June 17 — Provocate presents … A Debate over whether Tibetan independence is really such a good idea
We all know that the repression of Tibetan culture, religion and aspirations for independence is bad. Who wouldn’t thrill to the sight of the plucky Dalai Lama being greeted by throngs of cheering Tibetans and Chinese some day when he returns to a democratic Republic of Tibet? If any American would be able to claim a big share of credit for that happening some day, it would be Larry Gerstein, President of the International Tibetan Independence Movement. He’ll debate John Clark of Provocate, who willl explain why China and the US won’t allow that to happen … and together they will try to come up with ideas for how to move ahead.
When: Tuesday June 17, 5:45 refreshments; 6:30 dinner; 7:30 presentation
Where: Woodstock Club
This event is put on by the Indianapolis Committee on Foreign Relations. To RSVP contact:
Courtenay Weldon
Secretary/Treasurer
7920 Fishback Rd.
Indianapolis., IN 46278-9717
(317) 293-5227 tel/fax
courtenay@cweldon.net
What Future for Tibet? Free, Fettered or Forgotten?
Clashes over Tibetan from China dominated the news recently. It’s hard not to sympathize with the Tibetans and their plucky Nobel Prize winning spiritual and political leader, the Dalai Lama. Why should their peaceful religion be suppressed, why should their millennia-old culture be extinguished, why should their aspirations for freedom be squashed? China, by contrast, asserts that Tibet has always been part of China, and that most of the inhabitants of Tibet welcome the economic opportunities that the Chinese government is offering them. Besides, Chinese say (thinking of the late USSR), granting Tibet independence could lead many other groups to demand the same. The US government wants Tibet to go away: it doesn’t want to insult the Dalai Lama (or his many celebrity supporters), while it recognizes that it has to cooperate with Beijing on many other economic and security issues.
What future for Tibet? Arguing the case for Tibetan independence will be Dr. Larry Gerstein, president of the International Tibet Independence Movement, an organization of more than 20,000 supporters around the world devoted to restoring Tibetan independence nonviolently. Dr. Gerstein is Professor of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services at Ball State University, and Director of Ball State’s Center for Peace and Conflict Studies. He recently returned from meeting with Tibetan opposition leaders in India.
Laying out the Chinese government’s position on Tibet will be John Clark of Provocate. Before helping found the Sagamore Institute, Clark was director of the Center for Central European and Eurasian Studies at the Hudson Institute, where he carried out research on US policy toward China and Central Asian security challenges. He also researched “the disintegration of Eurasia in the 21st century,” the possibility that gigantic mega-states such as Russia, India, Indonesia and China might disintegrate as did the Soviet Union.
Know before you go … Read some breaking news articles about Tibet and the recent protests. Larry Gerstein’s International Tibet Independence Movement has many excellent links to Tibetan news and analysis.
If this event sounds interesting, be sure to check out … The Chinese art and cultural activities at the Indianapolis Art Center in July and August are a necessary reminder that regardless of the policies of the government in Beijing, China possesses a great civilization. Tibet has a great civilization, too. Drive to Bloomington to visit the Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center.
