Harper plans public meeting with Dalai Lama

[Leafless]

When the Dalai Lama meets Stephen Harper in Ottawa next week, it will be the first time a Canadian prime minister agrees to meet the exiled Tibetan leader in public.

I hope Mr. harper knows what he is doing relating to this proposed meeting with the Dalai Lama, who is not only a spiritual leader but one who is involved with secessionist activities.

One would assume Mr. Harper is very well aware of the serious problems in his own country involving secessionist and why he would want to risk offending China over this matter does not make any sense.

Thoughts.

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/s...2a-20683fb0a8ab

[old_bold&cold]

Personally, as a Canadian citizen and voter, I think Harper has done the right thing and yes the meeting being made public and even any discussions about world events and even politics, should not be something Canada, should hide away from. China may not be happy about this, but China should never have any input into Canadian policies or the choices of who we speak to and give favour to in our country.

I am not sure really that anything the Dalai Lama, has to say about his views on world events and politics, would be that out of whack with what we all believe here in Canada. China's repressive leadership, can have all the fits it likes, but while he is visiting here, we will treat him as a religious leader and a deep thinker in world events. While I would not go to any of the speaking engagements, personally. I will be glad to read about them in the news and other current events methods. It will not change my way of thinking, but it may open some new ideas, I really can not say for sure, until I read about them. As for China, I have pretty much made up my mind about them being a oppressive state, and I do not even come close to seeing them as a stable body. But I already knew that long before anyone else could change my view. China needs to first fix up their own record and correct abuses, before making any comments towards what we do here in Canada. Harper has the right position in this and he should get our support on this without any regard to China's view.

[Leafless]

Personally, as a Canadian citizen and voter, I think Harper has done the right thing and yes the meeting being made public and even any discussions about world events and even politics, should not be something Canada, should hide away from.

I am certain then you felt the same way when DeGalle visited Quebec and shouted this famous statement:

In July 1967, dE Gaulle visited Canada, which was celebrating its centennial with a world's fair, Expo 67. On 24 July, speaking to a large crowd from a balcony at Montreal's city hall, de Gaulle uttered Vive le Québec !

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_de_Gaulle

[old_bold&cold]

Yes I was there in that time, and yes, I can support the fact that we did extend the honours and associated dignity to De Gualle. He did kind of throw this back in our faces with his "ViV Quebec Libre" cry from the balcony over looking many french people and also english from Quebec. I do not think he was wise to do this and while he tried to cover this up as a mistake, it was still a fact and should not be taken as a mistake on our part, but only a lapse of judgement on De Galle's part.

The rtuth be known France does not like Quebecers and treats them like vermin when they are there. My wife is French and I am english, and every where in France that we went, if she spoke her quebec french, they questioned and corrected her openly or simply ignore her. I got better service in english and they were polite to me. I had to on several occassions step into things and admonish the server for his bad taste in always correcting her french. His attitude was that French is not spoken by the people of Quebec, and they should learn to speak it right or find another language to learn. To say the least, I fought the urge to thru this guy into the Sienne River, and if I was not in another country, I would have. My wife always being polite, used mostly english for the rest of our time there. We loved Paris and most of Europe. The french are noted for being rude and confrontational. That also might explain De Gualle's rudness here as well. If quebers ever even played with the idea that France would welcome them, they are sadly mistaken. They would be thought of as the lowest of low class. I am not saying I agree with that, but it is what I saw whenI was there.

[margrace]

I am glad Mr. Harper is meeting the Dalai Lama, is one of the saints of the world and it we had a few more, especially in our Canadian Government we would have a much greater country.

[Wilber]

I hope Mr. harper knows what he is doing relating to this proposed meeting with the Dalai Lama, who is not only a spiritual leader but one who is involved with secessionist activities.

One would assume Mr. Harper is very well aware of the serious problems in his own country involving secessionist and why he would want to risk offending China over this matter does not make any sense.

Thoughts.

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/s...2a-20683fb0a8ab

Canada has allowed Quebec two referendums on sovereignty. China has ruthlessly stamped out all opposition to their rule in Tibet. With that in mind, Harper's actions seem most Canadian.

[M.Dancer]

I couldn't care less, or more, if Harper or Dion or even that fellow who leads the National Disgrace PArty meets with the Lama. For all I care, they could meet Richard Gere.....

[guyser]

I am certain then you felt the same way when DeGalle visited Quebec and shouted this famous statement:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_de_Gaulle

There is a huge difference. Protocol suggest that one does not publicly comment on the hosts political situation. IOW, De Gaulle was wrong , very wrong to utter that phrase.

Hosting the Dalai is not outside of protocol.

[godzilla]

I hope Mr. harper knows what he is doing relating to this proposed meeting with the Dalai Lama, who is not only a spiritual leader but one who is involved with secessionist activities.

One would assume Mr. Harper is very well aware of the serious problems in his own country involving secessionist and why he would want to risk offending China over this matter does not make any sense.

Thoughts.

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/s...2a-20683fb0a8ab

there are some other posts recently where people are asking how harper can appeal to more canadains... well, he's obviously trying very hard here!

the fact that people respect the dalai lama as someone representing his own people who were invaded and have been subsequently raped in every manner is something that _most_ canadians repsect.

[Leafless]

Canada has allowed Quebec two referendums on sovereignty.

Canada has two ideologies English and French built into its dysfunctional government and Canadians had 'no say' that has allowed these two Quebec provincial referendums on sovereignty. You can say for arguments sake that Quebec allowed itself two referendums on sovereignty.

China has ruthlessly stamped out all opposition to their rule in Tibet. With that in mind, Harper's actions seem most Canadian.

What does Harper have to do with China and Tibet, two separate feuding countries?

To act (or could be seen) as some sort of mediator for one side only infuriates the other side, China. Unless of course Harper is prepared to take some kind of action on behalf of Tibet.

Edited October 23, 2007 by Leafless

[Wilber]

Canada has two ideologies English and French built into its dysfunctional government and Canadians had 'no say' that has allowed these two Quebec provincial referendums on sovereignty. You can say for arguments sake that Quebec allowed itself two referendums on sovereignty

.

And what happens to differing ideologies in China? Can you say Falun Gong?

To act (or could be seen) as some sort of mediator for one side only infuriates the other side, China. Unless of course Harper is prepared to take some kind of action on behalf of Tibet.

Do you think China or anyone else should dictate who our Prime Minister can meet? What if we do decide to take some action? We did when it came to South Africa. Would you have objected to our PM meeting with Nelson Mandela after his release from prison over the protests of the still in power aparthied government?

[fellowtraveller]

I hope Mr. harper knows what he is doing relating to this proposed meeting with the Dalai Lama, who is not only a spiritual leader but one who is involved with secessionist activities.

One would assume Mr. Harper is very well aware of the serious problems in his own country involving secessionist and why he would want to risk offending China over this matter does not make any sense.

Thoughts.

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/s...2a-20683fb0a8ab

Maybe The purpose of the meeting is to offer the DL as big, fat pension for life. That is how we treat secessionists like Duceppe.

[Leafless]

.

And what happens to differing ideologies in China? Can you say Falun Gong?

What makes you think we are on the right track?

Do you think China or anyone else should dictate who our Prime Minister can meet?

PM is responsible for maintaining Canadian interest.

What if we do decide to take some action? We did when it came to South Africa.

Kind of hypocritical I would say although I might not agree with it:

• Some critics of Canada's role in the fight against apartheid point out similarities between South Africa's "homelands," or Bantustans, and Canada's native reserves.

• In 1966, Justice Thomas Berger said this about British Columbia's treatment of its native peoples: "They began by taking the Indians' land without any surrender and without their consent," Berger wrote. "Then they herded the Indian people onto Indian reserves. This was nothing more nor less than apartheid, and that is what it still is today."

http://archives.cbc.ca/400d.asp?id=1-71-703-4122&wm6=1

Would you have objected to our PM meeting with Nelson Mandela after his release from prison over the protests of the still in power aparthied government?

Is this the same man that said "the U.S. is a threat to world peace'?

[mikedavid00]

any discussions about world events and even politics, should not be something Canada, should hide away from.

I strongly disagree.

Canada should not try to play the role of an international power broker when we are not one.

We're a very small country with our own citizens dying on our own medical waiting lists.

We need to focus more on Canada, less on foreign/international affairs. Whatever is going on oversea's is their issue, their business.

We have our own major problems to deal with and I'm becoming less and less tolarant of our gov't stepping into world affairs, internation panels, and international discussions on issues that hurt our economy.

Let the UK chase their tail, not Canadians.

[guyser]

We're a very small country with our own citizens dying on our own medical waiting lists.

Care to show us mikey? And besides, this has what to do with this thread?

[jbg]

I hope Mr. harper knows what he is doing relating to this proposed meeting with the Dalai Lama, who is not only a spiritual leader but one who is involved with secessionist activities.

One would assume Mr. Harper is very well aware of the serious problems in his own country involving secessionist and why he would want to risk offending China over this matter does not make any sense.

The difference is that Tibet was once an independent country, brutally overrun by the Communist Chinese. Quebec Alberta do not share those characteristics, certainly inasmuch as Lower Canada was a moving force behind confederation. Edited October 30, 2007 by jbg

[Leafless]

The difference is that Tibet was once an independent country, brutally overrun by the Communist Chinese. Quebec Alberta do not share those characteristics, certainly inasmuch as Lower Canada was a moving force behind confederation.

Obviously China wishes to retain sovereign control of Tibet, unlike Canada allowing the country to be driven into an unmanageable state of political affairs lacking leadership and direction.

[geoffrey]

Just like in Quebec (or Alberta), China shouldn't have the power to overwelm the democratic rights of the people.

If a group want to leave, they should be free to do so. That is democracy.

[jbg]

If a group want to leave, they should be free to do so. That is democracy.

No. That is anarchy.

In my country, we lost hundreds of thousands of people over that issue. Black slaves were considered, by their "owners" to be non-persons, escept that they wanted them to be counted for voting purposes (though the slaves themselves couldn't vote). The odious compromise was to consider them 3/5 of a person for voting purposes.

As the moral intolerability of this state of affairs slowly became clear, the Souith decided that they "wanted to leave". The only trouble was that they were part of the Unived States. The blood, toil and industry of th eNorth fought for the South's freedom from Britain. More recently, the North fought with the South in two wars that the South largely wanted, the War of 1812 and the Mexican War. Thus, we fought, successfully, to prevent our country from fracturing into pieces.

Is there any better reason that Quebec should be allowed to go? Wasn't it mostly Anglophone blood that moistened Vimy Ridge and Juno Beach so that De Gaulle could come over and scream "Vive le Quebec Libre"? Didn't Alberta receive, at some points, equalization payments? Hasn't Alberta benefitted from Canadian defense?

Why is it that a region or province should have the right to leave when things are good, and shake a tin cup at the UN or its neighbors as an "independent" nation when the worm turns and things are not so good. How about if oil goes back to $20, and Stelmach has jiggered up the royalties so bad that AB is in the cr@pper again?

[Leafless]

Is there any better reason that Quebec should be allowed to go? Wasn't it mostly Anglophone blood that moistened Vimy Ridge and Juno Beach so that De Gaulle could come over and scream "Vive le Quebec Libre"? Didn't Alberta receive, at some points, equalization payments? Hasn't Alberta benefitted from Canadian defense?

I don't know why you are trying to drag Alberta into the Quebec separation issue.

The main reason Alberta was miffed and initially suggested separation was the preferential undemocratic treatment Quebec was receiving from the federal government over the years while Alberta interest were basically being ignored. the oil issue is relatively new and just adds more ammo to Alberta's potential separation arsenal.

Anyways back to the Dalai Lama issue, 'Beijing blast conniving Canada':

OTTAWA -- The Chinese government lashed out at Canada for "blatant interference" in its domestic affairs and for undermining relations between the two countries after Prime Minister Stephen Harper rolled out the red carpet for the Dalai Lama yesterday.

Just hours after the Tibetan spiritual leader was ushered like a visiting head of state into Mr. Harper's Parliament Hill office for a 40-minute meeting, the Chinese embassy called a news conference to denounce Canada and warn of dire consequences for future Canada-China relations.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...PStory/National

It is hard to understand why the Harper government would want to get itself mixed up with another countries separatist problems when ii is incapable of solving its own separatist issues and at the same time financially breaking the backbone of the country and ignoring other major concerns like infrastructure.

[Keepitsimple]

Sometimes you just do what is right. For too long, Canada has tripped over itself to avoid offending anyone - calling it a "nuanced and balanced approach". When you try to be all things to everyone, you end up standing for nothing. The carrot and the stick beat the wet noodle almost every time.

[Leafless]

Sometimes you just do what is right. For too long, Canada has tripped over itself to avoid offending anyone - calling it a "nuanced and balanced approach". When you try to be all things to everyone, you end up standing for nothing. The carrot and the stick beat the wet noodle almost every time.

Point is, Canada was warned by China.

Anyways not all Canadians agree with the way our federal government is handling the separatist situation here in Canada especially with Harper flaunting his gravy train Quebeconomics as a solution.

[Fain]

Not alot of good choices here. Either go with the Chinese government(brutal people in most regards), or go with the Dalai Lama and his supporters(brainwashed ppl).

Gotta love the choices.

[jbg]

I don't know why you are trying to drag Alberta into the Quebec separation issue.

The main reason Alberta was miffed and initially suggested separation was the preferential undemocratic treatment Quebec was receiving from the federal government over the years while Alberta interest were basically being ignored. the oil issue is relatively new and just adds more ammo to Alberta's potential separation arsenal.

Someone, I forget who, made references to Canada's separatist issues, so I covered the major ones (yes, I know, Newfoundland, BC and even Saskatchewan people sometimes make noises as well).

Anyways back to the Dalai Lama issue, 'Beijing blast conniving Canada':

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...PStory/National

It is hard to understand why the Harper government would want to get itself mixed up with another countries separatist problems when ii is incapable of solving its own separatist issues and at the same time financially breaking the backbone of the country and ignoring other major concerns like infrastructure.

Because China's free pass on that and many other issues has gone on too long.

[xul]

I couldn't care less, or more, if Harper or Dion or even that fellow who leads the National Disgrace PArty meets with the Lama. For all I care, they could meet Richard Gere.....

There is a Chinese political humour:

One day in a cinematography history museum, a teenager asked his mother,"why our new films are not as good as old ones?" His mother answered,"our film star's salary now is not as good as emperor's time, so most of our best guys with performing talent have become politians not performers."