Dalai Lama congratulates Obama on Nobel Prize

[ProSense]

Dalai Lama asks Obama to champion 'liberty'

WASHINGTON (AFP) – The Dalai Lama on Friday congratulated President Barack Obama on joining him as a Nobel Peace Prize winner and called for the US leader to champion "freedom and liberty."

The exiled Tibetan leader, who is in Washington, sent Obama a letter of congratulations even though the president, in an apparent bid not to upset China, avoiding meeting the Buddhist monk during his weeklong visit.

The Dalai Lama, who won the prestigious award in 1989, told Obama that the Nobel committee "recognized your approach towards resolving international conflicts through the wisdom and power of dialogue."

He praised Obama's advocacy for ridding the world of nuclear weapons and improving the environment.

"I have maintained that the founding fathers of the United States have made this country the greatest democracy and a champion of freedom and liberty," the Dalai Lama wrote.

"It is, therefore, important for today's American leaders to adopt principled leadership based on these high ideals. Such an approach will not only enhance the reputation of the United States, but also contribute tremendously to reducing tension in the world."

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[Cha]

1. The Dalai Lama gets it..

"The Dalai Lama, who won the prestigious award in 1989, told Obama that the Nobel committee "recognized your approach towards resolving international conflicts through the wisdom and power of dialogue."

He praised Obama's advocacy for ridding the world of nuclear weapons and improving the environment."

[treestar]

2. Thank you Dalai

Isn't it sad that the "wisdom and power of dialogue" were rejected in this country for so long, in favor of "Bring it on" and "kicking ass."

[moondust]

3. "...an apparent bid not to upset China"

Fuck that. Is the U.S. so fucking indebted to China that the communists can now dictate whom the U.S. President can and cannot meet with?

[ProSense]

6. Well,

the Dalai Lama appears OK with the meeting being postponed.

But the Dalai Lama said he was content with Obama's policy so far, noting the president has communicated with him through private channels.

"I think more serious discussion is better than just a picture" of the two meeting, he said.

Obama met with the Dalai Lama when he was a senator. Last month, he dispatched a high-level delegation, including his senior advisor Valerie Jarrett -- a close Chicago friend -- to the Tibetan leader's home-in-exile in Dharamshala, India.

The Dalai Lama met in Washington with Maria Otero, the new US coordinator on Tibet policy, along with senior members of Congress, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator John Kerry.

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[moondust]

9. Yes, he is most gracious.

More so than me. I still don't like it.

[Blue-Jay]

4. I love how many DUers have higher standards than the Dalai Lama.

:rofl:

/rec

[phoenixriz]

5. The Dalai Lama is a very wise man.

There will be a time when he and President Obama have the opportunity to dialogue.
In some areas Obama is taking baby steps and the Dalai Lama understands that.

[Blue-Jay]

7. Indeed he is a wise man.

(I'm still a bit pissed off that Obama called off a meeting in order to not anger China. I suppose one could call it "diplomacy" but it still doesn't sit well with me.)

[BlooInBloo]

8. Class from him, of course, is not surprising.

Has HE won it, just by the way?

[Blue-Jay]

10. Yes. In 1989.

[BlooInBloo]

11. Most excellent.

[GivePeaceAchance]

12. +1

[vaberella]

13. Good God Prosense it's like one after the other. Amazing work. Thanks. n/t