The Maverick Tribe

So it looks like the Chinese government feels it needs to put its stamp of approval on the next Dalai Lama.  The current Dalai Lama (who has been in exile from his home country since 1951) will eventually pass on, and, according to Tibetan Buddhist belief, will be reincarnated as another Tibetan child.  So Beijing, not satisfied with conquering Tibet, imposing authoritarian rule over it, destroying Tibetan cultural artifacts, displacing thousands of the agrarian people from their homeland, and remaking Llasa into yet another Han Chinese outpost, needs to have a hand in the identification of the next Dalai Lama.

I am simply flabbergasted at this kind of sinister heavy-handedness.  Remember, this is a Communist regime, with a notorious tradition of official atheism.  To put things into perspective, imagine reading the following headlines in your newspaper tomorrow:

"American churches required to adhere to new version of Bible written by Larry Flynt"

"Cast of Seinfeld chosen as delegates to Iraqi Constitutional convention"

"Jenna Bush to design new line of burqas for Afgan women"

"Madison Avenue firm in bid to improve, modernize Ganesh brand"

You get the picture.

You have to wonder why we're spilling blood and treasure by the truckload trying to bring freedom, democracy, and happiness to that hornet's nest we call the Middle East.  Couldn't we use our enormous international leverage and military might to bring autonomy and freedom to the heroically patient, peaceful people of Tibet?  Seems like a lower hanging fruit to me.  Just a thought.