a land of Tibet

With the demonstrations and the season's work in the Grove I haven't yet had time to work on the sculpture of Tara Drolma. I have spent time writing

I am writing to request that you decline to attend the opening ceremonies of the Olympics in Beijing given the recent behaviour of the Chinese government in Tibet.

I realize many would say that the Olympics are not about politics. However, they are all about freedom - the first Olympics were held in Greece, a land whose people, through the very force of their unwavering courage, thrust away the dominion of Persia, a vast and powerful empire.

I'm sure Persia had excellent trade relations and influenced most of the economic and political affairs of the region. I'm sure their military might was so vast as to make the mere notion of a small nation in their path asserting its right to freedom seem foolish.

But to Phidippides of Athens, the runner of the first Marathon, that didn't matter. Day and night for three days he ran 150 miles through the rocky mountains of Greece to reach the Spartans to enlist their aid in the battle against Persia. His heart heavy with despair, he learned that the Spartans could not fight until the full moon in accordance with their religion. So he ran back the 150 miles without rest, to fight and die with his brethren. He ran toward what he knew was certain defeat and equally certain death.

Except that it wasn't. The small force of Athenians had routed the largest land army on earth on the Plains of Marathon. It was said that Phidippides then ran 26 miles to Athens. "Rejoice, for we conquer", he said then fell to the ground lifeless moments later.

A free Greece was born on that day, and democracy came to life in the world. It is likely that had not the spark of courage burned so brightly that day, the Olympic torch would not even exist and America would only be a phantom of what could have been in the minds of human beings. And the greatest event of the Olympics, the Marathon, would not even be run today. So as one American to another, I urge you to consider that the Olympic torch is a torch of freedom and human dignity in the face of overwhelming evil.

America knows of evil, does it not? Did we shrink when the forces of Al Queda took the beloved lives of our own. Did we hesitate to act? I will not discuss the details of the Tibetan situation as you are no doubt well informed at this point. However, if you in any way doubt that:

2) that they currently carry out a program of cultural genocide through the use of terrorism, propaganda, and flagrant violation of human rights,

then I encourage you to investigate that matter further ( www.tibet.net, www.stoptibetcrisis.net, and www.savetibet.org are all excellent places to begin.) I would be happy to assist your inquiry in any way that I can.

Under the circumstances, it seems highly unlikely that the current administration in Beijing will change its attitude and policies. In the face of the evil course of action they have chosen appeasement is not a reasonable policy for the greatest free nation on earth, nor for its leader.

You may think that you will be able to use the occasion to weaken evil through creating dialogue and understanding. I suggest that this is a tactical error. Here is why:

The communist regime's control over what its own population sees in the media is nearly complete. In consequence, anything you might say or do will be subject to subsequent manipulation and the Chinese people will continue to be fed the message that what their government is doing is just and reasonable.

Countless lives both now and in the future hang in the balance just as they did on September 11, 2001. I suggest that you now face the following choice:

1) Compromise with evil, avoid its apparent strength and influence, create the semblance of compromise and understanding between nations--only to have our descendants face it in an even more powerful and virulent form. (Remember the 1936 Olympics in Berlin?)

2)Face evil head on. Protect an innocent people with a profound culture from destruction by stipulating changes. Moreover, a failure to make these changes must result in the taking of specific steps to deny cooperation and systematically reduce privileges.

I enclose the requests of the Tibetan government in exile and urge you to make them stipulations to Hu Jintao. I realize that we may see some stormy weather. But we are Americans and we are used to it, are we not? We gave a Congressional Medal of Honor to his Holiness, the Dalai Lama. I laud your courage and insight in doing this. Will we now abandon his people to certain misery and death?

If we do, great spiritual leader though he is, I can see his eyes blurring with tears when he looks upon his people knowing we have abandoned them. It is unendurable to me. Sir, please let us be counted among those who refused to compromise with evil.

I hope you are well and you and your family have a few moments to enjoy the beauty of the blossoming trees. Thank you for your efforts on behalf of us all.

It is rough and imperfect just as all my efforts but it is always my hope that the little grain of truly positive motivation will be of help...At one of the demonstrations I was asked how the demonstrators expected to accomplish anything. The words came out unbidden-

" We will wear it down, like water on rock". I then told that the Buddha once told of the sparrow who was seen carrying a pebble from the side of a mountain. She was asked what she was doing. " I am moving this mountain ", she replied. " No matter how long it takes I will keep carrying off these pebbles and someday it will be moved". The understanding is that this is how the mind can be changed from harmful directions both on an individual and a societal level. So, through steadfast effort one can accomplish anything. Here's a start anyway! There's a lot more to add but as usual two as one we'll add to the notes later beautiful one!


	Through My Eyes * With the demonstrations and the season's work in the Grove I haven't yet had time to work on the sculpture of Tara Drolma. I have spent time writing those I felt could help in the crisis. This picture serves to inspire to be sure so here is the first: ------------------------------------------------ Dear President Bush, I am writing to request that you decline to attend the opening ceremonies of the Olympics in Beijing given the recent behaviour of the Chinese government in Tibet. I realize many would say that the Olympics are not about politics. However, they are all about freedom - the first Olympics were held in Greece, a land whose people, through the very force of their unwavering courage, thrust away the dominion of Persia, a vast and powerful empire. I'm sure Persia had excellent trade relations and influenced most of the economic and political affairs of the region. I'm sure their military might was so vast as to make the mere notion of a small nation in their path asserting its right to freedom seem foolish. But to Phidippides of Athens, the runner of the first Marathon, that didn't matter. Day and night for three days he ran 150 miles through the rocky mountains of Greece to reach the Spartans to enlist their aid in the battle against Persia. His heart heavy with despair, he learned that the Spartans could not fight until the full moon in accordance with their religion. So he ran back the 150 miles without rest, to fight and die with his brethren. He ran toward what he knew was certain defeat and equally certain death. Except that it wasn't. The small force of Athenians had routed the largest land army on earth on the Plains of Marathon. It was said that Phidippides then ran 26 miles to Athens. "Rejoice, for we conquer", he said then fell to the ground lifeless moments later. A free Greece was born on that day, and democracy came to life in the world. It is likely that had not the spark of courage burned so brightly that day, the Olympic torch would not even exist and America would only be a phantom of what could have been in the minds of human beings. And the greatest event of the Olympics, the Marathon, would not even be run today. So as one American to another, I urge you to consider that the Olympic torch is a torch of freedom and human dignity in the face of overwhelming evil. America knows of evil, does it not? Did we shrink when the forces of Al Queda took the beloved lives of our own. Did we hesitate to act? I will not discuss the details of the Tibetan situation as you are no doubt well informed at this point. However, if you in any way doubt that: 1) the Chinese communist government invaded the territory of Tibet, a sovereign nation, and stole its land. 2) that they currently carry out a program of cultural genocide through the use of terrorism, propaganda, and flagrant violation of human rights, then I encourage you to investigate that matter further ( www.tibet.net, www.stoptibetcrisis.net, and www.savetibet.org are all excellent places to begin.) I would be happy to assist your inquiry in any way that I can. Under the circumstances, it seems highly unlikely that the current administration in Beijing will change its attitude and policies. In the face of the evil course of action they have chosen appeasement is not a reasonable policy for the greatest free nation on earth, nor for its leader. You may think that you will be able to use the occasion to weaken evil through creating dialogue and understanding. I suggest that this is a tactical error. Here is why: The communist regime's control over what its own population sees in the media is nearly complete. In consequence, anything you might say or do will be subject to subsequent manipulation and the Chinese people will continue to be fed the message that what their government is doing is just and reasonable. Countless lives both now and in the future hang in the balance just as they did on September 11, 2001. I suggest that you now face the following choice: 1) Compromise with evil, avoid its apparent strength and influence, create the semblance of compromise and understanding between nations--only to have our descendants face it in an even more powerful and virulent form. (Remember the 1936 Olympics in Berlin?) 2)Face evil head on. Protect an innocent people with a profound culture from destruction by stipulating changes. Moreover, a failure to make these changes must result in the taking of specific steps to deny cooperation and systematically reduce privileges. I enclose the requests of the Tibetan government in exile and urge you to make them stipulations to Hu Jintao. I realize that we may see some stormy weather. But we are Americans and we are used to it, are we not? We gave a Congressional Medal of Honor to his Holiness, the Dalai Lama. I laud your courage and insight in doing this. Will we now abandon his people to certain misery and death? If we do, great spiritual leader though he is, I can see his eyes blurring with tears when he looks upon his people knowing we have abandoned them. It is unendurable to me. Sir, please let us be counted among those who refused to compromise with evil. I hope you are well and you and your family have a few moments to enjoy the beauty of the blossoming trees. Thank you for your efforts on behalf of us all. Sincerely yours, Alan Lorefice -------------------------------------------------------- It is rough and imperfect just as all my efforts but it is always my hope that the little grain of truly positive motivation will be of help...At one of the demonstrations I was asked how the demonstrators expected to accomplish anything. The words came out unbidden- " We will wear it down, like water on rock". I then told that the Buddha once told of the sparrow who was seen carrying a pebble from the side of a mountain. She was asked what she was doing. " I am moving this mountain ", she replied. " No matter how long it takes I will keep carrying off these pebbles and someday it will be moved". The understanding is that this is how the mind can be changed from harmful directions both on an individual and a societal level. So, through steadfast effort one can accomplish anything. Here's a start anyway! There's a lot more to add but as usual two as one we'll add to the notes later beautiful one! * courtesy of A Luminous Diamond (Bright) Crystal Show productions. The information for the sketches is courtesy of the Footprint Tibet handbook by Gyurme Dorje. ( please click here to return to my spinning for you!)