The Dalai Lama spoke in Minnesota today about China, Taiwan, and making a way for peace. China has been waking from its dream state, with recent developments in technology, economics, and of course strong-arm politics. While I don't believe, nor suggest, that those aspects of rational thought reveal much about the true nature of China, it does seem to imply a change of character. I find the Dalai Lama's statements to be very interesting with respect to it all. I honor his optimism. REMEMBER why he fled Tibet...

http://www.reuters.com/news_article.jhtml?type=topnews&Repository=USTOPNEWS_REP&RepositoryStoryID=%2Fnews%2FIDS%2FUsTopNews%2FNEWS-RELIGION-TIBET-USA-DC_NEW.XML

Dalai Lama Meets Minnesota Gov. Ventura on China

May 09, 2001 01:13 PM ET

 

Reuters PhotoST. PAUL, Minn. (Reuters) - The Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, said Wednesday he urged Minnesota's Gov. Jesse Ventura to press Beijing on human rights issues when the former professional wrestler visits China this year.

The Nobel Peace Prize-winning Buddhist monk emerged from a private meeting with Ventura saying he sought the governor's support in his long campaign for Tibetan autonomy.

Ventura, an independent politician who has been no stranger to confrontation or controversy, is ??? visit China on a trade mission for a few days in November.

The Dalai Lama, who fled to India in 1959 after an abortive uprising against Chinese rule, arrived in Minnesota Monday in the first leg of a seven-city U.S. tour that ends in Washington.

He visits at a difficult time in Sino-U.S. relations, following the recent U.S. spy plane incident and the announcement of a U.S. arms sale to Taiwan.

While not addressing the plane incident, the Dalai Lama spoke ??? talk to a friend, and you see them make a mistake, you tell them clearly that this is wrong."

Asked at a news conference about China's frictions with Taiwan, which the mainland government views as a rogue province, he said: "I feel the true Chinese heritage is preserved in Taiwan."

Earlier, in an address to the Minnesota state legislature and a packed gallery, the Dalai Lama, wearing his saffron robe, expressed his wish that "Tibet be an autonomous region within China."

"China will sooner or later engage in a real dialogue and that is the best way to solve problems," he said.

"Things are changing. China will sooner or later have to open its society to democracy and freedom," he said. "I'm optimistic about a future for Tibet."