Violent Monks!!??

It is I am sure with shock and horror that the world viewed pictures of the Tibetan city of Lhasa under attack, during what was supposed to be a peaceful demonstration.

Being Israeli, I found the pictures most distressing, as we of Israel know only too well what wrong impressions this kind of footage can bring to both parties. The Chinese government, rightly or wrongly has limited the foreign journalists from entering the city and has not published news of the rioting on chinese television.

Nevertheless to see both monks being dragged or begging for mercy, but in the next frame holding plastic toy swords, is quite disturbing. There are of course two sides to every story. The peaceful Tibetan province that held independence for two decades, before the chinese entry in the 50's is like all of us, trying to fight for a life with no ties. On the other hand, the average chinese on the street, it proud of being part of such an auspicious community and welcomed the newly opened railway with joy. The first 95 extremely expensive train tickets for the exclusive likened 'Orient Express' oriental ride to the west of China, were sold out almost immediately and with a price that reaches more than three times the plane fare, it is a great shame that it has come to this.

It would be presumptious of me to say that I take either sides hand in this struggle, for who am I to throw stones, I myself come from a country that is torn with unrest, but I can only sympathise for those who wish for peace and freedom, as we do too. Each side is proud of their heritage, each one feels that they are right. One is willing to use the Olympic arena as a platform to draw attention to their plight and the other is fighting fiercely to keep a 'normal' vision in the eyes of the world. We cannot take away the fact that for a vast populated land such as China, they have taken an unprecedented move, in allowing themselves to be exposed to the west, by opening their doors to the Olympic stadium and put themselves under the microscope. For whatever will be and whichever way the games will be played out, the door has opened and can not be shut. Maybe this in its own way a cry for help and approval, to be accepted and understood and in this way will bring about greater change.

Will boycotts help? Will bringing politics into the sports circle change anything? Surely if we will allow the games to continue without uproar, the money that we feel is being withheld and the human rights issues of these people will stand a better chance of improvement, for by attending the games, we will enable more monies to enter this country and more jobs and prosperity for its people. By creating more access, maybe this will in turn, turn the tide and enable Tibet to regain independence, for the eyes of the world will surely stay upon this nation and the door opened a crack will surely quickly turn into a crevice. As for the ordinary citizens of China, they believe totally that the 'sins of the fathers visit the children' and for this reason keep their offspring shrouded in cotton wool, wary of aggressive sports and dangerous situations. They who are excited and wary at the same time of the prospect of the games and all that it will bring, are ever hopeful that the change of wind is just beginning.

Who better than we know about hope and the way that the world views us...