Published by jay

If China had annexed Tibet, an independent country, in 1949, and not systematically erased the Tibetan’s Buddhist culture….   DAYENU!

If China had systematically erased the Tibetan’s Buddhist culture but not destroyed over 5,000 monasteries…  DAYENU!

If China had not destroyed over 5,000 monasteries but not forced the Dalai Lama into exile… DAYENU!

If China had forced the Dalai Lama into exile but not forbidden Tibetans even to mention his name or possess his picture… DAYENU!

If China had forbidden Tibetans even to mention the Dalai Lama’s name or possess his picture, but not punished violators with years in prison and kangaroo courts… DAYENU!

If China had punished violators with years in prison and kangaroo courts, but not systematically tortured prisoners over the last fifty years… DAYENU!

If China had systematically tortured prisoners over the last fifty years, but not used rape  and sexual violence as weapons against monks and nuns… DAYENU!

If China had used rape and sexual violence as weapons against monks and nuns, but not kidnapped the Panchen Lama when he was five years old… DAYENU!

If China had kidnapped the Panchen Lama when he was five years old, but not caused him to “disappear” for the last ten years… DAYENU!

If China had caused the Panchen Lama to “disappear” for the last ten years, but not chosen a phony Panchen Lama in his place… DAYENU!

If China had chosen a phony Panchen Lama, but not taken control over filling all  religious offices, including the next Dalai Lama… DAYENU!

If China had taken control over filling all religious offices, including the next Dalai Lama, but not made Tibet a dumping ground for toxic waste… DAYENU!

If China had made Tibet a dumping ground for toxic waste, but not “ethnically cleansed” Lhasa by transferring hundreds of thousands of ethnic Chinese into the Tibetan capital… DAYENU!

If China had “ethnically cleansed” Lhasa by transferring hundreds of thousands of ethnic Chinese into the Tibetan capital, but not made it a crime to fly the Tibetan flag… DAYENU!

If China had made it a crime to fly the Tibetan flag, but not spread ethnic hatred of  Tibetans throughout China..  DAYENU!

If China had spread ethnic hatred of Tibetans throughout China but not actively  suppressed Tibetan culture in Tibet.. DAYENU!

If China actively suppressed Tibetan culture in Tibet but not forced monks to denounce  the Dalai Lama (like forcing rabbis to denounce the Torah).. DAYENU!

If China had forced monks to denounce the Dalai Lama, but was not, on this night,
 holding over 700 Tibetan political prisoners.. DAYENU!

If China was not, on this night, holding over 700 Tibetan political prisoners, but had not
 been responsible for the deaths of over 1.2 million Tibetans since they invaded … DAYENU!

 

But the Chinese government has done all of these things…
And six million Tibetans are tonight yearning to be free,
to practice their religion, to choose their leaders, to celebrate their culture.
They are groaning, and we hear their cry.

Sixty years is enough — DAYENU!

 

 
Sources:

International Campaign for Tibet website
http://www.savetibet.org/tibet/history/index.php
http://www.savetibet.org/tibet/history/sincechinese.php
http://www.savetibet.org/campaigns/politicalprisoners/index.php
Jay Michaelson
www.unlitcandle.org

Apr 16, 2008
Filed under: Readings for Seder Night