Hey, I got one about Santa Claus. Wanna hear it?
Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris
Kringle, or simply "Santa", is a historical, legendary, and mythical
figure in folklore who, in Western cultures, is described as bringing
gifts on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day,[1] or on his feast day,
December 6.[2] The legend may have its basis in hagiographical tales
concerning the historical figure of Saint Nicholas.
The modern depiction of Santa Claus as a fat, jolly man (or elf)
wearing a red coat and trousers with white cuffs and collar, and black
leather belt and boots, became popular in the United States in the
19th century due to the significant influence of caricaturist and
political cartoonist Thomas Nast.[3] This image has been maintained
and reinforced through song, radio, television, and films. In the
United Kingdom and Europe, his depiction is often identical to the
American Santa, but he is commonly called Father Christmas.
One legend associated with Santa says that he lives in the far north,
in a land of perpetual snow. The American version of Santa Claus lives
at the North Pole, while Father Christmas is said to reside in
Finland. Other details include: he is married and lives with Mrs.
Claus; that he makes a list of children throughout the world,
categorizing them according to their behavior; that he delivers
presents, including toys, candy, and other presents to all of the good
boys and girls in the world, and sometimes coal or sticks to the
naughty children, in one night; and that he accomplishes this feat
with the aid of magical elves who make the toys, and nine flying
reindeer who pull his sleigh.[4][5]
There has long been opposition to teaching children to believe in
Santa Claus. Some Christians say the Santa tradition detracts from the
religious origins and purpose of Christmas. Other critics feel that
Santa Claus is an elaborate lie, and that it is unethical for parents
to teach their children to believe in his existence.[6] Still others
oppose Santa Claus as a symbol of the commercialization of the
Christmas holiday, or as an intrusion upon their own national
traditions.[7]
Saint Nicholas of Myra is the primary inspiration for the Christian
figure of Santa Claus. He was a 4th-century Greek Christian bishop of
Myra in Lycia, a province of the Byzantine Anatolia, now in Turkey.
Nicholas was famous for his generous gifts to the poor, in particular
presenting the three impoverished daughters of a pious Christian with
dowries so that they would not have to become prostitutes. He was very
religious from an early age and devoted his life entirely to
Christianity. In Europe (more precisely the Netherlands, Belgium,
Austria and Germany) he is still ****trayed as a bearded bishop in
canonical robes. In 1087, the Italian city of Bari, wanting to enter
the profitable pilgrimage industry of the times, mounted an expedition
to locate the tomb of the Christian Saint and procure the remains. The
reliquary of St. Nicholas was desecrated by Italian sailors and the
spoils, including his relics, taken to Bari [8] [9] where they are
kept to this day. A basilica was constructed the same year to store
the loot and the area became a pilgrimage site for the devout, thus
justifying the economic cost of the expedition. Saint Nicholas became
claimed as a patron saint of many diverse groups, from archers and
children to pawnbrokers.[10] He is also the patron saint of both
Amsterdam and Moscow.[11]
Influence of Germanic paganism and folklore
An 1886 depiction of the indigenous Germanic god Odin by Georg von
Rosen
Numerous parallels have been drawn between Santa Claus and the figure
of Odin, a major god amongst the Germanic peoples prior to their
Christianization. Since many of these elements are unrelated to
Christianity, there are theories regarding the pagan origins of
various customs of the holiday stemming from areas where the Germanic
peoples were Christianized and retained elements of their indigenous
traditions, surviving in various forms into modern depictions of Santa
Claus.[12]
Odin was sometimes recorded, at the native Germanic holiday of Yule,
as leading a great hunting party through the sky.[13] Two books from
Iceland, the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century, and the Prose
Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson, describe Odin
as riding an eight-legged horse named Sleipnir that could leap great
distances, giving rise to comparisons to Santa Claus's reindeer.[14]
Further, Odin was referred to by many names in Skaldic poetry, some of
which describe his appearance or functions; these include S=ED=F0grani,
[15] S=ED=F0skeggr,[16] Langbar=F0r,[17] (all meaning "long beard") and
J=F3lnir[18] ("Yule figure").
According to Phyllis Siefker, children would place their boots, filled
with carrots, straw or sugar, near the chimney for Odin's flying
horse, Sleipnir, to eat. Odin would then reward those children for
their kindness by replacing Sleipnir's food with gifts or candy.[19]
This practice survived in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands after
the adoption of Christianity and became associated with Saint Nicholas
as a result of the process of Christianization and can be still seen
in the modern practice of the hanging of stockings at the chimney in
some homes.
This practice in turn came to the United States through the Dutch
colony of New Amsterdam prior to the British seizure in the 17th
century, and evolved into the hanging of socks or stockings at the
fireplace. In many regions of Austria and former Austro-Hungarian
Italy (Friuli, city of Trieste) children are given sweets and gifts on
Saint Nicholas's Day (San Niccol=F2 in Italian), in accordance with the
Catholic calendar, December 6.
Numerous other influences from the pre-Christian Germanic winter
celebrations have continued into modern Christmas celebrations such as
the Christmas ham, Yule Goat, Yule logs and the Christmas tree.
Pre-Christian Alpine traditions
Main article: Pre-Christian Alpine traditions
Originating from Pre-Christian Alpine traditions and influenced by
later Christianization, the Krampus is represented as a Companion of
Saint Nicholas. Traditionally, some young men dress up as the Krampus
in the first two weeks of December and particularly on the evening of
December 5 and roam the streets frightening children (and adults) with
rusty chains and bells.
Dutch folklore
Further information: Sinterklaas and Saint Nicholas
Sinterklaas in 2007
In the Netherlands and Belgium, Saint Nicolas (often called "De Goede
Sint" =97 "The Friendly Saint") is aided by helpers commonly known as
Zwarte Piet ("Black Peter").
The folklore of Saint Nicolas has many parallels with Germanic
mythology, in particular with the god Odin. These include the beard,
hat and spear (nowadays a staff) and the cloth bag held by the
servants to capture naughty children. Both Saint Nicolas and Odin ride
white horses that can fly through the air; the white eight-legged
steed of Odin is named Sleipnir (although Sleipnir is more commonly
depicted as gray). The letters made of candy given by the Zwarte
Pieten to the children evokes the fact that Odin =91invented=92 the rune
letters. The poems made during the celebration and the songs the
children sing relate to Odin as the god of the arts of poetry.
There are various explanations of the origins of the helpers. The
oldest explanation is that the helpers symbolize the two ravens Hugin
and Munin who informed Odin on what was going on. In later stories the
helper depicts the defeated devil. The devil is defeated by either
Odin or his helper N=F6rwi, the black father of the night. N=F6rwi is
usually depicted with the same staff of birch (Dutch: "roe") as Zwarte
Piet.
Another, more modern, story is that Saint Nicolas liberated an
Ethiopian slave boy called 'Piter' (from Saint Peter) from a Myra
market, and the boy was so gracious he decided to stay with Saint
Nicolas as a helper. With the influx of immigrants to the Netherlands
starting in the late 1950s, this story is felt by some to be
racist[20]. Today, Zwarte Piet have become modern servants, who have
black faces because they climb through chimneys, causing their skin to
become blackened by soot. They hold chimney cleaning tools (cloth bag
and staff of birch).[21]
Until the Second World War, Saint Nicolas was only helped by one
servant. When the Canadians liberated the Netherlands in 1945, they
reinstated the celebrations of Sinterklaas for the children. Unaware
of the traditions, the Canadians thought that if one Zwarte Piet was
fun, several Zwarte Pieten is even more fun. Ever since Saint Nicolas
is helped by a group of Zwarte Pieten.[citation needed]
Presents given during this feast are often accompanied by poems, some
basic, some quite elaborate pieces of art that mock events in the past
year relating to the recipient. The gifts themselves may be just an
excuse for the wrapping, which can also be quite elaborate. The more
serious gifts may be reserved for the next morning. Since the giving
of presents is Sinterklaas's job, presents are traditionally not given
at Christmas in the Netherlands, but commercialism is starting to tap
into this market.
The Zwarte Pieten have roughly the same role for the Dutch Saint
Nicolas that the elves have to America's Santa Claus. According to
tradition, the saint has a Piet for every function: there are
navigation Pieten to navigate the steamboat from Spain to Holland, or
acrobatic Pieten for climbing up the roofs to stuff presents through
the chimney, or to climb through themselves. Throughout the years many
stories have been added, mostly made up by parents to keep children's
belief in Saint Nicolas intact and to discourage misbehaviour. In most
cases the Pieten are quite lousy at their job, such as the navigation
Piet (Dutch "wegwijs piet") pointing in the wrong direction. This is
often used to provide some simple comedy in the annual parade of Saint
Nicolas coming to the Netherlands, and can also be used to laud the
progress of children at school by having the Piet give the wrong
answer to, for example, a simple mathematical question like 2+2, so
that the child in question is (or can be) persuaded to give the right
answer.
In the Netherlands the character of Santa Claus, as known in the
United States (with his white beard, red and white outfit, etc.), is
entirely distinct from Sinterklaas, known instead as (de) Kerstman
(trans. (the) Christmasman. Although Sinterklaas is the predominant
gift-giver in the Netherlands in December (36% of the population only
give presents on Sinterklaas day), Christmas is used by another fifth
of the Dutch population to give presents (21% give presents on
Christmas only). Some 26% of the Dutch population give presents on
both days.[22]
Modern origins
"Scrooge's second Visitor", a colorized version of the original
illustration by John Leech made for Charles Dickens's novel A
Christmas Carol (1843)
Pre-modern representations of the gift-giver from church history and
folklore merged with the British character Father Christmas to create
the character known to Britons and Americans as Santa Claus. Father
Christmas dates back at least as far as the 17th century in Britain,
and pictures of him survive from that era, ****traying him as a well-
nourished bearded man dressed in a long, green, fur-lined robe. He
typified the spirit of good cheer at Christmas, and was reflected in
the "Ghost of Christmas Present" in Charles Dickens's A Christmas
Carol.
Main article: Tomte
Folk tale depiction of Father Christmas riding on a goat
In other countries, the figure of Saint Nicholas was also blended with
local folklore. As an example of the still surviving pagan imagery, in
Nordic countries the original bringer of gifts at Christmas time was
the Yule Goat, a somewhat startling figure with horns.
In the 1840s however, an elf in Nordic folklore called "Tomte" or
"Nisse" started to deliver the Christmas presents in Denmark. The
Tomte was ****trayed as a short, bearded man dressed in gray clothes
and a red hat. This new version of the age-old folkloric creature was
obviously inspired by the Santa Claus traditions that were now
spreading to Scandinavia. By the end of the 19th century this
tradition had also spread to Norway and Sweden, replacing the Yule
Goat. The same thing happened in Finland, but there the more human
figure retained the Yule Goat name. But even though the tradition of
the Yule Goat as a bringer of presents is now all but extinct, a straw
goat is still a common Christmas decoration in all of Scandinavia.
American origins
In the British colonies of North America and later the United States,
British and Dutch versions of the gift-giver merged further. For
example, in Wa****ngton Irving's History of New York, (1809),
Sinterklaas was Americanized into "Santa Claus" but lost his bishop's
apparel, and was at first pictured as a thick-bellied Dutch sailor
with a pipe in a green winter coat. Irving's book was a lampoon of the
Dutch culture of New York, and much of this ****trait is his joking
invention.
Modern ideas of Santa Claus seemingly became canon after the
publication of the poem "A Visit From St. Nicholas" (better known
today as "The Night Before Christmas") in the Troy, New York, Sentinel
on December 23, 1823 anonymously; the poem was later attributed to
Clement Clarke Moore. In this poem Santa is established as a heavyset
man with eight reindeer (who are named for the first time). One of the
first artists to define Santa Claus's modern image was Thomas Nast, an
American cartoonist of the 19th century. In 1863, a picture of Santa
illustrated by Nast appeared in Harper's Weekly.
Thomas Nast immortalized Santa Claus with an illustration for the
January 3, 1863 issue of Harper's Weekly.
In the late 19th century, a group of Sami people moved from Finnmark
in Norway to Alaska, together with 500 reindeer to teach the Inuit to
herd reindeer. The Lomen Company then used several of the Sami
together with reindeer in a commercial campaign. Reindeer pulled sleds
with a Santa, and one Sami leading each reindeer. The American
commercial Santa Claus, coming from the North Pole with reindeer was
born.[23]
L. Frank Baum's The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, a 1902
children's book, further popularized Santa Claus. Much of Santa
Claus's mythos was not set in stone at the time, leaving Baum to give
his "Neclaus" (Necile's Little One) a wide variety of immortal
sup****t, a home in the Laughing Valley of Hohaho, and ten reindeer
which could not fly, but leapt in enormous, flight-like bounds.
Claus's immortality was earned, much like his title ("Santa"), decided
by a vote of those naturally immortal. This work also established
Claus's motives: a happy childhood among immortals. When Ak, Master
Woodsman of the World, exposes him to the misery and poverty of
children in the outside world, Santa strives to find a way to bring
joy into the lives of all children, and eventually invents toys as a
principal means.
Images of Santa Claus were further popularized through Haddon
Sundblom's depiction of him for The Coca-Cola Company's Christmas
advertising in the 1930s. The popularity of the image spawned urban
legends that Santa Claus was in fact invented by Coca-Cola or that
Santa wears red and white because those are the Coca-Cola colors.
[24]In fact, Coca-Cola was not even the first soft drink company to
utilize the modern image Santa Claus in its advertising =96 White Rock
Beverages used Santa in advertisements for its ginger ale in 1923
after first using him to sell mineral water in 1915. Furthermore, the
massive campaign by Coca-Cola simply popularised the depiction of
Santa as wearing red and white, in contrast to the variety of colours
he wore prior to that campaign; red and white was originally given by
Nast. [25][26]
A man dressed up as Santa Claus fundraising for Volunteers of America
on the sidewalk of street in Chicago, Illinois, in 1902. He is wearing
a mask with a beard attached. DN-0001069, Chicago Daily News negatives
collection, Chicago Historical Society.
The image of Santa Claus as a benevolent character became reinforced
with its association with charity and philanthropy, particularly
organizations such as the Salvation Army. Volunteers dressed as Santa
Claus typically became part of fundraising drives to aid needy
families at Christmas time.
In 1889, the poet Katherine Lee Bates created a wife for Santa, Mrs.
Claus, in the poem "Goody Santa Claus on a Sleigh Ride." The 1956
popular song by George Melachrino, "Mrs. Santa Claus," helped
standardize and establish the character and role in the popular
imagination.
In some images of the early 20th century, Santa was depicted as
personally making his toys by hand in a small workshop like a
craftsman. Eventually, the idea emerged that he had numerous elves
responsible for making the toys, but the toys were still handmade by
each individual elf working in the traditional manner.
The concept of Santa Claus continues to inspire writers and artists,
as in author Seabury Quinn's 1948 novel Roads, which draws from
historical legends to tell the story of Santa and the origins of
Christmas. Other modern additions to the "mythology" of Santa include
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, the ninth and lead reindeer
immortalized in a Gene Autry song, written by a Montgomery Ward
copywriter.
Santa Claus in popular culture
See also: SantaCon
By the end of the 20th century, the reality of mass mechanized
production became more fully accepted by the Western public. That
****ft was reflected in the modern depiction of Santa's residence=97now
often humorously ****trayed as a fully mechanized production and
distribution facility, equipped with the latest manufacturing
technology, and overseen by the elves with Santa and Mrs. Claus as
executives and/or managers.[27] An excerpt from a 2004 article, from a
supply chain managers' trade magazine, aptly illustrates this
depiction:
Santa's main distribution center is a sight to behold. At 4,000,000
square feet (370,000 m=B2), it's one of the world's largest facilities.
A real-time warehouse management system is of course required to run
such a complex. The facility makes extensive use of task interleaving,
literally combining dozens of DC activities (putaway, repleni****ng,
order picking, sleigh loading, cycle counting) in a dynamic
queue...the DC elves have been on engineered standards and incentives
for three years, leading to a 12% gain in productivity...The WMS and
trans****tation system are fully integrated, allowing (the elves) to
make optimal decisions that balance trans****tation and order picking
and other DC costs. Unbeknownst to many, Santa actually has to use
many sleighs and fake Santa drivers to get the job done Christmas Eve,
and the TMS optimally builds thousands of consolidated sacks that
maximize cube utilization and minimize total air miles.[28]
Many television commercials, comic strips and other media depict this
as a sort of humorous business, with Santa's elves acting as a
sometimes mischievously disgruntled workforce, cracking jokes and
pulling pranks on their boss. For instance, an early Bloom County
story has Santa telling the story of how his elves went on strike,
only to be fired by Ronald Reagan and replaced by unemployed aircraft
control personnel.[citation needed]
Another recent depiction can be found in the 2007 film Fred Claus, a
comedy starring Vince Vaughan in the title role as the sarcastic older
brother to Santa (played by Paul Giamatti.) Fred visits his brother at
the North Pole and, under the guidance of Santa and the elves (some
who act as Santa's bodyguards), helps deliver the Christmas toys.
NORAD, the joint Canadian-American military organization responsible
for air defense, regularly re****ts tracking Santa Claus every year.
[29]
In Kyrgyzstan, a mountain peak was named after Santa Claus, after a
Swedish company had suggested the location be a more efficient
starting place for present-delivering journeys all over the world,
than Lapland. In the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, a Santa Claus Festival
was held on December 30, 2007, with government officials attending.
Also, 2008 was officially declared the Year of Santa Claus in this
Central Asian state. The events are seen as moves to boost tourism in
Kyrgyzstan.[30]
Criticism
See also: Christmas controversies
Christian opposition
This section needs additional citations for verification.
Please help improve this article by adding reliable references.
Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2007)
Excerpt from Josiah King's The Examination and Tryal of Father
Christmas (1686), published shortly after Christmas was reinstated as
a holy day in England. Folger Shakespeare Library, Wa****ngton, D.C.
Such condemnation of Santa Claus is a phenomenon not limited to the
20th century, but rather originated among some Protestant groups of
the 16th century and was prevalent among the Puritans of 17th-century
England and America who banned the holiday as either pagan or Roman
Catholic. Following the English Civil War, under Oliver Cromwell's
government Christmas was banned. Following the Restoration of the
monarchy and with Puritans out of power in England,[31] the ban on
Christmas was satirized in works such as Josiah King's The Examination
and Tryal of Old Father Christmas; Together with his Clearing by the
Jury (1686) [Nissenbaum, chap. 1].
Rev. Paul Nedergaard, a clergyman in Copenhagen, Denmark, attracted
controversy in 1958 when he declared Santa to be a "pagan goblin"
after Santa's image was used on fund-raising materials for a Danish
welfare organization Clar, 337. One prominent religious group that
refuses to celebrate Santa Claus, or Christmas itself, for similar
reasons is the Jehovah's Witnesses [32]. A number of denominations of
Christians have varying concerns about Santa Claus, which range from
acceptance to denouncement.[33][34]
Santa as a symbol of commercialism
In his book Nicholas: The Epic Journey from Saint to Santa Claus,
writer Jeremy Seal describes how the commercialization of the Santa
Claus legend began in the 1800s. "In the 1820s he began to acquire the
recognizable trappings: reindeer, sleigh, bells," said Seal in an
interview.[35] "They are simply the actual bearings in the world from
which he emerged. At that time, sleighs were how you got about
Manhattan."
Writing in Mothering, writer Carol Jean-Swanson makes similar points,
noting that the original figure of St. Nicholas gave only to those who
were needy and that today Santa Claus seems to be more about
conspicuous consumption:
=93 Our jolly old Saint Nicholas reflects our culture to a T, for he is
fanciful, exuberant, bountiful, over-weight, and highly commercial. He
also mirrors some of our highest ideals: childhood purity and
innocence, selfless giving, unfaltering love, justice, and mercy.
(What child has ever received a coal for Christmas?) The problem is
that, in the process, he has become burdened with some of society's
greatest challenges: materialism, cor****ate greed, and domination by
the media. Here, Santa carries more in his baggage than toys alone!
[36] =94
In the Czech Republic, a group of advertising professionals started a
website against Santa Claus, a relatively recent phenomenon in that
country.[7] "Czech Christmases are intimate and magical. All that
Santa stuff seems to me like cheap show business," said David K=F6nig of
the Creative Copywriters Club, pointing out that it is primarily an
American and British tradition. "I'm not against Santa himself. I'm
against Santa in my country only." In the Czech tradition, presents
are delivered by Je=9E=ED=9Aek, which translates as Baby Jesus.
In the United Kingdom, Santa -- or Father Christmas -- was
historically depicted wearing a green cloak. More recently, that has
been changed to the more commonly known red suit.[37] One school in
the seaside town of Brighton banned the use of a red suit for
erroneously believing it was only indicative of the Coca-Cola
advertising campaign. School spokesman Sarah James said: "The red-
suited Santa was created as a marketing tool by Coca-Cola, it is a
symbol of commercialism."[38] In reality, the red-suited Santa was
created by Thomas Nast.
Deception controversy
The belief in Santa Claus by children is widespread. In an AP-AOL News
poll, 86% of American adults believed in Santa as children, with the
age of 8 being the average for stopping to believe he is real,
although 15% still believed after the age of 10.[39] In New Zealand,
85 percent of 4-year-old children and 65 percent of 6-year-olds
believe in Santa Claus.[40]
Parental and societal encouragement of this belief is not without
controversy. The editors of Netscape framed one complaint about the
Santa Claus myth: "Parents who encourage a belief in Santa are
foisting a grand deception on their children, who inevitably will be
disappointed and disillusioned."[41] University of Texas at Austin
psychology professor Jacqueline Woolley contradicts the notion that a
belief in Santa is evidence of the gullibility of children, but
evidence that they believe what their parents tell them and society
reinforces. According to Woolley:
=93 The adults they count on to provide reliable information about the
world introduce them to Santa. Then his existence is affirmed by
friends, books, TV and movies. It is also validated by hard evidence:
the half-eaten cookies and empty milk gl***** by the tree on Christmas
morning. In other words, children do a great job of scientifically
evaluating Santa. And adults do a great job of duping them.[42] =94
Woolley posits that it is perhaps "kin****p with the adult world" that
causes children not to be angry that they were lied to for so long.
The criticism about this deception is not that it is a simple lie, but
a complicated series of very large lies.[6] The objections to the lie
are that it is unethical for parents to lie to children without good
cause, and that it discourages healthy skepticism in children.[6] With
no greater good at the heart of the lie, it is charged that it is more
about the parents than it is about the children. Writer Austin Cline
posed the question: "Is it not possible that kids would find at least
as much pleasure in knowing that parents are responsible for
Christmas, not a supernatural stranger?"[6]
Others, however, see no harm in the belief in Santa Claus.
Psychologist Tamar Murachver said in that it was a cultural, not
parental, lie; thus, it does not undermine parental trust.[43] The New
Zealand Skeptics also see no harm in parents telling their children
that Santa is real. Spokesperson Vicki Hyde said, "It would be a hard-
hearted parent indeed who frowned upon the innocent joys of our
children's cultural heritage. We save our bah humbugs for the things
that exploit the vulnerable."[43]
Dr. John Condry of Cornell University interviewed more than 500
children for a study of the issue and found that not a single child
was angry at his or her parents for telling them Santa Claus was real.
According to Dr. Condry, "The most common response to finding out the
truth was that they felt older and more mature. They now knew
something that the younger kids didn't."[44]
=2E... to be continued ....
On Mar 18, 12:49=A0pm, The Speaking Clock <harlequin...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
wrote:
> On 18 Mar, 15:34, Ronald Moshki <sector_f...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>
>
> > It is obvious that the Dalai Lama knows what the truth behind all
> > these riots really is - disillusioned social drop-outs that only want
> > to create trouble in the hope that by destroying the establishment
> > they can create a society that suits themselves. These trouble makers
> > will never be of any use to any society, not even their own. They
> > should be rounded up and shot, and good riddance!
>
> > On Mar 18, 9:42=A0am, The Speaking Clock <harlequin...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> > wrote:
>
> > > I was saddened today to hear about the Dalai Lama's statement today
> > > that he may resign if the violence in Tibet does not stop. =A0I hope
i=
t
> > > does not come to such a sorry pass.
>
> > > Amongst his people in exile he has worked to promote participatory
> > > democracy, and it has worked out suprisingly well. =A0So well
infact,
> > > that many other countries could learn something by this experiment
in
> > > democracy the Tibetans in exile have made. =A0It strikes me that if
th=
e
> > > Chinese wish for more peaceful co-existance between Tibetans and
> > > Chinese in Tibet, then introducing participatory democracy into the
> > > region would be a very good way to bring the peoples living in the
> > > area together.
>
> > > Most of the time, people are not divided along religious lines in
> > > matters of healthcare, sanitation, commerce and schooling. =A0In a
> > > participatory democracy people have the op****tunity to see this as
> > > they come together to discuss common problems, and this fosters
trust
> > > in each other and their neighbours. =A0It can build good community
> > > relations across cultural divides.
>
> > > The Dalai Lama also speaks of Tibet attaining greater autonomy and
his=
> > > wish for greater religious freedoms in Tibet. =A0I am sure that he
is
> > > thinking about the great potential of participatory democracy within
> > > the traditional Tibetan borders, and the benefits China could accrue
> > > from a peaceful land of snow. =A0With participatory democracy,
cultura=
l
> > > diversity can be promoted and valued, both Chinese and Tibetan,
within=
> > > the framework of a strong and unified community.- Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> Not according to the perpetual treaty concluded by Tibet and China in
> AD 821-2:
>
> "The Great King of Tibet, the Miraculous and Diivine Lord, and the
> Great King of China, the Chinese Ruler Hwang-ti, being in the
> relation****p of nephew and uncle, have conferred together for the
> alliance of their kingdoms. =A0They have made and ratified a great
> agreement. =A0Gods and men all know it and bear witness so that it may
> never be changed; and an account of the agreement has been engraved on
> this stone pillar to inform future ages and generations.
>
> The Miraculous Divine Lord Trisong Dretsen and the Chinese king Wen Wu
> Hsiao-te Hwang-ti, nephew and uncle, seeking in their far reaching
> wisdom to prevent all causes of harm to the welfare of their countries
> now or in the future, have extended their benevolence impartially over
> all. =A0With the single desire of acting for the peace of all their
> subjects they have agreed on the high purpose of ensuring everlasting
> good; and they have made this treaty in order to restore the former
> ancient friend****p and mutual regard and the old relation****p of
> friendly neighbourliness.
>
> Tibet and China shall abide by the frontiers of which they are now in
> occupation. =A0All to the east is the country of Great China; and all to
> the west is, without question, the country of Great Tibet. =A0Henceforth
> on neither side shall there be waging of war nor seizing of
> territory. =A0If any person incurs suspicion he shall be arrested; his
> business shall be inquired into and he shall be escourted back.
>
> Now that the two kingdoms have been allied by this great treaty it is
> necessary that messengers should once again be sent by the old route
> to maintain communications and carry the exchange of friendly messages
> regarding the harmonious relations between nephew and uncle.
> According to the old custom, horses shall be changed at the foot of
> the Chiang Chun pass, the frontier between Tibet and China. =A0At the
> Suiyung barrier the Chinese shall meet Tibetan envoys and provide all
> facilities. =A0On both sides they shall be treated with customary honour
> and respect in conformity with the friendly relations between nephew
> and uncle.
>
> Between the two countries no smoke nor dust shall be seen. =A0There
> shall be no sudden alarms and the very word 'enemy' shall not be
> spoken. =A0Even the frontier guards shall have no anxiety nor fear and
> shall enjoy land and bed at their ease. =A0All shall live in peace and
> share the blessings of happiness for ten thousand years. =A0The fame of
> this shall extend to all places reached by the sun and the moon.
>
> This solemn agreement has established a great epoch when Tibetans
> shall be happy in the land of Tibet, and Chinese in the land of
> China. =A0So that it may never be changed, the Three Precious Jewels of
> Religion, the Assembly of Saints, the Sun, the Moon, Planets and Stars
> have been invoked as witnesses. =A0An oath has been taken with solemn
> words and with the sacrifice of animals; and the agreement has been
> ratified.
>
> If the parties do not act in accordance with this agreement or if they
> violate it, which ever it be, Tibet or China, NOTHING THAT THE OTHER
> PARTY MAY DO BY WAY OF RETALIATION SHALL BE CONSIDERED A BREACH OF THE
> TREATY ON THEIR PART.
>
> The Kings and Ministers of Tibet and China have taken the prescribed
> oaths to this effect and the agreement has been written in detail.
> The two Kings have affixed their seals. =A0The Ministers specially
> empowered to execute the agreement have inscribed their signatures and
> copies have been deposited in the royal records of each party."
>
> In those days - China really knew how to get down and write a proper
> treaty that people could Respect.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
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