Italian city pulls back from making Dalai Lama an honorary citizen

[DharmaDefender]

Knew it. The Italians have no bollocks hahaha I know Im not supposed to rejoice but seriously- cuckolded springs to mind. Pussywhipped. Europe has no balls. All hail the Chinese.

Then again, just goes to show you how much clout the Dalai Lama has. Even if he cant get his country independence, he can still stir a response from the Chinese. 50 over years on, and they still get pissy about what he says.

Dear ol Dave though, hes surprised me. Wonder why he went ahead with the meeting even with China breathing down their backs. Not exactly as though our economy is so brilliant, that we dont need the Chinese.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2012/06/hold-tibet.html

In a decision that outraged supporters of the Tibetan cause, Milan has backed away from plans to give the Dalai Lama honorary citizenship because of concerns about upsetting China, Italian media reported Thursday.

The Milan city council had planned to vote on making the Dalai Lama an honorary citizen before his visit next week. Officials in Venice and Rome have already honored the Tibetan spiritual leader.

City leaders came under pressure from the Italian Foreign Ministry and the Chinese ambassador to drop the idea, La Repubblica reported. Milan reportedly worried that the move could also poison its talks with China before the Italian city hosts an international exposition in 2015.

The city council scuttled the move, upsetting the president of the Tibetan community of Milan, who told Tempi that giving in to China would "cover Milan with shame." The mayor reportedly said he would nonetheless welcome the Dalai Lama to their city hall, an offer that didn't appease his critics.

"Today, I am ashamed to be a representative of a council and a city that are scared," said city council member Pietro Tatarella, who wanted to give the Dalai Lama the honor, according to La Repubblica.

The furor over pulling back the honor has led other Italian cities to say they’ll make the Dalai Lama an honorary citizen in their towns. The mayor of Matera said the city was committed to defending human rights around the world, including in China, Adnkronos reported.

Hosting the Dalai Lama has been politically sticky for European leaders hoping to stay in the good graces of China. After British Prime Minister David Cameron met with the Dalai Lama in May, China canceled a scheduled visit to Britain by one of its top officials. In Scotland, where the Dalai Lama is visiting this week, opposition parties have accused political leaders of snubbing the Tibetan spiritual leader to appease China, the BBC reported Thursday. Scottish leaders denied that, but emphasized that the trip to Scotland was "pastoral," not "political."

Dozens of Tibetans have set themselves on fire this year to protest what they say is an increasingly heavy hand imposed by the Chinese government on Tibetan religious life. Two Tibetans immolated themselves Wednesday, the Associated Press reported.

[AnneQ]

This only goes to show that in the end money talks. With the economy in Europe in shambles, and China now holding the reigns in the financial world, Europe would do anything to avoid a political conflict with China in order to secure positive economical relations. Even in the expense of honouring a renowned spiritual leader such as HHDL himself.
However I would like to take a warped positive outlook on all this fracas and fantasize that perhaps in Europe's earnest intention to please its Chinese counterpart, they would likely be opened to DS practice which the Chinese is so willing to promote. Dorje Shugden practice imported to Europe with compliments from China! Doesn't hurt to imagine that.

[vajratruth]

The stark reality is that Tibet has zero value to Italy in terms of economics or political alliance. Italy, like many Western countries in the world has romanticized old Tibet as a spiritual utopia. Shangri-la if you like. However, China is today the largest consumer economy in the world and as China spreads its enormous economic influence, countries like Italy are forced to wake up from its romantic dream and face economic and political pragmatism.

Recently, Giancarlo Innocenzi Botti, head of Invitalia which operates on behalf of the Italian government to attract investment and promote business development, said, “We consider China a priority target, and think economic ties between the two countries must significantly increase.”

As Europe struggles with its economic woes, Italy can ill afford to alienate itself from the largest economy in the world. The Tibetan cause may appeal to Italian ethical ideal but can Italy risk a trade volume of USD45Billion that it hopes to double in the next 3 years? Clearly not.

[Dhiman]

The Dalai Lama himself admitted the need for industrialization in Tibet which can be achieved under the governance of China. Citing an old statement from a recent thread, shows clearly how much HHDL has given up on the independence of Tibet and is very much going around promoting religious unity. Furthermore, that role has been passed on to Dr Lobsang Sangay right? So I guess the Scottish are right.

H.H. the Dalai Lama said, he was no longer striving for complete independence for Tibet from China. Tibetans, in view of their small population, large land mass, lack of natural resources, need for industrialization, should therefore again much more be striving for genuine autonomy under China rather than complete independence. As times change later on, independence can be mooted;

Extracted from: http://www.dorjeshugden.com/forum/index.php?topic=123.0

Not strange for European countries to be scared of China considering their present financial status. Even South Africa was in no hurry to issue a visa that caused HHDL to miss the 80th birthday party of Archbishop Desmond Tutu - who warned the president and ruling party that one day he will start praying for the defeat of the ANC government!

[Positive Change]

There is a long list of countries mostly those that are geographically close to China that do not wish for the Dalai Lama to visit, exactly for the reason of not upsetting the "Risen Dragon" that is driving force of the South East Asian economy (and perhaps even the world).

But at least in Europe, they still have the "balls" to invite him, but there is less of a "welcoming" from the politicians, or less and lesser as China is growing stronger.

Politics and Economics are mere obstacles. It is up to the respective country leaders to chose what their priority is. Aung San Su Kyi did meet with the Dalai Lama just last week, and she comes from a country within South East Asia that has pretty close ties with China, so when there is a will there is a way...

[shugdenprotect]

It is such a pity that we are still living in the past and mixing politics with spirituality. Despite HHDL’s open announcement of His retirement from political duties, world leaders are still too absorbed in the political affairs of the past. Yes, offering HHDL an honorary citizenship is a sensitive matter but, if handled skillfully, a win-win-win situation can be created. The decision to pull back this offer is one that is tainted by our growing attachment to the 3 poisons: ignorance, self-cherishing and anger. This confirms Lord Buddha definition of this degenerate time: we get distracted from Dharma or virtuous acts too easily. Knowing what is rightly humane we allow our fears of personal security to distract us causing the habit of surrendering easily.

Political leaders may justify that they are safeguarding their political and economical position with China to benefit its people. However, if we take a long-sited view on this matter, the decision to deprive its people from the blessing of a living Buddha could be greater loss to the nation. Why? Look back in history: Political and economic wealth has failed produce a consistently harmonious and joyous society, nullifying the arguments of these political leaders. On the contrary, based on result of developed nations that suffer growing social ills, I would argue that the decision to strengthen political and economical ties will cause long term damage to the people of a nation if not supported by spiritual wealth.

I am certain that various explanations can be expressed justify the choice to turn our backs to a being who lost everything but had the inspiring qualities to rise again with dignity while benefiting millions of others. I find this behavior inhumane and if leaders openly display such shameful behavior, they are explicitly endorsing the same from its people. What would our world come to should this continue.

Therefore, HHDL has openly declared that his political role is a matter of the past. We should move on and not live in the past so that we can live in the moment of now to create a different future. By the principal of impermanence and karma, we get the opportunity to change the future by each action of our body, speech and mind.

[brian]

Such is the powerful economic figure China has become a force in the economics scene in Europe that make Italy pulls back from making Dalai Lama their honorary citizen. Nobody in Europe would dare to do something that will displease the Chinese government and tarnish the relationship between the new Asian power house, in this case by making this offer.

Although Dalai Lama has clearly stated that He has pulled out from the political scene (and spiritual in my point of view, should always not mix with political), i think no other nations will 'dare' to offend China.
Perhaps USA would be coming out to make an offer to Dalai Lama then?