Number Three in a series...

To be distributed freely and far...

25 March, 1996

Further information, photographs, and such may be found on our website: http://www.nuvo.net/tibet

March 7

Washington, DC

I am sitting in the office of International Campaign for Tibet. I am thinking of a wonderful conversation with a friend at Swarthmore. I wish I could recall precisely her words, entirely delightful and fresh. Washington is the most amazing place, she said, a place of gathering. Right now, people are on their way to Washington, from all over the world, to meet together, to talk about what the world is like, what may be done. She said this, and I felt suddenly that connection to something essential and human. Gathering. My mother calls this "entering the conversation." To my friend at Swarthmore: thank you for the precious gift of these words.

Conversation:

I am seated at a desk. On the desk is a fax machine. On the fax machine are twelve buttons, labeled "New York, Dharmasala, Delhi, Zurich, Katmandu..." As I sit here, a fax arrives from Ames, Iowa, thirty miles north of my home, and the home of Iowa State University, where my mother takes her place in the conversation.

I have just spoken on the telephone with a radio journalist from "Voice of America", a Tibetan. His reports are broadcast in Tibet.

And you-- how have these words come to you?

Saturday begins Tibet Conference of the Americas. And on Sunday, the largest rally ever in front of the Chinese Embassy. Meanwhile, people across the planet will observe the anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan uprising.

When I arrived in Union Station this afternoon, I noticed first the flags, high above and all around the main hall. I stopped to ask directions of a woman who was selling flags. Big flags, and small, and enamel pins of flags, and patches with the names of all the countries. And though in Tibet it is illegal to make or display, here, in a train station, was Tibet's flag. I looked around myself at all of the people, with all of their purposes, and those flags, thinking of Betsy Ross and "The Star-spangled Banner", wondering about other peoples' Betsy Rosses, other peoples' banners. Here, in a train station, I found myself once more, in the middle of the world.

March 10

Today is for remembering Tibet. As you read these words, remember. You carry within you an instinct for peace, a simplicity of love. Remember this also. Let us share this moment together. We are sisters and brothers. Remember Tibet. Remember the picture of the world you carry in your heart.

March 14

It is 8:00 in the morning. I am sitting in a parking lot in Silver Springs, Maryland. My head is full, and my heart.

There is a story of a blind man and an elephant. I have forgotten the details, but suffice it to say that, though the blind man can feel a trunk, a tail, legs, it is difficult for him to perceive the whole. Nonetheless, he believes that the elephant exists, and will do his best to describe to you some pieces.

For example: Tibet Conference of the Americas. How can I describe this? Imagine a country. It is very old. Over thousands of years, the people of this country develop their minds and their hearts, worrying less about material concerns. And so, they are very peaceful; very isolated also. Suddenly, after two thousand years of peace, they are invaded. The invading country is also very old, and very powerful. For fifty years, the invaders systematically destroy the invaded. For fifty years, the invaded run for their lives, establish themselves in exile, seek help from the rest of the world.

The conference, somehow, represents those fifty years of work by Tibetans and their friends. I do not think I can be more specific; the interactions are complicated; the more I learn, the more I come to understand my lack of understanding. To describe the conference is to describe an elephant inside an elephant. There are many Tibet activist groups around the world, differently directed, each with their own work; all were represented at the conference. As one speaker said, "A major goal of the conference was to bring together the leaders of the movement." The leaders were in attendance, but I will leave the discussion of their togetherness to others. For the conference was happily full of regular people like myself. And we were brought together also.

So many young people! The rapid growth of the student movement is remarkable; this is an important development, and we were thanked innumerably. An international divestment campaign is underway, as well as a boycott. A few days from now, students will practice civil disobedience at Splendid China theme park in Kissimee, Florida. In June, a benefit concert in San Francisco: bjork, Beastie Boys, Smashing Pumpkins, Maceo Parker... Protests at the Olympic Games, the Republican and Democratic conventions. A Free Tibet bus to tour the US for several months.

All aboard...

March 23

As time goes by, I fall further behind in my report. Should I write about today, the day of Taiwan's historic election? Or thirteen days ago, our demonstration in front of the Chinese Embassy? Or last week, lost in the ghetto of Baltimore? Each day is new. New world, new walk, new me.

If I could contain all of Tibet in these pages and give it to you, I would. If I could transmit my whole self to you directly, I would do this also. Instead, I offer you what I can: words. May these words inspire you, excite you, involve you, offer you another point of access into the river, the conversation, the world.

Tibet's situation is urgent. Your attention and involvement is necessary, and easily given. These words are meant especially for you who are young, like myself. Perhaps you feel, as I have felt, that you are too young, too ignorant, too average, to help the world. I am young, I am ignorant and average, one small person among billions. Nonetheless, you are reading these words. Five months ago, I knew nothing of Tibet. Now I know just a little. It is enough. When it is in your heart to help, opportunities arise. We have work to do. There is no question of scale or outcome here. We simply do what it is in our hearts to do, because of our love, and for no other reason.