An open letter to the United States government regarding the violence in Tibet
Filed Under Tibet, Human Rights, China | Posted on March 15, 2008
I’ve just sent the following letter to President Bush, Senators Mark Pryor and Blanche Lincoln, and Representative John Boozman. I’ll republish it here, in case anyone else in power stumbles across it.
Dear …,
The world watches in horror as the Communist Chinese government escalates its brutality and violence against the peacful Tibetan people. I have read today the following statement, purportedly made by a Tibetan from inside Tibet:
“The Chinese shot at everybody in sight and blood and piles of corpses are lying around the main temple Tsuglakhang in Lhasa. Many people have been put into prison where they are being beaten. Tibetans are being forced to beat up their own countrymen. Many Tibetans are refusing to do so.”
For over 50 years, China has illegally ruled over Tibet, systematically depriving this peaceful and compassionate people of their freedom and their religion. It is painfully apparent that China is committed to engaging in cultural genocide against the Tibetan people, a people whose single-most important ideals are those of love and compassion. In this world of violence and hatred, we could learn much from these gentle people.
At times, the response of the United States government toward the plight of the Tibetans has been encouraging, at other times, disappointing. The situation in Tibet today has reached a level of crisis that demands an immediate and forceful response. As Richard Gere said in a CNN interview, yesterday, “The U.S. response should not be measured; it should be unequivocal. This cannot happen.”
Americans are people of conscience. Freedom is our highest ideal; and we extend that ideal not only to ourselves, but to all peoples of the world. Based upon that ideal, we claim for ourselves a moral authority, which sometimes we live up to, and other times, sadly, fall short of. I urge you today to help the people of the United States live up to the standards and values that we cherish by crafting an appropriate response to the Chinese government in light of the atrocities they are committing in Tibet. Please help stop this senseless violence before one of the most peaceful and loving cultures disappears from the earth.
Sincerely;
James S. Ownbey
If you feel moved to write a letter of your own, you can find your legislators’ contact information here.
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