This morning, I checked google news and saw an interesting article from the Chinese news agency: CRI Netizens and Listeners around the World Comment on Lhasa Riots. It got flagged in google news for me because it mentions Esperanto. The comment in question was by Jind?ich Tomíšek, an elderly Czech leader of the International Federation of Esperanto Trainworkers. I don't know this guy or what his perspective is, but its certainly different from my perspective on what's happening. The whol article is clearly a mix of cherry-picked comments and entirely fake propaganda. My favorite comment is by the guy in Argentina who (supposedly) is outraged by the actions of the "Dalai Clique". I'm sorry, but I would be really surprised if any person from Argentina had ever used the words "Dalai" and whatever Spanish word for "clique" in the same sentence ever. I don't think anyone had ever heard of something called a "Dalai Clique" until China invented it because they can't even talk about the Dalai Lama without foaming at the mouth.

Many years ago, I had the chance to see the Dalai Lama and to hear him speak. I believe he will be considered one of the great people of our age: not necessarily for genius or outstanding accomplishments, but for his enduring compassion and commitment to purpose. It's disappointing to me that China -- clearly one of the rising superpowers of the world -- can't at least engage in an honest dialog and provide religious autonomy to its minority population in Tibet. Government and religion don't mix well and when governments meddle in religion it makes them look both evil and stupid.