Korean Job Discussion Forums

[dulouz]

Is it moral to take this train since it is used to oppress indigenous Tibetans? Can this be responsible travel?

[jmbran11]

[RachaelRoo]

I wonder what the Tibetans think about it.

I suspect that the complaining is being done by non-Tibetans or a small minority of 'cultural activist' Tibetans. Why would the average Tibetan object to something that will clearly bring money into the region?

[nene]

Globalization sure is subtle in its means of cultural dissolution, isn't it? I tend to think that it'a up to the Tibetans at this point to determine what Chinese/international goods they want delevered on those tracks, and at the same time, what traditions they insist on holding on to. That said, we have to recognize that the initial euphoria of western -- or maybe in this case Chinese - modern, anyway -- goods and traditions can do irreperable damage to a culture before it's even recognized that any damage is being done. What's more, in this case the market demands of Tibetians probably isn't determining what China sends in there; who knows what kind of propaganda and culturally homogonizing goods they'll see.

It sure looks like a beautiful train ride though, doesn't it? And wouldn't it be cool to zip right on down to Tibet? Tough call.....

[mindmetoo]

[RachaelRoo]

[laogaiguk]

Any society (or living thing) that has tried to maintain it's current situation indefinitely has died out. As hard as it is to believe, one day the Earth won't have any different cultures. Our racism will be pointed towards colonies or aliens, unless we somehow actually get over racism, which would be nice but very far away.

[skindleshanks]

There are a million opinions about Tibet, even among the Tibetans themselves. One could easily look at the Chinese-government funded development there as the inevitable result of globalization, perhaps just sped up a bit. Politics/religion aside, there has been an obvious drastic increase in the nutrition, health and physical welfare of the people living there as a result of infrastructure development and investment. Culturally, it's probably a different story.

For all the peace-loving talk of the leadership-in-exile, I was surprised to learn that, for the average peasant, life under the lamas was not that pleasant, either. They endured heavy "taxes," even on your children (nearly every family had to donate one of their children to be raised as a monk), and torture chambers in the monastaries where political dissidents were dealt with in a fashion that would make the Chinese justice system look downright lenient. Still, something can be said for the right of a people to choose their own oppressor.

I personally am quite ambivalent about the whole issue. When I was teaching there, I was impressed that for the most part, average Chinese and Tibetans there get along quite fine, although there is an "us" and "them" awareness. What I found somewhat grating were foreign visitors' patiality for Tibetans over Chinese residents. I doubt if hardly any of the Chinese residents living there do so out of a desire to opress their Tibetan neighbors. They have a host of reasons for choosing to live there, 99.9% of them personal. Everyone I met in Tibet, Tibetan or Chinese, was warm, friendly, and kind to us.

I don't think it is really productive for us outsiders who, let's face it, are largely ignorant of what life is really like there to go dictating what should be done. At this point, it is about as realistic to expect the Chinese to leave as it is for the Europeans to get out of North America. Those really concerned about Tibet should ask what they can do personally to help the people living there move forward and improve their lives.

As for the train, if I didn't have two little kids, I'd be planning a trip to ride it, if only to see the incredible scenery.