Word: iyer
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...Beijing's Obstacle Course In "The Olympic Challenge," Pico Iyer insinuates that the world will regret awarding China the 2008 Olympics as it did with the 1936 Games in Berlin [Aug. 4]. Why even mention that established architect Albert Speer, the son of Hitler's architect, contributed to the design of the event? China is not without indiscretions, but to equate the country with the Nazi regime is reprehensibly unjust. Winston Wang, Princeton, New Jersey...
...Iyer makes a common mistake in assuming that the Chinese government gives a whit about the world's opinion. It doesn't. The Olympics is a huge public-relations exercise for domestic consumption. The majority of Chinese will see on TV only happy, smiling, competitors (with no doubt a huge proportion of Chinese winners) and none of the debate regarding freedom or human right. The poor and disenfranchised will not benefit from the Games; on the contrary, many have suffered directly because of the ill-considered decision to hand the Olympics to China. Karen Ho, Coolum, Queensland...
...surprised by one sentence in Iyer's otherwise sharply focused essay: "Beijing even invited Albert Speer, the son of Hitler's architect, to help design a major axis." With no evidence that Speer the son was reprehensible, to draw a parallel between him and the Nazi regime his father served is thoughtless and, yes, discriminatory. Individuals are responsible for their own acts, not those of their kin. We should steer well away from shunning someone for their parent's actions or views, no matter how despicable. Erika Eineigel, Crescent Beach, Canada...
...Dalai Lama's Greatest Trial I was deeply moved by Pico Iyer's "A Monk's Struggle" [March 31]. Despite the Dalai Lama's half-century of exile and the erosion of Tibetan culture due to the Chinese occupation of Tibet, the Buddhist leader maintains his lucid and compassionate vision. In the face of Chinese oppression, the fact that he sees the advantages of China's modernizing influence and envisions an autonomous Tibet within Chinese borders is a testament to his infinite wisdom. If our next President and other world leaders could emulate the Dalai Lama's compassionate politics...
...Dalai Lama is not a monk struggling alone. He is instead an ambitious politician crowned as a religious idol who's long been backed by the West, which is either blinded or charmed by him. Does Iyer really believe that the former Tibet, ruled by the Dalai Lama's serfdom, was better or more advanced than the Tibet of today? Victor He, Shanghai...