This was one of the first experiences I had at the demonstrations. Ill let the post speak for itself. I am so happy that I went to Birmingham, and I will post more as time goes on. What is effective? On the first morning, we were there we at the University of Alabama, directly across the street from the NKT. They were banging and shouting, their usual slogan, “false Dalai Lama, [pause] stop lying,” in that usual mantra-like rhythm which they have adopted. Someone on our page has described it as hypnotic, and it is exactly that. It is repetitive and noxious, but it gets into one’s head and stays there, just lurking beneath the surface, and much like a bad jingle on a tv commercial, it pops into mind without being invited. I’m still a bit raw from my interactions with the NKT, but before I had any interaction with them at all, I tried a little negative experiment. Just by way of explanation, my educational background is in research psychology, so I’m kinda like a nerd when it comes to psychological experimentation. As you all probably know, when it comes to changing behavior, our own and others, there are two methods: positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement. Both are equally effective, but negative reinforcement is most often too extreme and, in general, I do not recommend it. However, when applied mildly, such as putting a child in a ‘time out’ for his/her unwanted behaviors, negative reinforcement can effect a positive change in the child’s future actions. With that in mind, as I was hit with the bombardment of the NKT’s loud chanting, I faced them and shouted back. What I did was this: When they said ‘false Dalai Lama’ I substituted that phrase with ‘Kelsang Gyatso.” I was quite loud--loud enough for them to hear me. Then, there was that little pause in their chant when they beat the drums and got even louder to emphasize “stop lying.” I simply let them finish it for me, so that it came out as “Kelsang Gyatso [pause] stop lying.” The look on Norden and Lekma’s faces, and, indeed, on all of the NKT faces (there were no Tibetans on their side of the street at the time), was one of astonishment, consternation, and distress. They weren’t expecting that. In a small Buddhist sense, I was being their mirror, and they didn’t like it. HOWEVER, at the next venue, they dropped that particular chant and went on to “give religious freedom” instead. So, my questions are these: What do we want to accomplish? Do we want to make it uncomfortable enough for them to stop these ridiculous demonstrations, or do we just want to bring their lies to light over the long run and not be too concerned about whether or not they demonstrate for the short run? I’m quite sure that the Tibetans I was with had a problem with my becoming active in a decidedly Western way, so I only did it that one time. I am a Westerner, though, and I understand what is effective as a counter-demonstration against other Westerners. They didn’t like it, having some fool ex NKT person using THEIR guru’s name, and then having the unmitigated gall to make them an active partner in the whole thing. That was part of Day 1, Venue 1. Ani Tsultrim
Posted on: Tue, 28 Oct 2014 14:16:00 +0000
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