Progressive SU students, faculty members should oppose the Dalai Lama’s visit to campus

The invitation of the Dalai Lama to the two-day “peace” event at Syracuse University creates a major contradiction to the intended message of the event. Despite the naivete of the event and the pseudo-multiculturalism included in it, the fact the Dalai Lama is the main attraction negates any progressive element.

The One World Community Foundation likely believes, as many in the West do, that Tibet under the lamas was a land of peace and harmony, and that today China oppresses and “occupies” Tibet. But nothing could be further from the truth.

The Tibet that the lamas — who presented themselves as “god kings” — ruled over was a feudal society. The nobility and monasteries owned all of the land. Serfs worked these lands as slaves and had no access to education or medical care. It was a monarchy, and the Dalai Lama became the “leader” of Tibet at age 15. Women were the property of their husbands and fathers.

The lamas have historically been political opportunists. Tibet had considerable mineral wealth and was a strategic geopolitical location. Tibet borders Nepal and India. To ensure their power politically, the lamas have worked side by side with Western imperialism and continue to, to this day, as the Dalai Lama “rules from exile” from India. The Dalai Lama has been on the CIA’s payroll since the 1950s.

The relationship between the People’s Republic of China and Tibet is complicated, but overall the Chinese Revolution brought profound changes to Tibetan society. The Chinese Communist Party strictly follows the provision in their constitution that all Tibetans shall enjoy full rights to self-determination. The Chinese government concentrated its efforts and resources on building schools, roads and highways. The Communist Party has established health clinics in rural parts of Tibet, increasing life expectancy by 20 years. Women are no longer property. This is not to say that life is perfect now in Tibet, or that mistakes haven’t been made.

A return to the rule of the Dalai Lama would be a historic setback for the Tibetan people. It would result in Tibet being a virtual client state to the West and would undoubtedly result in another U.S. military base being propped up.

All progressive SU students and faculty should critically oppose the One World Community Foundation, the Dalai Lama and the “Free Tibet” movement.

Collin Chambers

Derek Ford

Syracuse University ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism).