Caught in the Middle: Tibet and China

“When we have a billion people, you said we were destroying the planet.
When we tried limiting our numbers, you said it is human rights abuse,
When we were poor, you thought we were dogs.
When we loan you cash, you blame us for your debts.
When we build our industries, you called us polluters.
When we sell you goods, you blame us for global warming.”

I honestly don't know what to think about this situation (Chinese Students Fight View of Home).

Part of me understands where the Chinese are coming from - this is a territory of their's (that they "rightfully" conquered) and they have no desire to give it up. Although I know there is more to it than this (far more!), what nation wants to make itself smaller by relinquishing land?

Only reason why America, Spain, France and other colonial powers gave back power to the nations they "rightfully" conquered was that it was taking more energy and manpower to subdue the masses who fought for freedom.

But I can also see it from the Tibetan perspective. As I am sure slave ancestors of mine said, "Damnit, we just want to be free. We want what is ours to be ours!"

Freedom is a powerful desire. Tibetans everywhere have been swallowing their anger and frustration, burying their resentment and forcing a smile while forced to live off the forcibly given or mindfully neglected goodwill of the Chinese government.

However, I find the Chinese student's perspectives of American media, well, hilarious.

“We thought Western media is very objective,” said Chou Wu, a 28-year-old working on his doctorate in material science, “and what it turned out is that Western media is even more biased than Chinese media. They’re no better, and even more, they’re against us.”

Why would you think that of American media, when Americans don't even believe that (objectivity) about their own media outlets?!

I am angered that "the more strident Chinese students seem to replicate the authoritarian framework of their homeland, photographing demonstration participants and sometimes drowning out dissent" and that Tibetan students fear for their lives and their families lives back home should they participate in, as is their right, a peaceful protest, or even wish to speak out in classes.

I still do not know where I fall on this issue. But the actions (coming to me from biased Western media outlets) of Chinese citizens in the US and of their government is fast pushing me to support Tibet in it's quest for freedom.