Seeing the world's number one warmonger, President Bush, in the same photo with the world's number one peace advocate, The Dalai Lama, sickens me to no end.
I can understand why the meeting took place this week. His Holiness The Dalai Lama would like us to wield a bit of influence against China, which has Tibet under its boot-heel. And I am sure they discussed the opression of the Buddhist monks in Burma.
But outside of that realpolitik, I see an incalcuably wide gulf between these men. Let me cite just a few examples:
Bush starts wars out of fear, a desire for control and a mis-placed faith-informed creed.
His Holiness The Dalai Lama argues for peace and cooperation based on his creed.
Bby his actions, ush places a higher priority on paying for Halliburton and Blackwater rather than health insurance for many of the children who need it most.
His Holiness The Dalai Lama loves children.
Bush's "brain" is reptilian, reactive, and pathologically stubborn.
His Holiness The Dalai Lama is an evolved being, given to meditation rather than knee-jerk reaction.
Bush doesn't read too many books. Neither has he written one.
His Holiness The Dalai Lama has written 72 books- probably more than Bush has ever read.
Bush hates science when it conflicts with his particular spirituality.
His Holiness The Dalai Lama has written extensively of the nexus between science and spirituality.
Bush plays to our fears and our shortcomings.
The Dalai Lama looks for the good within the human race.
Got a preference?