Please join me in commending Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee for his work in introducing legislation that would recognize Tibet’s exiled leader, the Dalai Lama, for his “outstanding moral and religious leadership.” It would also declare March 10, the 50th anniversary of a Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule, as Tibet Awareness Day.
The brutal oppression of the Tibetan people and calculated destruction of their remarkable culture has been a priority of the Chinese government for 50 years now. And in these efforts, they have been sadly successful.
This is an opportunity for the people and government of California to stand up for an oppressed people. As expected, the Chinese consul has lobbied the Legislature to abandon this effort as they would like to proceed unfettered in their efforts to extinguish the Tibetan culture.
Unfortunately, genuine leadership in Sacramento is a rare commodity. And, this legislation has been referred to a rules committee where it will likely die. I urge your readers to contact Mr. Blakeslee’s office and register your support of his courageous efforts on behalf of the Tibetan people.
This article appears in Mar 19-26, 2009.