Standing Ovation for Bush

10/10/07

This might be the only right decision that Bush has made- to attend a ceremony next week to award a Congress medal to the exiled Tibetan leader, the Dalai Lama even with a strong protest from China.

Next week House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will award the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor, to the Dalai Lama. A bill to award the medal won the support of more than two thirds of members of both the Senate and House of Representatives last year and it was signed into law by Bush.

The medal has been given to Sir Winston Churchill, Pope John Paul II, Mother Teresa and Nelson Mandela. And this will be the first time that a sitting President will appear with the Dalai Lama in a public event.

Of course, that will drive China crazy. And I love it. After what the Chinese government has done to Tibet, its religion and culture since 1950, every sensible and humane leader in the world should embrace the Dalai Lama who, for the past 50 years, has advocated compassion against violence and love against revenge.

Bush’s presence and the award will absolutely infuriate China but it will send a very strong message to this backward country that the world community disagrees with its policy towards Tibet or even what happen in Burma.

Bravo to Bush.

Tae Athikomvittaya