The Chinese Protest

Today there's an interesting article in The New York Times about Tibet, Chinese protests, the western media's response and all of the conflicting values surrounding the issue. A lot of people are very angry over here over some sloppy journalism covering the Tibetan riots where pictures of Nepalese and Indian police brutality were portrayed as actual pictures of the riots in Tibet. One thing that the NYT article points out that I find particularly interesting is that part of this backlash against the western media comes from disappointment since American and British news outlets have been perceived as an objective beacon of truth when compared to China's state controlled media. Cafferty's remarks didn't exactly help their reputation.

America's love affair with the Dalai Lama should acknowledge the controversial historical connection to Tibet, which has been a suzerain of China on and off since the Mongols took invaded it back in 1244. But then again, the Dalai Lama just wants more autonomy and not independence, which is very different from his portrayal here as a separatist terrorist in exile. If only there was a more educated and objective media outlet to match an overly sympathetic American media...cuz Xinhua definitely doesn't cut it.

A couple of years ago I read a great book on the issue called The Snow Lion and the Dragon: China, Tibet and the Dalai Lama by Melvyn Goldstein. It's less than 200 pages and briefly covers the history of Tibet and its connection to China.

I plan to go to Carrefour tomorrow to hit up some of these killer deals. However, a friend of mine forwarded me the following article that's making me think twice.

http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/apr2008/gb20080422_316128.htm?campaign_id=rss_daily

"According to several accounts, a 22-year-old American was attacked by protesters over the weekend as he came out of a Carrefour store in Hunan province. The man, who was not identified for fear of reprisals, was said by colleagues to be working in China as a volunteer teacher. Local news media are starting to urge calm. On Apr. 22, the official English-language China Daily editorialized: "Over-the-top nationalism is not constructive but can do harm to the country."