Here’s one Southeast Portland resident’s take on the controversial decision by the City Council — led, in this case, by Commissioner Randy Leonard — to declare March 10 as Tibet Awareness Day in Portland.
The council’s proclamation — which stated outright that Tibet is independent — drew fire from the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco as well as local Chinese leaders.
Here’s the letter, which was emailed on Tuesday to Leonard and the other members of the City Council:
Dear Commissioner Leonard,
It is always unfortunate when governments exceed their authority. No, I’m not talking about China, as it relates to Tibet. I’m talking about the Portland City Council as it relates to this resolution.
Tibet was, for more than 200 years during the Chin Dynasty, which was formally negotiated by a much earlier Dalai Lama and remains today, politicly a part of China. That will never change.
By contrast, America’s aboriginal peoples, the tribes, never asked for the US political system—why not a resolution to free all former Indian lands? (including Portland). No, this is much easier, a preachy resolution to please your constituents, but with no actual skin in the game.
At a very fundimental level, Portland will never be a major global city if it can’t resist messing in political matters where it has no business and very little understanding. I have been to the Tibetan plateau. Its not what you think. Tibetan Buddhism is not universally loved. the Dalai Lama is not universally loved. In fact, the other minorities prefer being under Chinese rule, and fear, in some cases, a return of the structured Theocratic rule of Tibetan Buddhism.
Mr. Leonard, are you personally aware of a Theocratic government that you would characterize as ‘enlightened’? In the middle east perhaps? One of the rare areas where the United States and The People’s Republic of China shares basic governing principles, both constitutionally enumerated, is in the belief of separation of church and state. Why would Portland —or any city government in the United States—seek to undermine that basic principle anywhere in the world?
This will hurt Portland globally. Many of our best business and economic opportunities are in China. China has been Oregon’s number one export market. That can change. No business partner wants to be insulted by their foreign trading partner. Reverse the situation—would Portland businesses, or indeed, the population at large take kindly to a Chinese resolution condemning America’s treatment of the Warm Springs Indians?
And this is such a politically immature move. Mr. Leonard, can you imagine for one second, Seattle doing this? With billions of Boeing and Microsoft exports hanging in the balance?
But thats the difference between Gary Locke and company, vs. Portland’s city council, its the difference between an exciting world class global city, and a struggling, but pleasant regional backwater, and unless attitudes change, it always will be.
Sincerely, Kim Lathrop
(The photo shows Tibetan protesters outside City Hall and a delegation from the Chinese Consulate on their way into meetings with Leonard and Mayor Sam Adams to discuss the Tibet resolution on March 8. Photo courtesy of the Northwest Tibetan Cultural Association.)
Tags: China, International Affairs, Portland, Randy Leonard, Tibet
With all due respect, Kim Lathrop, “politically immature moves”, is Portland City Council’s signature. Randy runs with it.
As far as Randy having a problem with Portland suffering from his “politically immature moves”, you must not have read Pitkin’s March 8th piece. Randy is just fine with it.
Supposedly he “was warned” and “said he didn’t mind pissing off an ECONOMIC HEAVYWEIGHT if it’s for the right reasons”.
Randy supposedly pouted, “If it means selling out our city’s principles, I don’t want that business, frankly”.
He’s such a widdie waddie pop kid.
A government by the people and for the people cannot exceed it’s authority, since its’ authority is derived from the people, unlike the authority of the Chinese government than is derived as stated by the Chairman “from the barrel of a gun”
I would agree that aboriginal Americans have rights that have been denied and legitimate greivences and if the Chinese government had any real legitimacy it could condemn these point in good faith, however this is not he case.
HH the Dalai Lama is not asking for independence from China. He has admitted the mistakes of the theocratic regime that controlled Tibet for many years and has not suggested a return to this. What he is trying to preserve is the heart of Tibetian culture, and since you have traveled to Tibet you know this culture to be separate and distinct from Chinese culture.
The ideals of Liberty are worth any econimic cost. We should not be bought off by a totalitarian Communist regime whose legitimacy is held up by a police state.
Sounds like you’ve been talking to Sam and Randy on this. Get back to us on how the 3 of you assume responsibility for liberty at the cost of security?
Those who would trade Liberty for security deserve neither. – Benjamin Franklin
You are talking a trade? In Portland Oregon, 2010?
So much for “Give me Liberty or give me death”. I would rather starve a free man, than give away my universal human rights for a full belly.
The Cuban writer Reyanaldo Arenas once said the difference between democracy and communism was while both were shitty, at least in a democracy you could complain about it.
If we were in Tibet, we would not be having this discourse.
“So much for “Give me Liberty or give me death”. That quote trips lightly off your wagging tongue. Without thought to US soldiers. You spin.
I was never suggesting military action of any kind. That would be pointless. In fact I support more trade and ties with China in general. Cultural and economic hegemony will bring about the fall of the communist regime much faster as a rising middle class in China demands more from their government (Charter ‘08). What i suggest is a pragmatic middle path. Staying true to the principles of universal human rights while engaging the government of China when we can.
Send us pictures the next time you’re in Tibet, “Paul”, or perhaps fighting the good fight in Zimbabwe, Turkmenistan, Burma….or if by chance you happen to live in the US instead of a cave in Afghanistan, the volunteer work you do at a Vet Hosp. or a shelter for abused children, or displaced families, who fall in the Portland 10% unemployment bracket.
I’m sorry, was there a relevant point to be made or are you out of good reasons to defend dictators and attacking me is easier. what a joke.
What part of giving service to your community do you find a joke?
[...] In Taiwan, Buddhists only account for 25% of the population according to its current President. The majority of Taiwanese citizens are actually Taoist, and there is also a significant Christian minority living in Taiwan. But in both the Taiwanese and Tibetan cases, you’re never going to hear this from Buddhists. Asian Buddhists have interpreted the Buddha’s Right Speech to mean, “That particular lie and/or omission which makes your own sect looks good,” which is a complete, absolute, blatant, deliberate, and premeditated perversion of the meaning of the Buddha. Willamette Week Online [...]
I’m glad the Portland city government has the balls to take public stands on important international civil rights issues, despite bullying threats from an unelected, authoritarian government.
Ironic ‘American Portlander’. Especially as Sam got into office based on running an election from a bully pulpit, with his manipulative accusations.
Sam and Randy have balls all right. Unfortunately it’s balls for brains, rendering them dumb balls.
hahahaha
China isn’t importing anything from Microsoft. They’re stealing it plan and simple. Half their government shut down because they were using pirated copies of Microsoft products throughout their government. That’s why they freaked the feck out when Microsoft turned on WGA and made their screens go black.
Who said anything about Microsoft? Wrong state, and different mayor.
It’s Intel and TriQuint out of Oregon.
Which means if you can’t keep your export companies matched to the right state, you may also not be up to speed with Oregon’s export sale’s numbers dipping 23% last year from ‘08, and were strong the ENTIRE year ONLY in sales to China.
With San-Ran’s help, that could change drastically, f’kin with the lives of Oregonian’s even more than the 10+% percent unemployment going on now.
But what do you good ol’ boys care about boring statistics dealing with food on or off the table?
Why don’t you go and set up a game of futbol, with the peeps whose jobs could get smeared if China decides to go the way they’re talking on the Blazer broadcasts there….with everything else OREGON, now that the Fool’s Mayor and Leonard The Balls for Brains couldn’t even fish a pair of dress slacks out of the hamper, to go to lunch with the Chinese.
I’m of a mind to ask the Chinese if they will finance professionalizing the website for the domain name I reserved some time ago, http://www.recallrandyleonard.com.
I wonder if a certain person, who will remain unnamed, would be willing to go to San Francisco and talk to them.
Normally I only go for stuff that’s Made in America, but this would be a fine exception to the rule.
When one city plays around with the sovereignty of another nation, regardless of issues of right or wrong, that city should be ready for the other, much more powerful entity, to respond in kind.
Free Portland!
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Sam and Randy get their tax payer paid paychecks no matter what they do to screw up the economy for the rest of us. And they’re pretty good at that.
Are we now truly The People’s Republic of Portland? Until then stay out of international politics.
well! Mr. Kim Lathrop, seems you missed the bus. Seattle and State of Washington did declared “Tibet Day” on March 10th 2009. I didn’t notice any businesses coming to Portland as a result of that. And it seems you will need a lesson on Tibetan history. You are here parroting the Chinese communist line.
Seattle had a Tibet Day march this year as well, but I didn’t read where the Chinese Deputy Counsul General and co. flew to Seattle to meet with either Nickels or McGinn, or any of the Seattle Commissioners, asking them to rescind, or how the two Seattle mayors handled it if they did take a meeting.