(U-WIRE) — In 1950, the People’s Republic of China invaded and occupied the peaceful mountain nation of Tibet. For 58 years, the Communist regime in Beijing has waged a quiet war against the Tibetan people. Their clandestine methods follow the guidelines established by their imperialist predecessors: hide Tibet’s holy relics, erode traditional Tibetan practices and fill the vacuum with Chinese culture. The evil genius behind the Chinese plan — and perhaps the only reason the suppression of Tibet has not garnered much attention in the Western world — is that the Chinese government has attacked under the guise of technology and progress.First, to debase Tibetan culture and broadcast authority, the Chinese government has conspicuously placed signs of Chinese culture on top of Tibetan ones. The government has planted a television tower atop the Iron Mountain — a sacred landmass in the center of Lhasa, Tibet’s Holy City.This eyesore casts its shadow on some of the most important relics of the Buddhist world, belittling Tibetan identity both physically and figuratively.Signs of subjugation even infiltrate the intimate spaces of Tibetan life. The streets outside Lhasa are lined with brand new houses and schools built by the Chinese government, a definite improvement from the old clay huts that used to stand there. However, each was built with a Chinese flag on the roof. At the same time, the display of the Tibetan flag has been banned at many of these new buildings, especially the schools. There is a hidden motive behind the technology and development the Chinese government has brought to Tibet. Because of the television tower, the Tibetans cannot rebuild the shrine that used to stand atop the Iron Mountain. Because of the Chinese flags on top of their roofs, Tibetans can no longer decorate their homes and schools with prayer flags — a tradition of Tibetan life. Television and new homes are in themselves beneficial to the Tibetans, but the Chinese have used them to inhibit traditional Tibetan practices and make Chinese culture more visible.While slowly creating a cultural void in Tibet, the Chinese government has also laid the groundwork for filling it. Thousands of kilometers of railway have been built connecting Lhasa to many major Chinese cities; the express train from Beijing was completed in 2006, and luxury cars will be running in 2009. Having erased Tibetan culture, China will pump in its own.The world learned the terrible consequences of imperialism long ago, and we must stamp it out entirely wherever it rears its ugly head. Tibet and its people are some of the world’s most beautiful remaining examples of piety, brotherhood and peacefulness. But, if we wait much longer, Tibet will cease to exist.- – – -Contact The Daily Reveille’s opinion staff at [email protected]
View from Another School: China’s imperialism challenges Tibetan culture, lifestyle
February 26, 2009