The web sites for these Himalayan nations are beautiful. Sixty Minutes interviewers have taken us to these lofty nations for spectacular views of serene and majestic mountains, rivers and bridges. The colorful yet mystical monks are always just out of reach but ever so visible. Peace and tranquility is the sales piece for travelers to these places of meditation and calm. While lovers of tranquility obviously flock to these Mt. Everest and friend nations, others have been watching closely too. I naively always thought that the world was led by presidents and prime ministers of democratic nations, kings of monarchies and dictators of Communist lands. Pure and simple. The good and the bad, the Beauties and the Beasties. WHEN smiling as if in a meditative state while looking at the pictures of Nepal and Bhutan, I naturally supposed their monks and such were simply odd-ball looking presidents of demo-cratic nations. I agree, I was naive! Over the past few years, in my casual readings of the goings on of presidents and monarchies and dictators happenings, I noticed that a prince was mad at this father and family and, in lieu of prayer meetings, he killed them all! Then, as of last year, in these same lofty mountain nations, where DEMOCRACY has been POLITELY ignored since time began, Chinese Communist factions have figured what I figured; if the leadership demands quiet and tranquility and thus, law by monarchy, how can the monks stand tall and with honor if the Chinese wish to have a Communist nation instead of a monarchy? These two political systems are often almost the same! A covert team or a single head, makes all the rules. Here are nations with no oil that needs protection, no atom bombs being built, no critically important religion, political party or raw material needed by anyone. I would say the monarchies are being taught a lesson; that regardless the intent of love, when people have no say in the laws of the land, the people feel the leadership is a beast. |