Letters to the Editor
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Poorly Informed
This is a disturbingly poor piece of journalism in a time when a much more thorough and informed analysis of this very difficult situation is sorely needed. It is precisely the kind of article that caused me to stop renewing my Salon membership – a simplistic, button-pushing, barely-informed piece that adds nothing to a real search for understanding or greater knowledge. In 2001, you wouldn't have seen this on Salon.
Don't get me wrong. This is a great topic. But why have a writer cover this large and serious topic who clearly has a total lack of comprehension of what Tibetan Buddhism is about at even the most fundamental level (Bayard’s article is littered with errors both large and small about Buddhism)? Furthermore, why have a writer cover this topic who has so little understanding of the long and complex history of Tibet and of the numerous controversial Dalai Lamas themselves? There are scholars out there, some of whom are critical of the Dalai Lama if you wanted that point of view, who could have written something rich, deep and worth contemplating on this subject, instead of just expressing a childish and philosophically naive display at the notion that real solutions don’t come at the end of a gun barrel.
It is difficult to even summarize what Bayard’s point is, other than the obvious fact the Dalai Lama, while living in exile without the ability to go anywhere near Tibet or China, and without the support of any allies or armies hasn’t been able to end a territorial dispute with the largest and one of the most heavily armed nations in the world. Duh. If only he were a little tougher and not so darned happy, Bayard seems to suggest, he’d have driven those pesky Chinese away. That, of course, is the height of silliness. No nation is going to go up against the Chinese Army in defense of Tibet and tough talk would only lead to more Tibetan deaths. So, what then, is the solution that the Dalai Lama (and more importantly, the teeming droves of Tibetan refugees in India) have missed?
If Bayard is indeed so concerned about the great suffering of the Tibetan people, I would love to see him research and report on what strategies might bring greater freedom to Tibet given the geopolitical realities. That would make for a much more interesting story - and might even dip below the simple surfaces.