[seanmcdirmid]

A lot of that was just the standard "we communists will liberate you from serfdom" spiel that they applied to the rest of China as well. Tibet was no paradise in 1950, but it was about the same as the rest of China before the communists took over, which wasn't a pretty place (allowing the communists to take over in the first place!).

[68c12c16]

I am not trying to justify the current situation in Tibet...I am just saying it is a complicated matter...and I agree that lots of things need to be improved there -- and I honestly do not know exactly how...

The commuism is an umbrella term, that covers many great details...I personally don't like the totalitarian way of ruling by almost all existing or past communist governments...But I do think the social collaboration and universal fraternity among all human beings are good things -- but those aspects seems to have certain totalitarianism in themselves as well...so I honestly do not know a good solution about this too...

[seanmcdirmid]

The victors write the history to justify their actions, whether it is true or not, or even reasonable. To say that the PLA wanted to justify the L in its name is an understatement. And to muddy that further, it isn't unreasonable to think that the PLA's invasion of Tibet was simply territorial in nature and had nothing to do with the condition of its people (like the Siege of Changchun that wound up killing more people than they liberated).

But this is all par for the course for the human history of conflict!

[68c12c16]

  > The victors right the history to justify 
  > their actions, whether it is true or not, 
  > or even reasonable.

Yes, I agree. That's a saddening part of our real world, that veracity is not always the most enduring thing (and it is usually not)...

  > And to muddy that further, it isn't unreasonable 
  > to think that the PLA's invasion of Tibet was simply 
  > territorial in nature and had nothing to do with the 
  > condition of its people (like the Siege of Changchun 
  > that wound up killing more people than they liberated).

I feel you are making an assumption that PLA or Chinese government is a single entity with a universal will (similar to general will)...but the implementation of the actual strategies are quite often the work of individual commanders and they usually differ quite a lot -- as all individuals do...It's unfortunate and saddening to see there have been so many assholes in almost any country of the world -- and you cannot do anything about it, as they are much much more resourceful than us...

  > But this is all par for the course for 
  > the human history of conflict

Perhaps we should let those who want conflict to fight their own fight, and leave the majority of us to live our own lives...but as I said, those people in power are much much more resourceful than most of us...The result is that we are fighting their fight, and let them live our lives...