History Is B(l)ack

I seem to keep running into Chinese affairs recently.

A couple of students from the Singapore American School stuffed into my hand a flyer condemning Beijing’s crackdown in Tibet.

Alright, for my part I do not in the least believe Beijing’s accusations that the Dalai Lama has been planning this all along. After all, he still carries that said title conferred by the Qing emporers. If he truly wanted independence he would have discarded it long ago.

That over-discussed point however, will not be the crux of this post.

I find it amazingly amusing that it was an American who stuffed that into my hand. A black, too.

You see, the American Civil War was made a war over slavery out of pure propaganda. Lincoln was a good man, but he was no saint.

The American Civil War was a war of secession. The Southern states felt that DC was overtly favouring the views of the industrial North over theirs, with slavery being merely one of the issues at hand.

Besides, the Southern (along with others straddling the West coast) states were not part of the country proclaimed by the Founding Fathers. They joined in later, many coerced or annexed in the process. So, they held it well within their right to secede if they found that the increasingly North-dominated Federal government began to sideline their interests.

As the South saw it, they were exercising their right. The North saw a rebellion, and hence began arming for war. Too bad, the Stars and Bars found out, striking first.

I think the parallels are obvious. No martial might other than that officiated by the state should exist within any nation, nor should any talk of secession be taken lightly.

Of course, this is weak justification for Chinese use of force in Tibet, but perhaps if the Americans learn to remember their own history better they will not be so quick to point their fingers. Perhaps if they spent more time reflecting and trying to understand the Chinese, they will find a way to defuse the situation.

Sure the Americans can have a part in sharing their lessons if the Chinese allow it. First and foremost however, those hypocrites within the right-wing movement who triggered the Civil War will have to learn to shut up so cooler heads may prevail.

Lest anyone accuses me of promoting DC meddling in China’s internal affairs, I may clarify that any DC mission should focus purely cooling the situation, not suggesting solutions. In short, dispense advice on damage control rather than join in the irresponsible chorus of condemnation.

By the way, I would urge Beijing to stop demonising the Dalai Lama just because they wish they have someone to blame. If he kicks the bucket, the next Tibetan leader may just decide to grant them that wish.

Piaroh-Cze:

He who has gone before owes it to he who comes after to provide a map.