From: cqk5188@acf5.NYU.EDU (Chien Kwok)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.asian.american
Subject: Re: Tibet Film Series (Re: Discourse on Race in Modern China)
Date: 15 Oct 92 04:47:39 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: New York University

underdog@leland.Stanford.EDU (Dwight Joe) writes:

>In article <1992Oct14.152915.25211@unocal.com> stgprao@st.unocal.COM
>(Richard Ottolini) writes:
>>...
>>Have you lived in China?  I have and was a racial minority there and felt
>>the sting of prejudice.  Many people assumed I was a dumb tourist
>>and wouldn't understand what they were saying behind my back.
>>Racism is very high there, particularly for dark skinned people.
>>...

>That reminds me.

>I don't normally do a plug, but this issue deserves one.
>If you are in the Stanford area, you can attend the Tibet Film
>Series; a new film is shown at 7:30 p.m. each week at the
>Bechtel International Center.  If anyone is really interested,
>I could double check the time.

>By the way, this issue should be important to all Asian-Americans
>since Asian-Americans are Americans and have an interest in
>opposing oppression committed against an un-armed people.  In this
>case, the Chinese are committing brutal oppression against the
>Tibetans.

>Interestingly, 2 or 3 posts have been submitted in the past 7 months
>(by Chinese) calling for remembering Nanjing and Tenanmon; further,
>those posts were sent to s.c.a.a. even though no effort was made to
>show how those issues tie in with the _AMERICAN_ newsgroup s.c.a.a.
>Of course, the Chinese are strangely silent about Tibet on this news
>group.  I wonder why ...

>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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>Copyright 1992.                 Disclaimer:  1 + 1 = 3 | San Jose, California.
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You'll have to enlighten me.  My understanding of the situation in Tibet is
that at least through the Ching dynasty, Tibet was part of China.  When the
dynasty fell, China being so weakened, lost control of Tibet until the 
Communist takeover in 1949, after which China retook control.

If you compared this to eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, the 
various ethnic groups had been for a much longer period than the break in
rule of the Tibetans by the Chinese, free.  There I have much empathy with
the eastern Europeans and the sovereign republics.

If you also compare this to America and the plight of the native Americans,
the settlers definitely imposed their rule over them after many centuries of
living under self-determination.

Of course you can argue that any unwelcome rule by invaders is wrong. But
that would be ignoring the realities of how history has shaped nations.

I would then like to know if those people who are so ready to stand on the
side of the Tibetans will be as willing to step off the face of the American
continent. The exception of course being the few remaining native Americans.

Chien Kwok
Newsgroups: soc.culture.asian.american