PSP, this may help you understand the subject a little better.

Link: http://www.freetibet.org/about/10-facts-about-tibet

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Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror, 'cause I get better looking each day. To know me is to love me, I must be a hell of a man. Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, but I'm doin' the best that I can.

Doesn't the Dalai Lama belive in living in moderation? Perhaps a less ostentatious, quieter meeting is more respectful to their culture?

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

Yeah, leaving through the back door past the garbage was probably a specific request.

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Hold my beer and watch this...

Well, he's old, and his health isn't the greatest. And isn't he at least semi-retired? I thought the Tibetan movement was now led by a Parliament and Prime Minister.

I don't think it's out of the realm of believability that he wanted the media kept at bay and a quiet entrance and exist. The appearance of the garbage cans, or garbage cangate as we will now call it was probably unfortunate and coincidental.

What did they discuss and why didn't Obama meet with the Tibetan Prime Minister?

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

This is not a great way to win over young Americans who are still trying to find a political identity.

If conservatives want the younger generations to listen to what they have to say and potentially believe it, they'd better find better ways to get their points across.



This is more like it. That said, I understand the story behind China and Tibet.

My point is, without knowing for sure the purpose of taking that exit, this has been overblown.

The Dalai Lama himself said in that interview that he thinks it's important for the US to keep strong diplomatic relations with China, and that's why one meeting had already been cancelled before.

In my opinion, you aren't helping yourself OR Tibet by giving China the middle finger.

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Wheelhouse

its silly, really. it just seems everyday he does something wrong that could single handedly destroy western civilization, when the reality is its not a big deal what-so-ever.

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Screw China.
We don't need their lead filled toys but we do need those manufacturing jobs back.

We should be strongly backing Tibet and Taiwan.

I've mentioned this before, but my wife is Chinese...she was born in Hong Kong after her parents swam to freedom from mainland China in the 70's.

The communists killed 3/4 of her family and the ones they didn't kill (like her parents) were sent to work camps.
I've heard the stories first hand.

There's no compelling reason to play nice with those fuckers until they straighten their shit out. One of those things that needs straightening is Tibet.

I don't care how much debt of ours they carry...perhaps our government should re-evaluate carrying such a debt load in the first place.

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Hold my beer and watch this...

Surely one could expect the president do the China/Tibet balancing act without needing to push Dalai out the the dumpster exit. This is what I mean when I say that those who are mesmerized by Obama cannot bring themselves to even the slightest criticisms - even if he was disrespecting a traditionally liberal cause.

No, it's not the end of the world that Obama gave the Lama a bit of the bum's rush, but a tiny ounce of objectivity surely merits voicing regret at the shoddy judgment Barack showed facilitating the indignant scene of the Lama being guided through the trash bags.

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Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror, 'cause I get better looking each day. To know me is to love me, I must be a hell of a man. Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, but I'm doin' the best that I can.

I agree, 100%. But until we find ways to address that debt, and become a more self sufficient country again, it wouldn't be wise to piss China off.

I also think that, when you're trying to create diplomatic ties between two groups in conflict, you have to be sensitive to both sides, no matter how inappropriate one party may be, or you get nowhere, because it demonstrates taking sides.

You and I both know China is a rotten bastard in this dilemma, but if China is under the impression we're taking sides with Tibet, they won't listen to jack shit of what we have to say.

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Wheelhouse

Do you know with 100% certainty that Obama dictated that the Dalai Lama was to exit the White House THAT way? It's not inconceivable to you that maybe someone else in the administration made that decision?

I'm embarrassed as an American that the Dalai Lama left in the manner that he did. I've always tried to analyze situations like this by considering what the 'aggrieved' person thinks about it. If the Dalai Lama is not displeased with how he was treated, then I'm not.

Here was the official caption:



Bags that normally wouldn't have been there but had piled up because the sanitation departments had stalled due to the snow they got in DC.

Oh the horror...

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Wheelhouse

Unfortunately, the current president has only increased our dependency on Chinese funding for our economic survival. Without them backing our money, our dollar would be worthless. What I would recommend we do is begin implementing spending and taxation policies that emphasize fiscal responsibility. Pass a balanced budget amendment, get it signed, and maybe we can finally begin weaning off the Chinese tit.

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Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror, 'cause I get better looking each day. To know me is to love me, I must be a hell of a man. Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, but I'm doin' the best that I can.

Here's what the palm room exit would have looked like without the snow storm:



Look ma! No trash!

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Wheelhouse

I never said I liked it, or that I disagreed with Crosscheck's stance. I liked Bush's approach better.

I just think the whole garbage cangate issue is really stupid especially since all we can do is make assumptions based on a few photos.

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

I know with 100% certainty that Obama must be held responsible for how the Dalai Lama entered and exited - how can you be so willing to excuse this? Again, this is exactly what I mean about the unparalleled power Obama holds over his followers. As the president of the United States, is it too much to ask that he make sure that proper dignity is afforded an esteemed leader of a persecuted people?

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Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror, 'cause I get better looking each day. To know me is to love me, I must be a hell of a man. Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, but I'm doin' the best that I can.

Heck, I almost didn't vote for Obama.

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

The garbage was just the icing on the turd cake....this thread was started before those pictures came out.

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Hold my beer and watch this...

I will say this as civilly as I am able.

I am not some mindless sheep that sees no fault with anything Obama does. I see something happen, I consider and analyze it, and form an opinion about it.

Sometimes that opinion backs up the president, sometimes it does not. If you've bothered to read my comments, you'll see that I'm not overly pleased with the situation as it transpired. However, I do not consider it to be such an international incident as you do.

We have different political perspectives, and don't agree on all that much. I respect your positions that I do not agree with without insults, and all I ask is that you provide the same courtesy to everyone else in return.

Squanto, I certainly don't have any malice towards you or others with different political views, but how is sending a respected holy leader of a persecuted people out the side door through the garbage bags a partisan issue? I would think all of us can at least share that common thread of agreement regardless of whether we lean left or right politically.

It's a matter of respect for the man, his position and his people, that's all. I have said it's not an international incident, but I just cannot fathom how anyone can look at that pic with their own eyes and not see that that was in poor taste, and the president should be criticized for letting it happen.

EDIT: Sorry for insinuation you don't think for yourself. I can understand why that was offensive, and tossing it in there was an unnecessary provocation.

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Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror, 'cause I get better looking each day. To know me is to love me, I must be a hell of a man. Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, but I'm doin' the best that I can.

oh snap! nice find, adam! this should put that issue to rest.

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