<p>I have been following some of the events relating to Tibet. I read this very inspiring article today by a freshman from China in the Sunday Outlook section of the Washington Post (April 20, 2008). It is entitled “My China, my Tibet.”
[washingtonpost.com</a> - nation, world, technology and Washington area news and headlines](<a href=“http://washingtonpost.com%5Dwashingtonpost.com”>http://washingtonpost.com)
I do not have any affiliation with Duke but it seems that there is a lot of protest pro and con going on mostly by Chinese and Tibetan students and scholars. Anyways, this young woman wrote a very courageous article. Unfortunately, it seems some in the Duke community have chosen to harass her and she is now being given protection. Even more unfortunately, it seems her family is suffering in China because of her actions (relatively moderate, in my opinion). I seriously doubt she will be able return home in the near future.</p>
<p>I wish universities, and our government, would take a stronger official stand on this issue. When I was in college many top universities withdrew their investments from companies doing business in South Africa due to apartheid. Universities have exchange programs and joint ventures with Chinese agencies and universities, so they do not want to jeopardize these relationships. We owe a trillion dollars to China in U.S. Treasury notes due to financing a war we could not afford and other poor fiscal policies, so our government leaders have been mute on this issue unlike this freshman.</p>