Editor,
"A wolf in monk's robes, a devil with a human face, but the heart of a beast" is how the Dalai Lama is seen by Zhang Qingli, secretary of the Communist Party Committee of Tibet Autonomous Region.
Protesting Tibetan monks are called "Buddhist scum" by Chinese Public Security officials, who declare, "The next plan of the Tibetan independence forces is to organize suicide squads to launch violent attacks."
Most Westerners consider this language offensive and crude propaganda. But ordinary Chinese citizens and intellectuals are so thoroughly socialized that these accusations are not only popular, but any challenge triggers highly emotional defensive reactions, according to Kellee Tsai, a Johns Hopkins University political scientist.
Defenders of other countries with records of human rights abuses respond similarly. My letter published in the Daily Lobo on March 27 compared the systematic human rights violations of the Israeli and Chinese governments against Palestinians and Tibetans. Land confiscation, torture, population transfer, military occupation, killing of civilians, exclusion of refugees and ethnic discrimination were among the humanitarian concerns I raised.
My letter elicited published and online criticism from UNM students and a faculty member. "The Palestinians are bringing up their children on hatred, bias and lies; except for a few Palestinians, the majority are terrorists or terrorist sympathizers. The children are raised to kill Israelis. They are raised to hate. Leave Israel alone; Anti-Israel activists must regularly lie; Israel does not deserve to be compared with evil;" and "Tirade on Israel marked by inexplicable jaded hatred" were some of the reactions my letter provoked.
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Like the statements by Chinese officials, these remarks indicate a socialized, defensive reaction to criticism of human rights abuses. A reflex is to make accusations of hate and to demonize, without a glimmer of compassion or empathy. Like the statements by Chinese officials, these remarks indicate a socialized, defensive reaction to criticism of human rights abuses.
On some campuses, students are paid to defend Israel. The pro-Israel organization Stand With Us said in its Web site on Oct. 9, 2007, that at least one student had been hired at the University of New Mexico.
"The Emerson Fellowship will strengthen Israel-related programming on these 38 campuses, as well as placing eyes and ears for our organization on the ground ... They will learn skills and facts to help them clarify Israel's image," the report said.
History has shown us the dangers of extolling nationalism, ethnic loyalty and brutal suppression of minorities. The propaganda, violence and suffering follows a similar, tragic pattern. The Chinese accusations and crackdown on Tibetan dissent are so crude that consciences are being stirred around the world.
Comparisons with human rights abuses by other countries, such as Israel, will continue. The Dalai Lama has said, "Destruction of your enemy is destruction of yourself." Take a stand for human rights, equality for all and justice.
Vicki Johnson
UNM alumni
