Dalai Lama on D.C. voting rights

I saw this headline on the main page of Yahoo News this morning: Dalai Lama Needles U.S. over democratic rights. My first thought, of course, was, "Which ones?" There is so much to criticize right now, and so many areas where the U.S. falls short, in spite of its current insistence that it is ordained to bring democracy to other countries. Well, it turns out it was about Washington D.C.'s lack of Representatives or Senators. A student at a school in the capital city asked the exiled Tibetan leader what he would do if his citizens were deprived such a privilege.

The 70-year-old leader pondered for a while and shot back the same question to Bernard Igbedian, a 17-year-old pupil of Booker T. Washington Public Charter School for Technical Arts.

When Igbedian said he saw no reason for the denial of voting rights, the Dalai Lama, himself battling Chinese authorities for greater autonomy for Tibetans, said the people should speak up and find out why.

"Then you should find out. If there are sufficient reasons, we have to think more carefully, but if there is no reason, then shout," the maroon-robed leader told the student, drawing laughter among the 200 odd students and visitors.

Sounds like a downright Howardly idear. ;-)

He said he wondered why a "small pocket" of people living in the world's "champion of democracy, liberty and freedom" lacked full voting rights and representation in Congress.

"Quite strange, quite strange," he remarked, drawing further laughter.

In related news: China unhappy with Bush-Dalai Lama talks. Seems like Bush is in one of those "can't win for losing" spots. Awww. All I can think to say is "It's about freaking time!" He's been able to skate by with this "master of low expectations" scam for way too long.

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