Response Essay's Argument Analysis: The Dalai Lama

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Tibet is an semi-autonomous region of China right in the middle of the Himalayas. In the west, we associate Tibet with images of Mt. Everest and getting enlightenment from local monks; However, we hardly hear of the major geopolitical struggle in the region. People across the world are hoping for Tibet's independence, however we barely hear about the minority that want Tibet to remain a part of China. The pro-China viewpoint claim that China conserves Tibet's environment, the Dalai Lama is an incompetent leader, and an independent Tibet is not realistic. Although the pro-China Tibet viewpoint is widely dismissed by the west, it’s important to explore the eastern perspective. A major pro-China viewpoint, argument when discussing Tibetan Independence, …show more content…

Andy Lamey, who wrote the article ¨Stop the lama love-in,¨ highlights multiple reasons why the Dalai Lama would make an incompetent leader for a free Tibet. Lamey states,¨So long as the Dalai Lama is regarded as a figure of both spiritual and political liberation, his efforts to make the first goal happen will ensure the second never does.¨ Lamey claims that the balance between the Dalai Lama being both a political leader as well as a spiritual leader is difficult. Moreover, Lamey goes on to state,¨The Dalai Lama, it turns out, is vegetarian at his official residence in India but not while travelling. But a doctrine of compassion that switches on and off depending on geography is not much of a doctrine at all.¨ Not only does this show the inaccuracy of the Dalai Lama's actions, it also shows that he is willing to put on a political mask in order to appeal to different nations not tied to Tibetan Buddhism. Isabel Hilton, author of the article “The Dalai lama’s Battle with China,” disagrees. Hilton states, “He (Dalai Lama) has given the plight of the Tibetan people both an international profile and a moral authority that all of Beijing's efforts to discredit him have failed to dent.” Hilton believes that the Dalai Lama is both an effective political and spiritual …show more content…

Francesco Sisci, senior researcher at China’s People’s University, urges that Tibet should remain part of China. Sicsi published an article boldly titled,”Surrender the Best Option for Tibet” and it’s as harsh as it sounds. Sisci’s article almost invalidates the entire pro-China viewpoint, with Sisci’ horrible comparisons and cold hearted approach he takes. In the article, Sisci states,”Even if the suicides were to number 1,000 or 10,000 among Tibetans in China, who represent less than 0.5% of the population, that would hardly shake Beijing's resolve in its rule of the region.” Sisci is referring to the amount of Tibetan suicides that happen under Chinese rule. Sisci is saying that Tibetan people shouldn't be held to the same quality of life as the average Han Chinese, the majority in China. Moreover, Sisci later goes on to say in the article,”In a way, it is like the situation with Native Americans: they may have disliked and fiercely opposed colonization, but in the end, more than ever they belong to the United States.” According to Sisci, enslaving a entire people’s group, culture, language and history is okay to him. Besides if the United States did it, then it automatically makes the act justifiable, despite most Americans and logical humans condemning the act of war against innocence

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