Upon receiving the news that Dalai Lama was named the 2008 World’s Most Influential People by Time Magazine, I wrote Yet Another Recognition – Congratulations to Dalai Lama to offer my congratulations. Some of my friends felt that the tone might be too strong to be considered congratulatory, so here I am, writing another article and hoping it can better convey my sincere congratulations to his holiness.
I, unlike a lucky few, never had the honor to know Dalai Lama personally, and naturally I have never had the chance to admire his holiness’s bookshelves filled with the trophies after trophies he received over the years. I can only sit in the corner of my cozy bedroom staring at the only memorable thing I have ever received, my degree. In its humble $10 frame, the photocopy looks pretty impressive while the original being safely stored in a well-protected bank vault.
I know, believe me, had I have more things to treasure, I would have not been so protective. I can only imagine what it must have been like for his holiness to look at his extraordinary collection of trophies, more than anybody in the world could ever match.
He has to be proud of what he has achieved over the years. Not only does he remain the beloved and only spiritual and political leader of the exiled Tibetans for over 50 years, he also spreads the messages of love and peace to millions of people with his not so fluent English, which is a true testament to the power of his messages. Not only did he meet so many important world leaders, he also befriended scores of well-known celebrities from many countries. Not only did he give speeches in so many prominent venues, he also received keys to so many famous cities, although all are without gates and the keys probably won’t open the doors of any city halls.
The army of trophies on his holiness’s bookshelves has to be his most treasured accomplishment as words and memories fade away slowly but surely and these trophies are the only ones loyally accompany him even alone at night.
Which one would his holiness treasure the most? Could it be the Lincoln Award from Research Institute of America for His Holiness’ distinguished leadership in the service of freedom on January 23, 1960? That was only few months after his holiness fled Tibet and it had to be a real moral bolster to encourage him and his followers to carry on with the mission of the armed rebellion and to fight to get their power back.
Could it be the Nobel Peace Price on December 10, 1989? Just the title of “Nobel Price” should make anyone cringe with admiration, and not to mention the whole world was boycotting China after the Tiananmen Square student movement. You can almost see the sparkles in his holiness’s eyes. The dream of his and his followers’ was so close to become a reality.
Could it be the Congressional Gold Medal on October 17, 2007? It is the highest award a civilian can receive from the U.S. Congress, and every single important American leader, from President Bush to the House speaker Nancy Pelosi, was present to honor his holiness. The whole US government with its almighty military although bugged down in Iraq seemed to be behind his holiness and his followers, with full force.
Or, could it be the latest one, the 2008 World’s Most Influential People from Time Magazine? The whole world seemed to unite once more to support his holiness. With the help from virtually all free media outlet, so many world leaders came out to condemn the brutal crackdown by the Chinese government. Although the brainwashed Chinese people are trying to spoil the party, his holiness must have been feeling the momentum finally on his side.
I wouldn’t know given so many choices, but his holiness must have his picks. Any of them, frankly, would make me happy for the rest of my life, and that’s the true tribute to his holiness’s achievement.
Back in the corner of my cozy bedroom staring at the photocopy of my degree, I sincerely congratulate Dalai Lama on this well-deserved recognition.
May the new trophy find its rightful place on his holiness’s bookshelves.
The New Voice 
Ahh, Dalai Lama, another trophy, 2008 World’s Most Influential People, what a fancy title that some dreams day and night. Good on you Dalia Lama, you made those envy you. If they are smart enough, they will study closely at what you have done in 2008 so they can copy the same and hopefully they will get one next year. So which means, they will find something and get armed and get hold of some protesters, make it as violent as possible to attract the eye balls, and guess what, the media will give attention. They will be like you, have a title somewhere. What a treasure!
Well, I’m not sure if you are happy if they are going to copy your style, maybe you got copyright or patent. But don’t worry and be happy, you will get something from it. They become so violent, full of hatred, so out of control, so there you go, you got that business. You go there, preach the peach! What a good job! Maybe you are will 2009 most influential again. Maybe you will get the same, another trophy!
Dalai Lama: Oh NO!
Ask: What? you don’t want it?
Dalai Lama: No!
Ask: Why? That’s not what I want! What are you talking about Dalai Lama? You don’t want attention, you don’t want trophy?
Dalai Lama: NO!
Ask: Then what do you want?
Dalai Lama:I just want a tiny space in the temple in Tibet.
Ask: But you have a palace here, why do you need a tiny space in the dirty old temple?
Dalai Lama: Because I want people there to know I am a Lama.
Ask: Yes, you are a Lama, right?
Dalai Lama: Not really, I am a politician!
oops, forgot a very important line why he was named the 2008 World’s Most Influential People. This is the smart point which other who envy Dalai Lama’s trophy might not be able to do. Because Dalai Lama partied with Sharon Stone in the HOLY-wood till dawn, get her drunk and became her best friend. Then they collected all their violent protestors’ negative energy to curse Tibet, and with the help of the no brain Sharon Stone, bang, Dalai Lama let all those Tibetans knew instantly that he brought the earthquake to China, he can do the magic thing killing 70,000 instantly, 20,000 missing, 5 million homeless, and the more to come.
Wow, if Dalai Lama is not named the 2008 World’s Most Influential People, I doubt who will be. It got to be him.
What all people need to understand is Dalai Lama is not anti-Chinese he is only asking to provide basic human rights for Tibetan People that is rights for religious freedom, rights to preserve culture and history, free speech and rights for a peaceful & human freedom.
For the 2 people who left comments and author of this article I wish you use your imagination and journalism for benefits of all people including Chinese in Mainland China
May you all (Main land Chinese) have peace and harmony
To Tsui Wa:
“…Dalai Lama…asking to provide basic human rights for Tibetan People that is rights for religious freedom, rights to preserve culture and history, free speech and rights for a peaceful & human freedom.”
I hope we can sit down and discuss in more details about the Dalai Lama’s requests you described above.
Regarding to “religious freedom”, as far as I know, Tibetan Chinese are enjoying religious freedom today. Please do not listen to the propaganda of the Exile group or the Chinese government. Take a research on normal Tibetan Chinese’s lives everyday. You can find plenty of proofs about their religious freedom, e.g., http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pI4SB4GXho. If you were referring “religious freedom” as allowing unlimited people “to join the monasteries”, I am sorry even Dalai Lama himself “emphasize quality over quantity”. If you were referring “religious freedom” as sending children to the monasteries, I am sorry even Dalai Lama himself “acknowledge that children don’t really know their own minds at that age” and dismisses the practice. (National Geographic April 2002). So please tell me what kind of “religious freedom” you were talking about. A single word “religious freedom” really does not clearly deliver the message.
Regarding “preserve culture and history”, I also would like to know the specifics. As far as I know, the Chinese government has made a great deal of efforts to do this since it took over Tibet. More than 98% of Tibetan Chinese today speak Tibetan language. The government has restored/rebuilt thousands of monastery temples destroyed by Tibetan people themselves during the 1970s Culture Revolution. The government has recollected and published the longest poem of the world, which was created by the Tibetan people. The government has published several dictionaries of Tibetan language. The list goes on and on. On the other side, what has the Exile group accomplished during the past half century with regards to this topic? From what I have heard, many of their senior officials even do not speak Tibetan language any more! (The funny part is that they only know Chinese or English and have never visited Tibet. And they claim everything from the Chinese government is propaganda. I wonder how they can be so confident that only they know the truth of Tibet?) Of course, if you were referring Tibetan “culture and history” as the feudalism system under Dalai Lama, I am sorry I cannot agree with you to put 95% of the people back as slaves again! So please let me know what kind of “culture and history” you were talking about. I love to talk about details instead of simple empty words like “culture and history”.
As for “free speech”, I know that it is difficult for Chinese people (not specific to Tibetan Chinese) to criticize their government. But without this subject, you are pretty much free to speak out anything in China. I have no doubt that when Chinese people can freely criticize their government, Tibetan Chinese will not be an exception. If you were referring “free speech” as advocating “the total independence of Tibet even at the cost of one’s life” as the Tibetan Youth Congress , I am sorry I cannot agree with you.
And regarding “a peaceful & human freedom”, I think the Chinese government and Chinese people (including Tibetan Chinese) are actively working on this. Please bear in mind that this will not become true tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow. It’s worth decades of efforts and struggles. Why does this look like a special cause for Tibetan Chinese?
Let’s talk more details and see how to close our gaps.
Wengan citizens are wrong to protest Chinese government when we have done so much for them… liberated them from earth lords (地主), gave them better life, made possible preserve culture….
And they only riot! Now China government must stop them. Also stop western from reporting wrong things!