Inbox

The Dalai Lama’s Greatest Trial
I was deeply moved by Pico Iyer’s “A Monk’s Struggle” [March 31]. Despite the Dalai Lama’s half-century of exile and the erosion of Tibetan culture due to the Chinese occupation of Tibet, the Buddhist leader maintains his lucid and compassionate vision. In the face of Chinese oppression, the fact that he sees the advantages of China’s modernizing influence and envisions an autonomous Tibet within Chinese borders is a testament to his infinite wisdom. If our next President and other world leaders could emulate the Dalai Lama’s compassionate politics, the war on terror and the endless struggle for hegemony could be replaced by a more evolved multilateralism.
John Joseph,
Boulder, Colo., U.S.

Although I don’t support the Chinese government’s suppression of the Tibetan people’s way of life, there is an amazing irony in the situation. If the Dalai Lama had been able to stay in Tibet and the Tibetans had been allowed to continue with their quiet ways, most of the rest of the world might never have heard of Tibetan Buddhism or been exposed to the teachings and leadership of this remarkable man and the philosophy he espouses. In a way, the Chinese government has been the most important marketing tool for Tibet and its leader. Because of the highly publicized clash, millions throughout the world know of and practice a Buddhist way of life.
Nancy Matela,
Portland, Ore., U.S.

It is apt that you featured a cover story on Tibet when the world is preparing to participate in the most prestigious international athletic event in China. The world community should pressure China to end its occupation of Tibet. As an Indian American, I’d like India to stop treating China as a brother and the U.S. to stop the hypocrisy of doing business with China while maintaining its embargo against Cuba.
Vishwanath Ayengar,
Wappingers Falls, N.Y., U.S.

The Dalai Lama is not a monk struggling alone. He is instead an ambitious politician crowned as a religious idol who’s long been backed by the West, which is either blinded or charmed by him. Does Iyer really believe that the former Tibet, ruled by the Dalai Lama’s serfdom, was better or more advanced than the Tibet of today?
Victor He,
Shanghai

Obama’s Achilles’ Heel?
Obama addressed the Wright problem before it assumed crisis proportions [March 31]. In doing so, he displayed a clarity and depth of vision that I have not witnessed in any other politician during my lifetime. His speech was courageous and honest. Above all it showed remarkable faith in our nation’s ability to see in shades of gray, rather than black and white. If this is an indication of how he would handle the presidency, I say hallelujah and amen.
Farhat Biviji,
Cherry Hill, N.J., U.S.

It is pastors like Wright who keep blacks down spiritually and economically and keep them grousing over their lot with a sense of entitlement that will never set them free to be everything they can be. The poor folks who belong to churches like Wright’s have no idea that the hate and the damnation are dooming them to a hell of their own making. Trinity is a Christian church? Jesus never taught that stuff.
Susan Abernethy,
San Diego