We have been having a bit of an e-mail discussion among the TDG admins, concerning the recent tragic events that have been reported in Tibet and the nearby chinese regions. Some of us feel that it was about time that these riots and protests began, since for 50 years the chinese have trampled on the cultural and political rights of the Tibet, a country they invaded and claimed as theirs unilateraly.

Note here that in all this mess the Dalai Lama, the religious head of the tibetan church, and also their political leader according to the exiled tibetan government, has for the last two years turned away from the idea of a free Tibet, what he wants is a more autonomous Tibet although still under Chinese rule. Maybe this change came out of a sense of practicality, since it is obvious that by now none of the surviving exiled leaders of Tibet will be able to return in their life-times. Nevertheless, Beijing has been quick to blame all the violence to the Dalai Lama, as a plan to sabotage their precious Olimpic Games where they would show the world what a great and modern nation they have become.

But getting back to our little e-mail discussion: some of us have obviously mentioned names like Gandhi and Mandela, as a way to point out that non-violent movements are more efficient in ensuing beneficial social changes, while it has been argued by others that in a country like XXIst century China, a man like Gandhi would not last alive a week.

My mind objects this idea, but maybe it is a mere emotional sentimental response. Maybe I'm desperate to believe non-violence is a better answer, otherwise I myself would become someone with blood in my hands...

For I live in a country where social civil rights are defiled every day, where you cannot expect a thing from politicians except that they will only seek to amass as much money as they can during their time in office, where you fear police officers instead of admire them, where you can never be certain if you'll be able to return home at night, where the rich get richer and the poor get miserable. This is a climate of despair, and despair can turn to rage quickly, because violence is the obvious solution for a person who has nothing to lose; and I fear I am becoming that person.

So I ask you this: Violence or Non-Violence?

[UPDATE]: Roaming through the net, I stumbled upon this brilliant animation short, that in 1-minute manages to express a very profound idea, that I believe may be relevant to my original topic.