Following up on the extra credit presentation of Katarina Napfel in AP World History today, I'm posting an article on how an American film crew was detained in a hotel so crew members could not film a clash between Chinese police and Tibetan monks:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/03/17/tibet.american/index.html?eref=rss_topstories
Questions to discuss:
Should the United States get involved in the internal affairs of the Chinese over the conflict with Tibet over their independence? Why or why not? Should we simply mind our own business and focus on our own problems, or is it our moral obligation as the leader of the free world to intervene when people are fighting for freedom?
Even if you're not in AP World History, feel free to comment! Government students, this fits right in with our study of foreign policy.
6 comments:
Bonjour, Mrs. Stotler! I think that we should focus on one thing at a time. We do not want to start another war when there are men struggling overseas already and familes struggling here on our own soil. We should acknologe the problem, yes, because if no one else realizes that it is a problem, then how can the information, the correct information, get out to the public and get an intended response? Yes, we are all about freedom, but sometimes, people need to stand up for themselves. We should help these people gain freedom, but not in a way that could cause us enemies. I do not see how this can be, but maybe if other countries, who believe in freedom, also, or what the Tibetans are fighting for, could help out.
~H. Baker
Oh where do I begin...
Yes we should get involved as for the rest of the world as we're always talking about freedom. I'm not saying go in there with the typical American approach of starting a war, this can and should be settled peacefully. Tibet and the Buddhists living there have been oppressed since China invaded back in the 50's and basically most people have turned a blind eye. China has done atrocious things and violated human rights countless times, but we turn a blind eye because of their place as an economic power and China being our so called "ally". Sadly, we'll send thousands of troops to die under the false label of freedom for our own economic gain, yet when there's really a peaceful country and people being oppressed with no gain for our country, we could care less. It's our moral obligation, and yes our government will probably issue a statement kind of condoning China's actions but that's it. We didn't do anything in Burma when monks were slaughtered there, why would our government do anything now? We're standing by and letting China kill pacifists and we haven't been doing anything about it for the last 50 years. This is a time when American should actually stand in and act as the so called "Leader of the Free World." The other civilized countries out there should all step in and tell China to back off. Maybe a possibly of a boycott of the Olympics in Beijing? Who knows, but with China keeping the press out and trying to smother anything negative coming out of Tibet, we can see just how Orwellian society has become..
This is what we're letting happen
...I know I'm letting personal bias come through being some what of the resident Buddhist, but its the right thing to do regardless.
-Clayton
I agree with both of the other comments. We should acknologe the problem if it really is one,but we should also know our limits. The last thing we want is another war. The government is already in enough dept.
I feel we should step in and help the Tibetan people. Not only us but all the western world we cant stand by and watch this violence happen to a peaceful people. I'm not saying forcefully but we need to give China a firm warning. Nothing against the Chinese people just the Chinese Government. We need to free Tibet.
Clayton, this whole blog is about giving your opinion-it's all bias!
~H.B
I have never really liked the fact that we as americans feel it is our business to sort out the problems of other conflicting countries. If the people get to a drastic point and feel that they need to ask for american assistance then it would be wrong of us not to help. On the other side if other countries do not ask for our assistance i feel that we have no reason, or right, to be there.
Post a Comment