Is this the time to free Tibet?

It seems like the run with Olympic torch, is going to be a gauntlet run for the Chinese government. The scenario could well see pressure building along the route, as the torch passes through the capitals of the world. This is maybe the right symbolic event in which to apply decisive pressure for real changes to Chinese politics. The most obvious case that the international society has, is the case of Tibet. Obvious because Tibet can not be claimed as a solely internal affair for China. They are evidently suppressing a non-chinese people. They have clearly occupied a foreign country, which now yearn to become free and democratic. There is an international famous and respected leader of the Tibetan movement.

The populations of all democratic countries should now call out to their leaders for action. We want our governments to boycott the Chinese rulers and their use of the Olympics as propaganda and make-up for their suppressing regime. We should demand of China that they roll back their occupation of Tibet, allow Dalai Lama and other political refugees to return, free all Tibetan political prisoners and invite the UN to govern the transitional period until a Tibetan democracy can be established. This should be our demands for participating in the Chinese Olympics. No less.


The Tibetan liberation could be an symbolic event that opens the way for the Chinese people to realize that they can also become free. That the Chinese rulers are not so all-powerful and that there is hope.

The french president has already announced that he demands that the Chinese government begins talks with the Dalai Lama and that they free political prisoners. This is a good first step, and he should be encouraged to take further steps. As reported here by Danish newspaper Politiken.

Now the torch is approaching London and its time for the Brits to step up to the plate and show their character. What do they value? Freedom in Tibet or good financial relations with China? The leader of the Liberal Democrats has called on PM Brown to abandon plans to greet the torch. That would only be the first symbolic step. As reported here in The Guardian.

Americans should ask their presidential candidates, what they think of the matter. Here is an obvious possibility of using diplomacy to help a suppressed people. The liberation would come much cheaper for USA than their current liberation of the Iragi people.

Be sure that most of our democratic governments will not be quick to take this action. They need to be pressured by us, the population. The main forum for building this pressure is obviously the net. Please join me in this effort. Link to others writing about it. Write your own comments and articles. Do what ever you can find time for to build this pressure.. Read more!

David Mamet: I'm no longer a "brain-dead liberal"

I didn't even know he used to be a leftist. He reveals his new orientation in a Village Voice essay in his typical prose, digressions and anecdotes. I like his style.

It really surprises me that he has been a staunch leftist. All his writing seems beyond politics, focused on character. Everything he talks about in "True and False, Heresy and Common Sense for the Actor" seems so beyond the blind idealism of the left. The whole book's philosophy is based in pragmatism, in a no bullshit approach, think for yourself, do it yourself - don't trust prophets, demagogues, authority-figures.

Reading his new essay I'm a bit worried that he now embraces the right like the newly converted he is, instead of doing his own pragmatic thinking, which I believe he is better at. Why play this label game anymore. Liberals. Conservatives. To me it doesn't really make sense. The big ideologies are now only ghosts haunting us, infecting politics and society with a time-wasting name-calling. We most rid ourselves of them. This is one of the reasons I like Obama. He thinks beyond the divisions created by the ghosts. He is pragmatic and idealistic. As Mamet himself express the link between the two in this quote: "There’s nothing more pragmatic than idealism". The idealism of Mamet has always been pragmatic - focused on the matter, on creating good theater, films - pleasing the audience by challenging them to be their best.

Bottom-line: Even though I'm happy he is not a "brain-dead liberal" anymore, I fear he trying out for a new role as "seen-the-light-conservative", while I much would prefer him to be himself, which I find much more interesting. Read more!

Danish Beauty

During and just after the Easter in Denmark one of the Socialdemocrats young and promising politicians damaged his career seriously. How?

He slept with a 15-year old girl. After appearing as a guest lecturer at the Socialdemocrats youth organization's easter course, he attended the following party with all the young, eager Socialdemocrats. Oh, the allure of youth. Jeppe Kofoed himself is 34-year old, and even though he hasn't reached the midlife crisis Lester Burnham, the Kevin Spacey character of the film American Beauty, he fell victim to the same need for youth. And obviously he didn't have the character or the luck of Lester, who at the last moment, when he realizes the girl is still a kid, can't go through with it.

On Danish blogs some people are discussing to what degree his action should cost him. He has done nothing illegal as such. Some people find it worse than driving under influence. To me, this just show how taboo sex still is. Even in Denmark. And how much childhood still is romanticized as innocent. Yes, she was 15, and yes, he should not have done it - let alone for his own self-respect. But come on, to say it is worse than drunk people driving and perhaps killing people?

So far he has himself resigned from all political offices he held, and is said to consider even withdrawing from parliament. This before it became a news story. He has talked with the girl and her family to apologize. This either shows he has some character, or just that he is a clever politician, as it may be the only way to save the remains of his political career.

I became disillusioned with politics at a very young age. Stopped believing in any kind of ideology. Or party. To me it all boils down to character, and especially the non-narcissistic kind, which is sadly rare in politics, as it has become so much about the game and the power.

Maybe Jeppe Kofoed has character and a weakness in it, or maybe he has no character at all, and is just an inflated ego, who likes the adoration of young girls. This is what I would like to know, but the newspapers don't inform me.

For those who can read the exotic language, here is a link to one of the articles of the Danish newspaper Politiken. Read more!

Obama fever

These days I constantly check for news about Barack Obama. This is kind of weird for me. Not my usual behavior. I have never followed American elections closely before. I have caught the fever. In my recent period of depression, it was one of the few things I could mobilize myself to do. Because in that hopelessness of depression, as weird as it sounds, Obama was a person who gave me a little hope. This almost sounds sick. To project your own hope onto a person you don't know in real life. It isn't. It is natural psychology. And Obama does it so well. Being a symbol for the projection of hope. Don't misunderstand me. This is not in anyway to diminish Obama. I think it is an important aspect of the job description for the head of state. Kings, presidents and the like should in best case be symbols of inspiration and hope. And I think it is an ability and a question of character fortitude. Obama has the ability and it seems he has the character, which can take the massive projection from people without getting his ego inflated. Most modern day people suffer from a variety of narcissistic disturbances. To my observation it seems that Obama has his under control. Obviously the symbol-making is also an exchange between him and the crowd. Commentators say that Obama has developed through the campaign, become a better debater and talker. A part of this is the energy he receives from the crowd, that has been growing in number and enthusiasm.

So here I am. Watching Obama, reading what people say of him and hoping intensely that he will be elected not only as the Democratic nominee, but also president. He has the potential to become a true symbol of inspiration. He understands this part of the job description very well, as almost no one else I have seen. The powerless heads of state, like kings and queens of democracies, and in some cases also presidents, know it because it is their only job description, but Obama knows it even better because he found out for himself.

Here where I live, in Athens, Europe, there is a radical lack of hope in political figures, and that is demoralizing for a country. It breaks down the social fabric, as everyone more and more only look out for themselves. It is also happening in my home country of Denmark, though to a lesser extent, as a certain trust in the 'system' and the professionalism of the politicians remain. But there is no hope or inspiration from the politicians there anymore. And the funny thing is that it is eventually going to cost Denmark money. The social fabric of Denmark has been created throughout hundreds of years by a string of inspirational leaders, not true greats most of them, but still. This has created a strong economy in a country with almost no natural riches. Social scientist have described how the 'trust' of a population saves a lot of money. Compare fx. Denmark and USA, and you will find that Americans spend much more money on lawsuits, protection against lawsuits, security and so on - things that are not productive. If you look at the financial situation of Denmark, it is very, very good. Minimal unemployment, low debts, low poverty and so on. If America with Obama as president could begin the long journey of weaving the social trust, healing the racial divide, healing the divide between rich and poor and all the other divides, then they would not only be happier, but also financially richer for it. Read more!