[bootlegga]

andyt andyt:

Wasn't he the guy who burned all their ships, the biggest fleet the world had seen to that point, ready to explore the world?

But, I wouldn't be as sanguine about Chinese domination. I just read about Paulson the US treasury guy saying that Russia was trying to destabilized the US by dumping Fannie Mae bonds, but China wouldn't play along. This was during the tiff with Georgia. China is or soon will be in a position to play those games by itself. They're trying to develop their internal markets, and then won't be so reliant on exporting to the US. And the US just seems to be heading downhill, still think they can have their cake (lots of govt services, a kickass military going on adventures) and eat it too (low taxes).

Yes, that was the guy. Ming treasure fleets could have dominated the globe had he wanted to, their ships were far larger and better armed than anything the Europeans had at the time.

In regards to US decline, even if they decline somewhat, they will still be vastly more powerful than many nations. The French and British may not have the power they once did, but they are still much stronger than most other countries.

[CommanderSock]

EyeBrock EyeBrock:

I think that the supposed imminent move of China to superpower status has been overstated by the media and the Chinese.

It's still a third world country with a few shiny cities and a lot of cash. Lick a McDonalds Happy Meal toy anyone? I thought not....

Being 3rd world doesn't stop a nation from dominating. Historically there are good examples of states that have been poor at home and strong abroad.

The Roman Republic was plagued by poverty and social unrest yet they managed to create one of the most dominant empires of human history.

Russia is a more recent example, even at the height of its power Russia was never a first world country. When the Germans invaded they were shocked to find no paved roads connecting its major cities. In the 1990s its newly opened borders exposed a third world country with a first world military.

I wouldn't be surprised if China comes to dominate abroad, even as vast numbers of its people still live in shambolic conditions. But that will still take a few decades.

[BartSimpson]

The Chinese are in the odd place as America's banker.

And to paraphrase the old saying, if you owe the bank $10,000 the bank owns you.

But if you owe the bank $10,000,000,000,000 then you own the bank.

[Public_Domain]

[BluesBud]

Does anybody still take China seriously where the Dalai Lama is concerned. Obama is all about hope and peace as is his Holiness The Dalai Lama. No threat from China will stop that. What would China do,....suspend trade with the US? The US is one of their biggest (if not THE BIGGEST) trading partner. Come on be serious where else can they dump their toxic toys and tainted food.

[Thanos]

Bart's point is to be taken seriously. If China ever made serious moves against American interests all the Yanks would have to do is default on all the money China's lent them. The US would be an economic pariah for half a century afterwards and no one anywhere would lend them money ever again but at tleast they'd get the thrill of having totally collapsed the Chinese economy.

My China = Cylons comment was just a joke anyway. Any perceived Chinese aggession, compared to the more traditional aggression of the type Germany, Japan, and the Soviet Union used to perform, is fairly low key and non-crisis making. It's more like they're just stretching their wings a bit in light of their perception of the current decline in American influence and power. China propping up a few local bad-guy idiots in places like North Korea or Burma, or becoming best buddies with the Sudanese, really isn't on the same scale as holding Eastern Europe in thrall for fifty years. Despite any future neo-con blather to the contrary it certainly isn't worth picking any fights with Beijing over.

[Tman1]

CommanderSock CommanderSock:

China can't do shit without resources from the outside.

If every African port was closed China would starve and there would such a severe gas shortage, the people would freeze to death in the north, all within a month.

Uhhh ok.

[Tman1]

EyeBrock EyeBrock:

I think that the supposed imminent move of China to superpower status has been overstated by the media and the Chinese.

It's still a third world country with a few shiny cities and a lot of cash. Lick a McDonalds Happy Meal toy anyone? I thought not....

China is a superpower whether you like it or not. Whoever has the gold makes the rules remember. China has a lot of gold and a lot of nukes. I don't know what your definition of a 'third world' country is but the second most GDP in the world makes it a superpower. I don't know many third world countries with that amount of dough.

[ShepherdsDog]

Japan had the second largest economy in the world for years, but it was no superpower. China is currently a potemkin nation. Most of it is just window dressing. Shanghai, their showcase city only has running water and electricity in about half of its residences.

[romanP]

EyeBrock EyeBrock:

Wow, that must be good weed roman!

Are you aware that the Dalai Lama is a Buddhist?

[ShepherdsDog]

And are you aware that there are just as many sects of Buddhism as there are of Christianity, with each of them have differing practices and beliefs?

The Dalai Lamas of Tibet are often called God-Kings, by their followers, because unlike most Buddhists, they believe in gods and the reincarnation of the soul. The Dalai Lamas consider themselves reincarnations of the Tibetan god of compassion, which is a holdover from the old religion of the Tibetan people before thy converted to Buddhism.

Read a little before you take on a condescending tone.

[EyeBrock]

romanP romanP:

EyeBrock EyeBrock:

Wow, that must be good weed roman!

Are you aware that the Dalai Lama is a Buddhist?

Nah, really?

Who would have thought, him wearing the same gear as all the other Buddhist monks in the world. There's me thinking he was the Irish Catholic, Declan O'Lama.

[EyeBrock]

Tman1 Tman1:

EyeBrock EyeBrock:

I think that the supposed imminent move of China to superpower status has been overstated by the media and the Chinese.

It's still a third world country with a few shiny cities and a lot of cash. Lick a McDonalds Happy Meal toy anyone? I thought not....

China is a superpower whether you like it or not. Whoever has the gold makes the rules remember. China has a lot of gold and a lot of nukes. I don't know what your definition of a 'third world' country is but the second most GDP in the world makes it a superpower. I don't know many third world countries with that amount of dough.

You need more than just gold to rule the world mate.

My definition of third world.

Third world infrastructure outside the big cities. Check.

Third world wages. Check.

Third world human rights. Check.

Third world government. Check.

Third world media. Check.

[DerbyX]

EyeBrock EyeBrock:

romanP romanP:

EyeBrock EyeBrock:

Wow, that must be good weed roman!

Are you aware that the Dalai Lama is a Buddhist?

Nah, really?

Who would have thought, him wearing the same gear as all the other Buddhist monks in the world. There's me thinking he was the Irish Catholic, Declan O'Lama.

I had a flash of the Dalai Lama in a drunken pub brawl. Classic.

[andyt]

ShepherdsDog ShepherdsDog:

The Dalai Lamas of Tibet are often called God-Kings, by their followers, because unlike most Buddhists, they believe in gods and the reincarnation of the soul. The Dalai Lamas consider themselves reincarnations of the Tibetan god of compassion, which is a holdover from the old religion of the Tibetan people before thy converted to Buddhism.

Read a little before you take on a condescending tone.

Nope. Tibetan Vajrayana believes in rebirth same as any other Buddhist sect. http://buddhism.about.com/od/karmaandrebirth/a/reincarnation.htm No soul involved. No Buddhist believes in a creator God. Tibetan Buddhism has incorporated many of the animist beliefs of the original Bon religion. The Dalai Lama is seen as the re-incarnation of Avalokiteshvara, the bhodisattva of compassion, not God. Avalokiteshvara is found in all Mahayana sects, including Zen. Tibetan Buddhism has many deities besides Buddhas, but none are seen as a supreme God, and are more understood at natural forces.

In Buddhism there are 6 realms, human and animal are the two we know. But there are also two God realms, ie beings living a God-like existence. (Also two lower realms, including hell). But even in the God realm, beings eventually grow old and die. The human realm is seen as the ideal realm to be born into, because it equally balances suffering and joy. So we can find enough peace to walk the path, but have enough suffering to prod us to seek liberation, ie getting off the wheel of rebirth.

Many lay people in countries where Buddhism is a traditional religion do relate to the various Buddhas as Gods - supplicating them for good fortune, etc. But that's not the "official dogma."

The sect that has the most in common with Monotheism is Pure Land.

$1:

One basic Mahayana Pure Land concept is that Nirvana (liberation, awakening, salvation) has become increasingly difficult to attain, and that only through devotion to Amitābha Buddha and looking towards Amida Buddha for guidance can one be reborn in the Pure Land, a perfect realm in which enlightenment is guaranteed. The Pure Land Path has been popular among both commoners and elite monastics as it provided a straightforward way of attaining salvation. In medieval Japan it was especially popular among those on the outskirts of society, such as prostitutes and social outcasts who, though often denied salvation by the mainstream traditions, were able to find solace in the newly formed Pure Land sect.

I forget, tho, what this has to do with Obama meeting the Dalai LLama {sic}.