As a Westerner who lives in China and often travels to Tibet I have to say that your reporting of the so-called 'Free Tibet' movement is simply a load of tosh!

The majority of people I meet in Tibet - both Han and Tibet - are perfectly happy to be a part of China and to enjoy the prosperity that brings. The last thing they want is a return to the Dalai Lama and his fanatical Talibanesque regime. The ONLY people I meet barking on about this are Western educated Liberals who frequent the few wine bars in Lhasa and spout Western democracy drivel but never get out to meet the real people and hear their opinion. I don't understand why these same Liberals are against the Taliban but pro the Dalai Lama. Neither offer 'religious freedom'.

For what its worth just compare the comments above from those of us who actually live in China compared with the comments of Western Liberals who read about it in a pamphlet paid for by Richard Gere. Come to China and see for yourself.

Scot Richards, Beiing,

The liberation of Tibetans by Chinese Army from the evil landlords have granted Tibetans a brighter and a much freer life.
Chinese people of all ethic groups now live together peacefully and harmoniously. And to those people living in the hinderland, including Tibet, Chinese government provided both financial and technical support each year. I really don't understand why Tibetans are not satisfied. Maybe, it is not ordinary Tibetans who are not satisfied, but some people with secret plans in their minds who are not satisfied.
I don't believe that in today's world, people of the world can be so ignorant as to link sports and every day life with politics.
Olympics are a big gala for the world's people and athlets, every country in the world has the right to apply to be a host. I just don't understand why there are so many concerns when China is the host. When a country is trying its best to provide the best possible service to this gala, shouldn't she have some respect from world?

Meng Fang, Beijing, China

To B.J., Plainview, NY,
Why people with little knowledge tend to open big mouth? Koreans used Chinese language for 1000 years until Japanese occupation around 1900 and Koreans start using the current language in 1945. Even this Korean language is a phonetic version of Chinese. Each Korean has a Chinese name. All Korean, Japanese historic documents are in Chinese. Chinese is widely used by Koreans. As Mongolia is concerned, China has been part of Mongolia since the great khans, in the 1300s. Mongolia was forced to leave China in 1948 by Soviet. China is a vast country with great diversity. Every Chinese is proud of being in this family. I don’t understand why people like you who live in such a multiple culture city have such a narrow mind. Chinese people are very tolerant: all ethic groups can speak own languages. Four languages, including Mandarin, Tibetan, Mongolia, and Han Chinese are on all temples and palaces in the Forbidden City built 600 years ago. Tell me what is your problem.

Yin Yang, Beijing, China

If the athletes and the countries they represent really cared they would not be going there.

Alonzo Riddle , Albany, Wisconsin, US.

People of Tibet wich are peace loving people deserve to live in freedom and dignity .Their kulture,religion , national heritage and aoutonomy should be respected by Chinese goverment and the rest of the world.If China cannot respect their rights then the people of the wodld should stop bying chinese goods,cancel the olimpic games and put more presure on chinese goverment.Every human deserves to live free.

Alex Vataj, Armonk,Westchester, New York,USA

To B.J. Plainview:

Look at USA, how many languages are Americans (including native) speaking?

One country is not necessarily equal to one language or one ethnic group.

Dividing the world according to religions, cultures, languages has already caused a lot of trouble in the past, and I believe this is not what Olympic want to promote.

Xiao Hu, Ottawa, Canada

If only Tibet had oil, it would have been freed by the west decades ago.

Free Tibet! Let peace reign once again in the "roof of the world" and let them preserve their culture before communist China obliviates it for good.

Nara Simha, Christiansburg, VA

what's the problem with these people? what's wrong with the Olympics in Beijing? who do you think you are? why people want to hijack Olympics because of their greedy evil disire?

Shame on you!

go there and see what's real, don't belive whatever others told you, think with your brain, not your toe.

dw, Beijing,

Historically, Tibet had been more or less an independent country with occasional Chinese meddling until about 100 years ago, when China invaded Tibet and annexed it. Chinese dominion over Tibet is not justifiable since Tibetan are not Chinese people. China tries to present to the world that Tibet is part of China. It is not. That would be the same as asserting that Mongolia and Korea belong to China. If you want to know if a certain people belong to a country, look at the language. Mongolians have their own language (very different from Chinese) and have an independent country Mongolia. Koreans have their own language and have their own countries (two of them). Tibetans have their own distinct language and culture, yet the world is not wondering why Tibet is not an independent country. It had been until some time ago, and it should be. Forcing a union of people who do not want to be annexed is called occupation. That is what we have today. Freeing Tibet would be justice!

B.J., Plainview, NY

I’ve seen too much hate to want to hate myself, and every time I see it, I say to myself, hate is too great a burden to bear. Somehow we must be able to stand up against our most bitter opponents and say: We shall match your capacity to inflict suffering by our capacity to endure suffering. We will meet your physical force with soul force. Do to us what you will and we will still love you.... But be assured that we’ll wear you down by our capacity to suffer, and one day we will win our freedom. We will not only win freedom for ourselves; we will appeal to your heart and conscience that we will win you in the process, and our victory will be a double victory. - Martin Luther King

One day, people will wake up and cease to deny others the rights they claim for themselves. When that day comes, it will be because of people like HHDL and Dr. King - the ones who refuse to give up on even the worst of us and rise to their feet every time they're knocked down by their own brothers.

Tiffany, St. Louis, USA