Penn & Teller: Dalai Lama and Tibet

There will not be democracy in Tibet until there is democracy in China.

Democracy in China would be great! But I would rather see an independent Tibet; free to choose democracy for themselves.

People need to wake up it will never be released from the PRC just like how the government of the USA will never give a region back to the Native Americans. the best way is to improve the country as a hole.

It's true the US will never give land back to the Native Americans, but a nation of people can win their independence, the same way the US won it's independence from the British. And if the internet was around during colonial America, people would be saying, "wake up, the British will never release the colonies." But they did...

Tibet is not a part of China, it was stolen, just like the US stole all that land from the Native Americans.

Tibet has a long history of been part of China and also has long lenths of time in it's history as an independent state. The biggest problem Tibet has is that is has never been recognised as a country.
You made a good point with the colonies of the UK. I guess anything could happen in the future. We could also use the soviet union as an example.

In 641 AD, Tibet conquered China. So, while it is true that at certain points in history Tibet was "a part of" China, we could also say that China was "a part of" Tibet.

Regarding Tibet's status as an independent state - they have their own distinct language, culture, religion, dress, food, art, music, national anthem, flag, and the list goes on and on...

How many more differences do they need to demonstrate their independence?

Their national anthem use to be god save the queen. They changed it just before the invasion.
But your other point a very valid. And don't ge me wrong I would also like to a see freedom there but not indepenedence.
As an independent country their way of life wouldn't improve.

But, that's the beauty of independence: they can determine for themselves their own level of improvement.

Should we deny someone their independence to choose new and better ways of being, simply because we don't think they will improve themselves?

We should allow them the freedom and liberty to choose for themselves whether or not they will improve.

I believe freedom and independence go hand in hand. They are two sides of the same coin.

I guess I always think about the negative outcomes and not the poitive.
In China they are only allowed to have one passport, dual citizenship is not permitted so all the Tibetans who have settled in China outside of tibet would have to make a decision weather to continue living in China and loose their Tibetan identity. Or have to pack up and start a new life in Tibet and loose everything they have worked for.
Their are so many Tibetans all over China

I think the main issue I have is I've only met Tibetans living in China. I have never met any outside of China and I still havn't visited Tibet. So I only hear the storys from the people who enjoy being Chinese I would like to hear what the Tibetans in Tibet say.