Wa****ngton school children celebrate Dalai Lama
Mon Apr 14, 6:43 PM ET
SEATTLE (Reuters) - Thousands of Wa****ngton state school children
cheered the Dalai Lama on Monday, chanted peace slogans and clasped
hands over hearts to lively drumbeats, but some said they wanted to
hear more about the hot issue of the day -- Tibet.
"The issue of Tibet is worrisome," said Michelle Cheng, 15, whose
parents are Chinese. "He didn't seem to talk about it much."
The Dalai Lama, wearing a traditional cinnamon-hued robe and brown
walking shoes, addressed a crowd of 14,400 school-age children in
central Seattle. Underlying a theme of compassion and how it can help
end violence and sibling rivalry, he also emphasized the love of
mothers, the need to nurture children, forgiveness and a wide range of
issues related to compassion during his 25-minute address.
"I will try not to be so mean to my sister Ruby and not call her Ruba
anymore," Mia Loren Cassidy, 8, said afterwards.
Victorian Dan, 14, whose mother hails from Cambodia, said the Dalai
Lama inspired them but should have discussed the recent violence in
Tibet in more detail.
"It surprises me that Tibet is in a state of crisis and it isn't
talked about much or taught in class," said the student of Thorton
Creek Elementary in Seattle. "I think it might have been necessary to
address it, but it was a very uplifting speech."
The Dalai Lama is on a five-day visit to Seattle with compassion the
centerpiece of his pubic appearances.
The Chinese government accuses the Dalai Lama of orchestrating last
month's deadly riots in the Tibetan capital Lhasa and subsequent in
other ethnic Tibetan areas, as part of a bid for independence and to
ruin the August Olympic Games in Beijing.
"I am heart-broken about news and other difficulties" in Tibet, the
Dalai Lama told students. "But my sleep is not disturbed."
(Re****ting by Laura Myers, writing by Adam Tanner, editing by Cynthia
Osterman0
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