Tibet: What can we learn from them?

Diversity is one of the best features the world has. Countries that have it in a big proportion have of the greatest advantages. In some cases, the different mindsets and views make a nation great and developed, this is because the best of each group is gathered and then transformed in either projects or national visions that make the country have an identity. There are other cases in which diversity can play against a nation and instead of uniting or developing it, the opposite happens. 

History has shown that extreme nationalisms do not bring positive outcomes on the long term. This is because a single mindset, vision and way of doing things is not necessarily the best one.  There are countries in which a predominant group has the decision-making monopoly inside all national spheres and as a consequence, we have a divided nation in which individualism defines national character. Individualism, as recent events have shown, make a nation to live in a perpetual nihilism and therefore, be indifferent to what happens to its inside and outside.

This is a very accurate description to what happens in many countries inside Latin America. Unfortunately, in most of the region citizens are divided for several reasons (the economic one is the most common). There are several historical factors that have brought this division. 

Latin America is internationally known for being open in what respects to ideas coming from the outside, good or bad. I believe that one of the biggest problems brought into the region due to neoliberalism and globalisation, is the lack of a sense of belonging inside most countries. There is a particular example that calls my attention and that, in my opinion, could teach us many good things about unity. The case of the Dalai Lama and Tibetans (both inside and in exile) to me, represents among others, a very good example in what respects to sense of unity and a strong identity.

In the case of my country, the situation derived of both the political and social crisis is a huge lack of spirituality and hope in most (if not all) citizens. We have received the Dalai Lama many times and, even though the Federal Government has given an over-valued importance to the relation with China, the Dalai Lama has taught us during his visits that unity and hope are essential for sticking a country together. 

I have met Tibetans in exile, (not many unfortunately) but, I have been able to dig a bit deeper into what they do by rising awareness and informing the world about the situation being given in China. The sense of unity they have towards their cause and the job they have done by denouncing self-immolations and oppressive measures taken by the Communist Party, is worth admiring even by those of us who live in the continent located between two water walls. 

These actions given by both the ones living on the outside and in the inside shows something that most of us wish we had in our nation: a strong sense of belonging. Tibetans are together in 'the good and the bad' as we say in my country, not mattering their location. Unfortunately, in my beloved nation, people only come together in the good things and, in the bad ones, spend their time saying that we are the worst place on Earth. 

The firm idea Tibetans have of them as different to the Han shows their consolidated identity and they are very good at giving concrete proofs of why this is so. Personally, this has come obvious in the sense of images. When I hear the word 'Lhasa' I relate it to the word 'spirituality' whereas, I hear 'China' and I think 'dehumanisation'.  I believe the previous example is sufficient to show what I mean. Tibetans are different, and they have been able to differentiate themselves from the rest of China and I do believe that they can really teach us valuable things. 

I really hope that HH continues visiting us, because we really need advice about keeping ourselves together and have faith in ourselves even when there is something big crushing us from above.