It was a sad week for American support for oppressed nations. The White House announced that it will not be meeting for now with the Dalai Lama, one of the world’s pre-eminent defenders of human rights and most recognized religious leaders, during his visit to Washington. President Obama will wait until he has had a chance to travel to China in November, one of the world’s five remaining communist dictatorships. It is a strange and troubling reversal for “the leader of the free world.”
The cause of Tibet has in the past united political leaders across the political spectrum in Washington and as far away as Hollywood. Remember Sen. Jesse Helms and actor/activist Richard Gere in 1997 sharing a stage in support of Tibet in 1997? Since 1991, the Dalai Lama has met with three U.S. presidents, both Republicans and Democrats. That kind of support from the most powerful country in the world is incalculable for activists trying to keep the cause of human rights and liberty in Tibet alive. The country has slowly but surely experienced cultural and demographic cleansing since the takeover by China in 1950, as Chinese populations have replaced the native Tibetans. The fact that the Tibetan religious leader will meet with the new U.S. coordinator for Tibet, Maria Otero, does not make up for the loss of the prestige that a White House meeting confers.
In pursuit of a foreign policy direction that appears inspired by pragmatism and big power diplomacy, the Obama administration is breaking with long-standing precedent and sending distressing messages abroad about American priorities in the 21st century. There is, however, consistency in the Obama administration’s messaging.
In her first major foreign trip, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated in Beijing that she did not intend for human rights to stand in the way of other issues of mutual interest between the United States and China. Furthermore, President Obama’s declaration on the occasion of Captive Nations Week in July was perfunctory at best. Although the president spoke of “fundamental freedoms,” and “universal principles,” he failed to call attention to the actual captive nations of the world, this by stark contrast with the eloquent and passinate statement of his predecessor George W. Bush.
At this rate, the administration will soon have whittled away a century of American leadership, in spite of all the presidential imaging and rhetoric.
Obama is rude and disrespectful. He doesn't have time for people of dignity and respect. He needs more advice from communist leaders of the world.
OBAMA HAS WON THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE
YES, I BELIEVE WE ARE IN THE LAST DAYS. Go to military.com and read the comments on Obama's prestigeous prize. Shame on those who made this phony communist our president
What a surprise, our Marxist Pres. supporting the Marxist Gov. of China.
The time for talk has passed. We can not fix our Republic without a great effort on the part of the American people. It was the common farmer who stood his ground at Lexington and Concord, not the Leadship or Lawyers, or even the Army.
Obama, Pelosi, and the rest should be arrested as traitors.
If Freedom is not worth fighting for, what is?
I wonder what the Dalai Lama (someone who actually did something to earn the Nobel Peace Prize) thinks about this year's choice.
Obama, and his excessive spending has us so in debt to China…he has to "kiss" the one who continually "brings him to the dance." I just hope they don't "call" the loan or we will all be speaking Mandarin chinese…..
I hang my head in true saddness for what this administration is doing all over the world. I pray that just like the prodicle son, President Obama awakens to what he and, his people in Washington are doing.
President Obama only wishes to work with totalitarian regimes. The examples: China, Russia, Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, Brazil and North Korea. He is working with our Department of State to communize Honduras.
The President has no respect for the human rights of the unborn, the elderly or the oppressed. He appears to want to keep people oppressed and to oppress his own citizens.
The Noble Peace Prize is such a joke. Look who has been getting it. Let's just hope that the President pays taxes on the money he receives. The prize is fully taxable.
I totally agree president Obama does not meet Dalai Lama for ever. Many people recognize Dalai Lama is a trouble-making. Dalai Lama is not ethnical example, is a LIER. You will find out what kind of person Dalai Lama has been when you see his history. He often changes his idea when he meets different person or different time. He wants the political power back to him. He cheats people with his smile face
China owns the USA, at least the BHO segment. Obama's zero courage, as evidenced by his lack of backbone or jawbone dealing with China on any issue is depressing, The Nobel to Obama simply demeans the stature and prestige that award once had.
Tibet has been neglected by every administration since it was occupied by the Chinese in the 1950's. Obama is just carrying on business as usual.
William is right. Nixon made China our economic ally so prevent WWIII. The idea was they wouldn't attack an economic partner. He split the Communist Block. No he didn't get the Peace Prize for it, but Reagan didn't get the Prize for stopping the Cold War. Liberal Progressives don't like Religion. In Academia there is nothing good being said for the greatest single cause of peace, charity, good will and prosperity (Christianity). I can't figure out why the Socialists hate Christianity so much, and why they love atheism so much. It has to be they are vested in chaos and spiritual people oppose that. But look what they've done in our own country to defame and destroy religion. See, it is all right for Rev. Wright's anti American Church to get millions in public dollars but you can't have prayer in the schools. Tibet is small potatoes compared to American Liberal Fascism.
Tibet may have been neglected, but Obama is the first to SNUB the Dalai Lama.
For his own protection, and ours, Obama should be placed into a very highly secured residence with a strong security force and a small size to make the maintenance of security easily attained and maintained.
Mr. Obama knows you don't bite the hand that feeds you, you kiss it.
There are six remaining Communist dictatorships: Cuba, China, North Korea, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.
since China rules the world today, we can not blame Obama for not meeting the Dalia Lama. Tibetan people and their supporters will hold on to their faith whatever happens around this unpredictable world. 'US president' not meeting the Dalia Lama doesn't change anything.
I disagree with Dean Lee, you can not call someone LIER just because he changes his idea when he meet different people. change is positive if it brings a good result and as far as the world knows Dalia Lama is struggling for a good result to his people and to the whole world.