I write this while contemplating the recent protests surrounding the Olympic torch runs through San Francisco, London, Paris, and Olympia, as well as the recent images of protests inside Tibet and Nepal and scenes of French, British, Greek, and Nepalese police beating and arresting protestors. Not to mention the Chinese police and security forces shooting live ammunition into a unarmed crowd.
China, of course, is hosting the 2008 Olympics, an international symbol of the best that humans have to offer: noble character, racial and cultural harmony, and good sportsmanship. Yet reports are coming in daily of arrests and violent crackdowns, a no-tolerance policy inside the Tibetan autonomous region. This has been the highest-profile activity since the Tibetan freedom concerts of 1997, '98, and '99. These events, initiated by Adam Yauch, were beautiful gatherings of some of the world's most respected artists. Since then, support and awareness for Tibet has grown. The Dalai Lama's continuous
