks ago, I was confronted with signs protesting the treatment and death of Tibetans in Tibet. A man who I believe was Tibetan tapped my shoulder and asked to speak to me. My throat tightened and all I could say was “I am Chinese,” and quickly walked away with my head in shame. The truth was that I actually side with those who are asking hard questions of the Chinese government about the situation in Tibet (and in Xinjiang, the Uighars; Chinese Christians in the underground church, etc.). Despite this, I am still seen as, and am, Han Chinese, an ethnic group with a history and present reality of oppressing. I wish I could take back my weak response from two weeks ago; instead, I’m going to think how I can use my position to exact justice.
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That is a very touching letter. If everyone was like you there would not be so many problems in Tibet, China, and the world. Please do educate yourself on the writings of HHDL and the current struggle - your leadership will be quite welcome and will simultaneously humanize and honor Han Chinese while helping Tibet and ultimately the world.
native_sun (anonymous profile)
April 12, 2008 at 2:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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