Dalai Lama is Bin Laden and freedom is America's secret plan for world domination. Wow... the paranoia is thick.
I thought the reporter from the Economist was only officiallly sanctioned Western journalist present?
Just dont mix sports and politics togeter. As a sports fan, I cant wait to see the highest level competition of all sports that happens only once every 4 year. Dont take that away from those who train hard and give everything just to compete for their own people. Boycotting an event like Olympics really doesnt achieve anything. You are not helping the tibetians either. Selfish, that's all I can say.
Don't be ridiculous. While it is true that often the words democracy and freedom are merely slogans used by western countries, China looks after its own interest. And part of that involves selecting the best available system for its long term growth and stability, be it democracy or socialism. Democracy for democracy's sake makes no sense, but if democracy can strengthen China's rule of law (while maintaining stability), I am all for it.
Democracy and honesty play roles in the reform of the army, as well as in the life of the Party, and of cadres. "Ultra-democracy", which is defined as an individualistic bourgeois aversion to discipline, is to be avoided
man, how about them french people. sending their army to their african territory after they declared independence. what a bunch of ****ing assholes.
whatever the government is in china in the future. i sure hope they ain't copying what's in US today. it's not really working that well here. democracy does not equal to best way to go. far from it actually. while i agree on some reforms in the future. that's about it for now.
One thing that needs to be made abundantly clear is that China's claims to Tibet has nothing to do with China's own political system. Whether China is imperial, communist, or democratic, China's claims to Tibet will not waver. Now carry on with your debate on china's future political system. My personal read is that it will be a form of "authoritarian democracy", see Singapore and to a lesser extent Japan, where you have elections but also a dominant political party, probably some manifestation of the current CCP.
And please make sure the signs are in Chinese, so the audience can understand it. All the anti-China protests held inside China so far have curiously all had English signs. The protestors would unfurl their banners, take a few pictures and videos, and scurry away before the people around them could figure out what's happening. Makes one wonder whether their true intention was to send a message or to get themselves on the news. I want to see what the Chinese audience's reactions would be? I want to see a few beer cans thrown and a few fist fights start. Since it looks unlikely that this will be a peaceful olympics, we might as well get maximum entertainment value out of it.
Democracy for democracy's sake is the only government that makes sense. Freedom of speech and assembly is the only counter to tyranny. Those in power will always try to exploit those without power. The strength of the powerless is in their numbers. When the people organize for the greater good they can control their own destiny. It's only by controlling information and assembly that tyrants can control the people. A people's revolution is always necessary after a period of time since the powerful will try to assume control. But in a democratic system they don't have to be bloody, they can be political. In an autocratic system there is little recourse but bloodshed, usually in the form of a military coup since the military has power and communication outside of the tyrants control. Whether the coup becomes a people's movement or a new autocracy is always the question though.
I'm not sure what news sources you are looking at but I have yet to see reports that Osama Bin Ladin has denied responsibility in the 9/11 attacks. While in his official videos he hasn't outrightly claimed responsibility but he hasn't denied them either. For that matter there was video a few years ago of him meeting with another Sheik where he claimed responsibility. Anyway where is the proof that the Dalai Lama is behind the current trouble in Tibet? The PRC officials have claimed they have it but won't reveal it. That is a dark chapter in US history that few Americans will deny but how does that relate to what evidence there is regarding what is happening in Tibet now? The problem with this line of argument is that most Americans admit that Iraq was a terrible mistake and as such will criticize our current government for it. Ask yourself this if Americans are so nationalistic as to overlook the failings of our government why are there so many threads here on CF.net BBS critical of the Bush Admin and Iraq?
So tell me...would you personally rather see the world destroyed in a hail of nuclear fire than to live under Democratic rule- "of the people, by the people, for the people?" Please give a well thought out response. Thanks in advance. In political theory, Democracy describes a small number of related forms of government and also a political philosophy. A common feature of democracy as currently understood and practiced is competitive elections. Competitive elections are usually seen to require freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and some degree of rule of law. Civilian control of the military is often seen as necessary to prevent military dictatorship and interference with political affairs. In some countries, democracy is based on the philosophical principle of equal rights.
Are you serious? With all due respects this strikes me as extreme paranioa and the type of dangerous thinking that will allow tyranny and war to flourish.
I think it was Churchill that said "Democracy is a terrible form of government. The only thing worse is everything else." While there are huge problems with democracy in the US I wouldn't use that as a knock on democracy in general. The idea of holding the government accountable to the people is essential to good government. The problem with not having a democracy is that if the government loses touch with the people the only alternative is violent revolution. In my opinion the PRC will eventually have multi-party democracy. For them to maintain a continuous development it will be inevitable as the middle-class created by the economic reforms will not be happy having economic but not political freedom while those disenfranchised by the economic success will continue to agitate for a greater political voice.
I think what they have claimed is the Dalai camp, or the "Dalai clique" as they like to call it, is behind it. They don't have to prove that Dalai personally sat down in a dark room and planned it, since the people who planned it are all Dalai's followers and operate in his name. Same as if a Lhasa policeman kills a monk, President Hu Jingtao cann't claim that he has nothing to do with it.
