[Buddha-l] "Western Self, Asian Other"

[Curt Steinmetz]

Dan Lusthaus wrote:
> Lopez is trying to play myth-buster. Thurman's objections are based on the 
> idea that Tibet's mystique is a useful tool for eliciting support for 
> Tibetan liberation from China, and undermining that mystique therefore has 
> dire consequences for actual flesh-and-blood Tibetans, who rely on that 
> support for hope.
>
> As a myth-buster, Lopez tries to sensationalize his supposed revelations 
> (most are just common-place knowledge amongst scholars, if not all Western 
> devotees). Into that, he mixes his own bag of questionable assertions. Let's 
> take Alex's linked piece, on the 7 things you didn't know about Tibet.
>   

I think it is not really the case that Thurman fears that the spread of 
accurate knowledge about Tibet will undermine western support for the 
Tibetan cause. Rather, Thurman is concerned about the way "information", 
and in Lopez' case the quotation marks are justified, is used to 
influence public perception of Tibet. Public perception being what it 
is, and the situation in Tibet being what it is, Thurman is 
understandably concerned first and foremost with whether or not public 
perception of Tibet is favorable, and, just as importantly, whether or 
not public perception of the brutal Chinese occupation of Tibet is 
unfavorable.

Does the public at large have a more accurate view of Tibet, and, in 
particular, the current situation in Tibet, thanks to Lopez? No. This is 
because Lopez is often wrong (as Dan showed) and even when right does 
not present new knowledge, but rather presents common-knowledge in a 
sensationalistic way that is obviously (to everyone, including Lopez, 
regardless of his feeble protests) designed to undermine public support 
for the Tibetan cause.

Basically, Lopez is like an Buddhist Alan Keyes. If some Chinese 
Communist Party official prattles on about how the dirty backwards 
Tibetans beat their wives and live in their own filth, no one pays 
attention (well, except for scum like Michael Parenti). But if some nice 
western Buddhist with a PhD comes along with a slightly watered down 
version of standard issue Maoist propaganda about Tibet, well, that's news.

Curt

P.S. I envy those who don't know who either Alan Keyes or Michael 
Parenti are. If you are so fortunate, please remain blissfully ignorant 
and under no circumstances google their names.