I just realized this past Saturday marked the seventh anniversary of this blog. This was my first inane post, written when I thought I’d be writing just for myself. If I’d only known what I was getting myself into….
To date, 4,715 separate posts and (gulp) 76,427 comments. (And I lost about 10,000 old comments when my site was ported over – badly – from Blogspot to MT back in the dark ages.) In case anyone was here from the beginning, thanks for sticking with it. What a ride.
1
By Snake Chen
Awesome
March 24, 2009 @ 11:44 pm | Comment
2
By Bill
Madame Bovary, Wagner, AND The Simpsons, kick ass combo! P.S. “The Master and the Margarita,” KICK ASS BOOK.
March 25, 2009 @ 1:56 am | Comment
3
By Mom
I still enjoy it–very much. Keep it up–
March 25, 2009 @ 4:13 am | Comment
4
By otherlisa
WOW! That’s a lotta posts, and comments. And does that “comments” figure even include the Duckpond?
Congratulations! I’ve stuck with my blog for 4+ years and it really is hard to keep it going sometimes. What you’ve managed to accomplish here is pretty amazing.
March 25, 2009 @ 7:11 am | Comment
5
By Raj
Congratulations, richard.
I’d cheer you on for another 7 years, but I don’t know if you still want to be doing this after nearly a decade and a half. How about hoping you can successfully blog for as long as you want to?
March 25, 2009 @ 8:07 am | Comment
6
By Richard
That’s good, Raj. I can’t really imagine not blogging, it’s become so much a part of my life. Too much, probably, but it keeps me busy.
March 25, 2009 @ 8:10 am | Comment
7
By Thang Long
SEVEN YEARS
[Scene from the movie “Cape Fear”]
Sam Bowden to Cady: “What do ya me I didn’t do my job?! I pleaded you out to a lesser offense. Rape’s a capital offense. You coulda got life. You could be sit’n on death row right now!”
Cady dismissively: “Awe…I’d a got 7 years either way according to the Georgia State Penal Code. [Cady’s alarm watch sounds] Ooo..ooo.ooo! Gotta Git! I’m late for an appointment. Seeya later Counselor.”
March 25, 2009 @ 10:22 am | Comment
8
By Math
Tibet Is A Part of China
There’s an American senator named Charlie Keel. He believes that China occupied the country of Tibet in 1951. Many Americans believe in this claim as well, mainly because their geographical knowledge is too poor. Recently, the American media starts to spread this false claim again, and they said such things like even though Japan changed history in its textbooks, China also concealed the occupation of Tibet. This post will clarify many things and review some history with you.
In 1951, China occupied Tibet, this is a fact. The reason is that as the Chinese Civil War ended, Chinese troops from 1948-1951 not only occupied Tibet, it also occupied Heilongjiang, it also occupied Hainan Island, it also occupied all provinces of China. So occupation of Tibet is natural, because Tibet is of course always a part of China. Now you may scream hysterically and yell, “Math! Prove it!”, well what’s the rush, why don’t you let me show you.
In mid 13th century, Tibet was formally included into the map of China’s Yuan Dynasty. The emperor named Kublai Khan gave the authority over Tibet, and established the “Central Ruling office” (Zong Zhi Yuan in Chinese), this office was responsible for all the Buddhist and Tibetan affairs of the nation.
In late 14th century, the Ming Dynasty inherited from the Yuan Dynasty the system of governing towards Tibet, and implemented the policy of “Paying money and titles to local Monks and Monestaries, and respecting their political power”, and this made the relationship between the Central government and Tibet even stronger.
After the 17th century, the Qing Dynasty increased their rule over Tibet. In 1721, it sent 4 powerful Tibetan “Ge Lun”‘s to rule Tibet. In 1727, it sent a representative-govenor to Tibet. In 1792, it published 29 rules regarding the affairs of Tibet. And those rules were about reincarnation of Llamas, local laws, economies, military, foreign affairs, etc. This symoblized that the Qing’s rule over Tibet is legalized and systematic.
When the Republic of China was first established, it declared China to be a Republic containing the Han, Manchus, Mongols, Ughers, and Tibetan ethnic groups. Sung Yat Sen wrote in the declaration that, “The foundation of a nation depends on the people. Uniting Hans, Manchus, Mongols, Uighers, and Tibetans to be one nation and one people, is the unity of the people.” And the temporary flag of the China then was 5-colored, representing the unity of those 5 ethnic groups.
In March 11, 1921, the Nanjing temporary gov’t published the “Temporary laws of the Republic of China”, and it stated: “The Chinese terrortory is of 22 provinces, plus Mongolia, Tibet, and Qinghai”. “All Provinces and Inner Mongolia, Outer Mongolia, Tibet need 5 representatives, and Qinghai needs one…”. This clearly states that Tibet was a part of China, and has political involvement in China just like other provinces.
In 1927, The KMT gov’t establishes in Nanjing. Jiang Kaishek wrote to Dalai and Gelun, in which he sayd “Even though Tibet is far away, it is a territory of China.”
In 1947, the Nationalist gov’t published the Constitution of China, and it says “China’s terrority includes Tibet, and without a vote in the Assembly, this status cannot be changed.”
In 1931, May 5, the Ninth Banchan in Tibet went to participate in the National Council, and he made a speech called “Tibet Is A Part of China’s Territory”. This Banchan travelled across China for 14 years, and made great contributions to the unity of different ethnic groups. In December of 1937, he died. But even before his death, he urged to make the ethnic groups more unified and that is the best for China.
On March 29, 1948. The Constitutional Council had a a national meeting. And 13 representatives from Tibet attended. There are 3 law makers from Tibet: Bu Dan San Bu, Ba A Wang, Da Zeng Dang Que; Three inspectors from Tibet: Tu Dan Ce Dan, Ba Za Xi, Dan Ban Peng Cuo. 5 committee members: Ji Jing Mei, Cai Reng Tuan Zhu, Tu Dan Ni Ma, Luo Sang Jian Zan, Na Wang Jing Ba: Three seniors: La Ming Yi Xi Chu Cheng, Ji Yu Jie, He Ba Dun. Luo Sang Jian Zeng was even hired to be a member of the council of National Policy by the President.
So from the Yuan to Ming to the Nationalist gov’t, each gov’t recognizes Tibet as part of China and each increased their relationship with Tibet.
So of course Tibet has already been established as part of China, much earlier than when the “Purists” landed in the Americas. In fact, those histories are not important at all. The important thing is that Tibet is currently a part of China. When America occupied Hawaii, Hawaii could also be considered an independent nation. But America occupied it, so what’s wrong with it? When America occupied California, Nevada, Utah ,Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, wasn’t Mexico also an independent nation? But America took many lands from Mexico, so what’s wrong with it? People often accuse China of destroying Tibetan culture, but Tibet today has more monestaries and monks than it had before 1951. And who destroyed the culture of Native Americans? In fact, China did a very good job of preserving the original culture of China’s ethnic groups than America preserved the Native Americans’ culture.
I hope after reading this post, you will be more open minded and learned more history.
March 25, 2009 @ 11:58 am | Comment
9
By Richard
Math, what would we do without you to give us all the fair and balanced picture? And so relevant to the topic at hand!
March 25, 2009 @ 12:15 pm | Comment
10
By Thang Long
Well, maybe during the next 7 years we can get some of candor of my hero, Chris Hedges:
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/03/23-0
March 25, 2009 @ 12:42 pm | Comment
11
By Jeremiah
We all have a ways to go…congratulations!
Ps.
Relevant is in the eye of the beholder, Richard…after all Math posted the exact same cut/paste job in January and, by the by, Math’s statement of fact begins with an account of a fictional senator. But I figured most people knew that…
March 25, 2009 @ 1:42 pm | Comment
12
By Richard
You mean you actually read Math’s posts? Good observation about “Senator Keel.”
March 25, 2009 @ 1:58 pm | Comment
13
By mor
Congratulations to my favourite China blogsite!
@Math
In late 14th century, the Ming Dynasty inherited from the Yuan Dynasty the system of governing towards Tibet, and implemented the policy of “Paying money and titles to local Monks and Monestaries, and respecting their political power”, and this made the relationship between the Central government and Tibet even stronger.
Maybe the CCP could learn something from the Ming? They seem to have had a far better way of dealing with the Tibet problem than verbally abusing the Dalai Lama.
March 25, 2009 @ 4:44 pm | Comment
14
By Thang Long
What’s this I hear about a proposal to clone the Dalai Lama?
Where does a clone fall within the whole reincarnation program?
If you clone your wife, is this polygamy?
March 25, 2009 @ 5:52 pm | Comment
15
By Thang Long
A government official was telling me the other day that an attractive, well-educated foreign bloke can make “BIG MONEY” in China by donating his sperm.
Does anyone know anything about this? Got any phone numbers?
Thanks.
March 25, 2009 @ 5:59 pm | Comment
16
By Macanluadoir
@ Math
“In fact, China did a very good job of preserving the original culture of China’s ethnic groups than America preserved the Native Americans’ culture.”
Like the Dzungars, for instance….?
March 25, 2009 @ 10:49 pm | Comment
17
By Shanghai Slim
Congratulations on a great run, Richard!
March 26, 2009 @ 11:29 am | Comment
18
By t_co
Congrats Richard. I first came across your site in 04 and have been regularly reading since. You’re willing to admit you’re wrong but then keep coming back and sharing your opinions with all of us. That, I think, is your greatest quality and I hope it continues for another 7 years, regardless of whether you are blogging by then or not.
All the best (and to all those who drifted over the years, like Martin and even the Fantabulist).
March 27, 2009 @ 8:58 pm | Comment