Dalai Lama...steps aside as Tibetan political leader! Paves way for Democracy!



The Dalai Lama  (a friend on MySpace) announced on the anniversary of the Tibetan uprisings yesterday afternoon that he intends to follow through on a long-time inner wish to step down as Tibet's political leader so that he may primarily focus on his loftier mystical role as Spiritual advisor.

Analysts on the sidelines are conjecturing that His Holiness has chosen to journey down this path with the express hope that there will be a move in the Tibetan refugee community away from theocratic rule towards a democratic society when Tibet is at long-last liberated.

"My desire is to devolve authority has nothing to do with a desire to shirk my responsibility. It is to benefit Tibetans in the long run," the Dalai Lama calmly noted to a posse of followers and tourists in recent days from a safe perch in his homeland.

In addition, he underscored that he would also ask the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile to change the existing charter to reflect his wishes - with the ultimate aim - of handing over authority to an elected leader in the near future.

His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, was born Lhamo Thondup on July 6th (1935) to a poor family in the small village of Taktser in the province of Amdo.

The name Lhamo Thondup literally means ‘Wish-Fulfilling Goddess’.

His Holiness is held to be the reincarnation of each of the previous thirteen Dalai Lamas of Tibet (the first having been born in 1351 AD) who are in turn are considered to be manifestations of Avalokiteshvara - or Chenrezig (Bodhisattva of Compassion) - the holder of the White Lotus.

Thus, His Holiness is also believed to be a manifestation of Chenrezig.

In fact, he is the seventy-fourth Dali Lama in a pure lineage that can be traced back to a Brahman boy who lived in the time of Buddha Shakyamuni.

When Lhamo Thondup was barely three years old, a search party - that had been sent out by the Tibetan government to find the new incarnation of the Dalai Lama - arrived at Kumbum monastery once it was discerned there had been a number of auspicious signs reported in the region.

One of these omens concerned the embalmed body of a predecessor - Thupten Gyatso (the Thirteenth Dalai Lama) - who had died aged fifty-seven in 1933.

During a period of resting in state - the head was discovered to have turned from facing south to northeast - for some inexplicable reason.

Shortly after that, the Regent - himself a Senior Lama - had a vision.

Looking into the waters of the sacred lake - Lhamo Lhatso (Southern Tibet) - he clearly saw the letters Ah, Ka and Ma float into view.

These were followed by the image of a three-storied monastery (decorated with an exquisite turquoise and gold roof) nestled alongside a path which merged inside a nearby hill.

At this juncture, the scout caught sight of a small house with strangely-shaped guttering, as well.

He was sure that the letter Ah referred to - Amdo - the Northeastern Province.

So, it was there that a search party was sent to explore the possibilities.

By the time the excited entourage reached Kumbum, they instinctively felt that they were on the right track.

It seemed likely that if the letter Ah referred to Amdo, that Ka must indicate the monastery at Kumbum (which was three-storied with a torquoise-colored roof).

Now, the seekers needed to locate a hill and a house, with peculiar guttering.

So, they began to search the neighbouring villages.

When they saw the gnarled branches of juniper wood on the roof of the one particular dwelling, they were certain that Dalai Lama would not be far away.

Nevertheless, rather than reveal the purpose of their visit, the group asked only to stay the night.

The leader of the party, Kewtsang Rinpoche, then pretended to be a servant and spent much of the evening observing and playing with the youngest child in the house.

The child recognised him and called out the name:

‘Sera lama, Sera lama’

Sera was Kewtsang Rinpoche's monastery.

The following morning the contingent left; then, returned a few days later as a formal deputation.

This time they brought with them a number of things that had belonged to the Thirteenth Dalai Lama (along with several similar items that did not).

In every case, the infant correctly identified those belonging to the Thirteenth Dalai Lama, as he cried out:

“It’s mine. It’s mine.”

The search party was jubilant!

The boy was taken to Kumbum monastery and later recognized as the new incarnation of the Dalai Lama.

At 15, the Dalai Lama found himself the undisputed leader of six million people, facing the threat of a full-scale war.

For nine troublesome years, His Holiness tried to evade a full-scale military takeover of Tibet by China on the one hand - and the bold-faced effort to placate the growing resentment among Tibetan resistance fighters against the Chinese aggressors - on the other.

His Holiness made a historic visit to China from July 1954 to June 1955 for peace talks with Mao Zadong and a handful of Chinese leaders such as Chou En-lai, Chu Teh and Deng Xiaoping.

One winter day in 1959 - General Chiang Chin-wu of Communist China - extended a seemingly innocent invitation to the Tibetan leader to attend a theatrical show by a Chinese dance troupe.

When the invitation was repeated with the conditions that no Tibetan soldiers were to accompany the Dalai Lama (and that his bodyguards were to be unarmed) the Lhasa populace became suspicious.

Soon a crowd of tens of thousands of Tibetans gathered around the Norbulingka Palace determined to thwart any threat against their young leader's life.

On March 17th, 1959 - during a consultation with Nechung Oracle - His Holiness was given explicit instructions to exit the country immediately.

The Oracle's decision was further confirmed - when a Divinity performed by His Holiness - produced the same answer (even though the odds against making a successful break seemed terrifyingly high).

A few minutes before ten o'clock, His Holiness - now disguised as a common soldier - slipped past the massive throngs of people with a small escort and proceeded towards Kyichu river (where he was joined by an entourage which included immediate family members).

He's been in exile ever since.

http://www.thetattler.biz



His Holiness!

Purses...the rage for Chinese Alpha males! Macho counterparts in U.S. snicker!

Nothin' swishy about it!



The Los Angeles Times reported today that purses are all the rage  - a stylish must-have accessory, in fact - for Chinese Alpha males.

According to the gainfully employed in Asia, it is not just about "the look".

"It's crucial to business," asserted investor Tiger Zhang to one curious probing reporter.

Business cards, cash - and cellphones - tuck nicely inside the buttery-soft leather flaps - which make it a useful tool for toting (despite what a posse of macho North American men may think).

Some have snappy handles - others, utilitarian straps - to facilitate slinging over the shoulder.

Has the knapsack gone by way of the dinosaur?

The pricey bags - fashioned by tony designers such as Prada, Louis Vuitton and Burberry - don't come cheap at $500 (and upwards) a pop!

A catchy slogan springs to mind, too.

"Go boldly where no man has gone before."

Got a problem with it, dude?

Watch it!

Any self-respecting Chinese male must just hit 'ya with their purse if they catch you snickering.

When you consider the weighty techie gizmos stowed inside - a bitchy impromptu swipe like that - may end up packing quite a wallop!

Moi?

I'll stick with the back pocket of my worn jeans, thank you

Later!

http://www.thetattler.biz/

Peacock trends for Alpha Males this spring!

President Obama...State Dinner for President Hu! Barbra Streisand comment offensive to Chinese?

Handshakes across the water!

President Obama toasted Chinese President Hu, the 1st Lady looked stunning in a red silk organza gown with delicate black flourishes, and the tony elite nibbled on a five-course dinner (before saunering off for an evening of live entertainment) under a distinguished-looking three-quarter-length portrait of President Lincoln who stared down on the goings-on from a far wall.

The occasion?

Why - a State dinner at the White House in honor of Chinese President Hu who is currently visiting these shores - of course!

There was a lot of pomp and circumstance throughout the course of the heady evening, too!

President Obama saluted the people of both Nations on the auspicious occasion, for starters.

"May they (the Chinese & the Americans) grow together in friendship. May they prosper together in peace. And may they realize their dream of the future for themselves, for their children and for their grandchildren," he stressed with great poignancy.

The glittering affair was attended by the "Who's Who" of American Society.

Well, supporters of the Democrats, to be sure!

Former Presidents Clinton and Carter were spied mingling among a host of celebrated luminaries who dressed-to-the-nines for the dazzling don't-miss event.

Mainstays on the political scene - Henry Kissinger and Madelaine Albright, for instance - put in appearances, too.

Not to be outdone, the Hollywood red-carpet-crowd turned out in full force to get up-close-and-personal with power brokers on Washington Hill.

The guest list included - Barbra Streisand, Vogue Editor Anna Wintour, Cellist Yo-You Ma, film star Jackie Chan, Fashion Designer Vera Wang, and Walt Disney Chief Executive Robert Iger  - to name a few.

The rarefied uppercrust who attended supped on a menu featuring mouth-watering entrees such as Maine Lobster and dry-aged rib-eye.

"Typically American," according to White House officials.

In spite of growing controversy in recent years over China's use of dangerous lead in children's toy exports, the shameful shunning of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, a tendency to use real animal fur in fashion offerings to the dismay of animal activists, and allegations of unfair competition by U.S. Lawmakers - most scrambled at the opportunity to sashay into the tony affair.

When Barbra Streisand was asked how she wangled an invite, she allegedly quipped to a reporter:

"I used to work at a Chinese restaurant."

Ooops!

I wonder how the Chinese feel about the stereo-type and being slighted by big-bucks-bab?

I expect there will also be an outcry later in the week when an investigative journalist turns in on a report on the cost of the Hu dinner during  these tough economic times.

News at 11!

http://www.thetattler.biz/



China defense chief says military hardware drive no threat

Jan 9 (Reuters) - China's military technology lags decades behind the world's most advanced armed forces and does not threaten any country, the Chinese defense minister said on Monday after talks with Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Gates's visit from Sunday to Wednesday comes a week before Chinese President Hu Jintao's state visit to Washington.

"The efforts that we place on the research and development of weapons systems are by no means targeted at any third country or any other countries in the world, and it will by no means threaten any other country in the world," Chinese Minister of Defense Liang Guanglie told reporters after talks with Gates.

U.S. officials have noted quick advances in China's anti-ship ballistic missile programme, which could challenge U.S. aircraft carriers. China may also be preparing to launch its first aircraft carrier in 2011, faster than some estimates, and new photos indicate it has a prototype of a stealth fighter jet.
Read More:China defense chief says military hardware drive no threat

What the Newest Zogby Poll Could Say

Yesterday over on Facebook, Ohio's outgoing Secretary of State, Jennifer Brunner, posted a link to a new Zogby Poll. Brunner, a progressive Democrat, understandably highlighted Zogby's finding that, in spite of the "shellacking" that Democrats took in the 2010 midterm elections a few weeks ago, voter majorities still favor government spending on infrastructure in order to create jobs. (That's what Zogby highlighted, too.) It's true, the majorities for such spending are still there.

But in looking at the poll results, something else became apparent.

This data, for the most part, indicates an overall moderation of views among Americans. The big red flag for those working in state governments across the country is the opposition to any help for states in balancing their budgets. Here in Ohio, of course, we face the prospect of an $8-billion shortfall. In California, the number is $52-billion.

The coming year may turn out to be the most challenging one for the country since World War Two. This makes the polarization offered up by the two parties even a greater problem than it has been; it will make it tougher to reach the compromises needed to go forward, I think.

Is there any chance that the two parties that both love to spend and give away money like drunken sailors (to their favorite special interest groups), will finally incite a moderate revolution? Or will the partisan kabuki dance continue until the American future is utterly mortgaged to the Chinese government and its allies, clients, and subjects? 


Right now, we have a very polarized electorate whose main question seems to be, "What's in it for me?" (And who nonetheless claim, if the exit polls are any indication, want the parties to work together in Washington.) That isn't a very promising political landscape. 


Praying, for those so inclined, like me, seems more than appropriate.

Just My Opinion: Watch Out for the Beijing Regime

Charles Krauthammer is no fan of President Obama, but he had no use for the silly (and largely misinformed) carping over the cost of the president's recent trip to Asia. I agree with Krauthammer. It's important for Presidents of the United States to go abroad for these diplomatic missions. The president is America's diplomat-in-chief. When presidents take such trips, it is in everybody's interest that he be kept safe and protected.

More substantively, I emphatically agree with Krauthammer on the wisdom of Obama's special overtures to India. The US and India, along with the rest of the world really, has an abiding interest in these two countries having strong relations. That abiding interest is the Chinese government, an enemy to its own people's freedom and an enemy to the peace and stability of the world. A partnership between India and the US is essential for strengthening democracy, for checking China's growing military power, and for preventing the world from being sucked into China's economic vortex, with permanent trade imbalances and endemic loss of employment opportunities. (That's why the President was right to say that the greatest object of his diplomatic mission was "jobs." That's really at stake right now in this era of unscrupulous business, environmental, economic, and human rights practices on the part of the Chinese government, practices that, along with the West's undisciplined spending and use of credit, is slowly turning the world into a playground for the Butchers of Beijing.)

President Obama's endorsement of India's desire to become a member of the Security Council of the United Nations is sensible for both the US and India. The council is reserved for those nations that are deemed major powers. As Obama pointed out in India that with major power status comes major power responsibilities. (And I would say, major power expectations.) India was not a major power after World War II when the UN was established. But it is now. That needs to be acknowledged.

Krauthammer explains very well why Presdent Obama's trip to India was so important for the US and the world:

[China's] hegemony is the growing source of tension in Asia today. Modern China is the Germany of a century ago - a rising, expanding, have-not power seeking its place in the sun. The story of the first half of the 20th century was Europe's attempt to manage Germany's rise. We know how that turned out. The story of the next half-century will be how Asia accommodates and/or contains China's expansion.

Nor is this some far-off concern. China's aggressive territorial claims on resource-rich waters claimed by Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Japan are already roiling the neighborhood. Traditionally, Japan has been the major regional counterbalance. But an aging, shrinking Japan can no longer sustain that role. Symbolic of the dramatic shift in power balance between once-poor China and once-dominant Japan was the resolution of their recent maritime crisis. Japan had detained a Chinese captain in a territorial-waters dispute. China imposed a rare-earth mineral embargo. Japan capitulated.

That makes the traditional U.S. role as offshore balancer all the more important. China's neighbors from South Korea all the way around to India are in need of U.S. support of their own efforts at resisting Chinese dominion.

And of all these countries, India, which has fought a border war with China, is the most natural anchor for such a U.S. partnership. It's not just our inherent affinities - democratic, English-speaking, free-market, dedicated to the rule of law. It is also the coincidence of our strategic imperatives: We both face the common threat of radical Islam and the more long-term challenge of a rising China. 

Mind you, all of this is just my opinion (and Krauthammer's). I'm still just a preacher and I'm not foisting a social statement on anybody. These views haven't been brought from Mount Sinai. But I nonetheless think the world would do well to watch out for the regime in Beijing.