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In The End, The Slogan “Free Tibet” Barely Won Out Over “OH SHIIIT, I’M ON FIIIRE!”

Hey, remember this guy?

You can call him crazy, but he did something more extreme than anything you or I (especially you) would ever even consider doing for anything, except possibly to bring about the creation of a triple-stuffed oreo.

But he did it for Tibetan independence, one of the last remaining “classic” causes. The slogan “Free Tibet” has been around so long that when you see it on someone’s shirt you can’t be sure whether they’re a political activist or just bought it at Busted Tees as an ironic throwback.

It’s been decades since then, and a couple thousand hippie love-ins, a few roasted monks and one The Golden Child later, Tibet is still under imperial rule.

Well, it must be the full moon or something, because shit is getting serious again. I’ll recap:

TIBET

  • Laid back ruler who stresses peaceful protest, universal oneness and wears flowing yellow robes all day.
  • A tiny nation of inoffensive people totally geographically isolated from everyone else who want to be their own country.
  • Official political statement: “Resuming dialogue is the only option.”
  • Best damn pizza this side of the Himalayas.
  • CHINA

  • Sends us poison in crates labelled “food” and toys made of roofies.
  • Are making the Olympics totally depressing.
  • Official political statement: “We will resolutely crush Tibetan Independence forces.”
  • Only kind of pizza you can find has chicken eyes on it.
  • It’s kind of hard to sound sincere harping on something so obvious but for fuck’s sake already: FREE TIBET. China, unless you’ve got some desperate need for a supply of cheap yellow robes, you have no reasonable excuse for what you are doing.

    Now they’re fighting back, and you take it as an excuse to call them “insurgents?” What the fuck were they for the last thirty years of totally peaceful protest? You suck, your coal mines suck, and your quality control guys need to get a serious talking to before they just start sending us crates of poison gas.

    Remember that monk. He fucking DID that. Our founding fathers did a lot of shit for our independence, but they sure as hell didn’t light themselves on goddamned fire. This guy knows what he wants, in a way and to a degree that should get your attention, if not your respect.

    And China can call him an “arsonist” all they want; he’s still way more badass than John McClane walking over the shards of glass at the end of Die Hard.

    Although McClane would probably still win in a fight. Unless the flaming monk managed a good pin early on, but then it’d just be sort of a tie.

    But I digress…FREE TIBET!


    When not blogging for Cracked, Michael practices self-immolation as head writer and co-founder of Those Aren’t Muskets!

    Last 5 posts by Michael Swaim

    This entry was posted on Thursday, March 27th, 2008 at 4:00 pm and is filed under China, News, Protests, Riots. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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    50 Responses to “In The End, The Slogan “Free Tibet” Barely Won Out Over “OH SHIIIT, I’M ON FIIIRE!””

    1. matthew o' reilly Says:

      Serious fun! where? Get real Michael. lf free Tibet slogans are period mouthings from an imperial mindset, where is free speech after the great Buddist emporer Asoka declared (man must be free to regain the threshold of his body, his speech, and his mind?) That declaration is the guts of 4,ooo yrs old. Until man mindset moves beyond the ordinary democratic freedoms that allows you to dribble with a grin when ridiculing what is a sacred issue to all Tibetans young and old. You can be sure Michael (the free Tibet slogan will have achieved its goal when Nationhood becomes a thing of legand.

    2. Free Tibet Says:

      TELL ME
      Is fighting for your right by non volience is mistake?

      If Tibet was part of china for long centuries then why cumminist china has to librate and make an 17 point peace argrement with Tibet in 1959?

      Tibet was under developed nation before Chinese invaded yet Tibet is well advance in spritual. Truth is there was not single person being die of hunger in Tibet before. It all happen after after invation. So is physical development is more important then inner peace

      Moa said- religion is poison. Power lies on the mouth of gun. His follower said, you can make propaganda truth if you keep saying it again and again.

      Dalai lama said, forgive every one specially your enimies. Fight for you right wit wisdom. Wisdom is most power weapon. His follower said. May all beings be happy and respect chinese brother and sisters. Tell me from your inner heart with whom you want to be?

      Tell me are you Chinese? Are you Tibetan? Cause you writes so much abt false things on dalai lama, Tibet and chinese people. Is because you read from some book? Does it mean what ever written is true? I write it because I am Tibetan who seeing my family, friend, Tibetan people our country being dying in front of my eyes cause of Chinese govt crack down. My self being deprive my human right. Tell me is dalai lama is wrong to stand for these people’s right? Am I wrong to be born in freedom less nation Tibet?

      You have your country, your freedom, so what else you will talk less then development. Defence, diplomacy and business. But I have more things to talk our human right, freedom and wants to be die as free man. So tell me am are we wrong to shout against Chinese govt? If it’s wrong still I shout free Tibet, free china. If I am not wrong then shout together…., free Tibet free china.

    3. Free Tibet Says:

      TELL ME
      Is fighting for your right by non volience is mistake?

      If Tibet was part of china for long centuries then why cumminist china has to librate and make an 17 point peace argrement with Tibet in 1959?

      Tibet was under developed nation before Chinese invaded yet Tibet is well advance in spritual. Truth is there was not single person being die of hunger in Tibet before. It all happen after after invation. So is physical development is more important then inner peace?

      Moa said- religion is poison. Power lies on the mouth of gun. His follower said, you can make propaganda truth if you keep saying it again and again.

      Dalai lama said, forgive every one specially your enimies. Fight for you right wit wisdom. Wisdom is most power weapon. His follower said. May all beings be happy and respect chinese brother and sisters. Tell me from your inner heart with whom you want to be?

      Tell me are you Chinese? Are you Tibetan? Cause you writes so much abt false things on dalai lama, Tibet and chinese people. Is because you read from some book? Does it mean what ever written is true? I write it because I am Tibetan who seeing my family, friend, Tibetan people our country being dying in front of my eyes cause of Chinese govt crack down. My self being deprive my human right. Tell me is dalai lama is wrong to stand for these people’s right? Am I wrong to be born in freedom less nation Tibet?

      You have your country, your freedom, so what else you will talk less then development. Defence, diplomacy and business. But I have more things to talk our human right, freedom and wants to be die as free man. So tell me am are we wrong to shout against Chinese govt? If it’s wrong still I shout free Tibet, free china. If I am not wrong then shout together…., free Tibet free china.

    4. jogiff Says:

      On the one hand, Tibet is an assbackwards feudal society with slaves and everything.

      I figure that the reason that China is in Tibet is in case they fight another war with India. So, I really don’t think “freeing” Tibet would work in anyone’s favor.

    5. Darkmage Says:

      The Chinese are ass holes.

    6. Tim Says:

      Yes, there are people self-immolating in protest. Most of them do not just sit there. In this case the photo in question was actually a protest related to the Vietnam war. There was a self-immolation protest outside the office of Robert Mcnamara during the war also.

    7. Halfie Says:

      Oh i forgot to mention that if they stop buying our worthless bonds, the value of our currency would sink tremendously, plunging us (and everyone else, including themselves) into the dark ages as we will no longer be able to purchase gasoline. So yeah, without them, we’re fucked. Even though without us, they’re fucked. Still. We need them. Once again, go China

    8. Halfie Says:

      Whoa whoa.. what’s with all the China-hating? Do you know why the only thing spineless western countries like ours can do is simply boycott a sports event? Because China has us on our knees. But as we kneel before it, China has made sure that we have affordable clothing, toys, computer parts, hell EVERYTHING to kneel in front of it with. Oh yeah and by the way they’re essentially funding our wars by buying billions of dollars worth of treasury bonds. Way to go for fighting global terrorism, China! Way to go! Their buying of treasury bonds creates demand for US dollars, keeps our currency niiice and strong so we can buy more cheap goods. Go China!

    9. kyle Says:

      Andy Pants, you used to teach here? Then maybe you can explain what the fuck “properganda” is or what the fuck “suppourting” means. Good thing you don’t still teach here. Or should I say teech hear? Sorry, I’m drunk

    10. kyle Says:

      Oh, one more time. Slavery, segregation? Let’s make sure we have a clear conscience before ragging on an entire nation. If we held entire countries responsible for the actions of a handful of assholes, who would be in more trouble? America/Canada/UK, or China?

    11. kyle Says:

      Oh sorry, I forgot a couple things. Abu Ghraib? Guantanamo Bay? Get your own shit straight.

    12. kyle Says:

      Well, first of all, wikipedia is available in China. I’m here, I know. Also, while I do NOT agree with Chinese oppression of Tibet, boycotting the Olympics is not the way to go. There are over 1 billion people living in China. How many of them do you think stand resolutely behind the government in all its actions? About as many as stand resolutely behind the Bush administration. Remember that this is a country coming to grips with its massive economic development, and the things that Chinese people see and hear about all this hatred toward China regarding Tibet will only serve to fuel the fear and xenophobia that the government here perpetrates. I am Canadian, and in Canada, Quebec has been raving about sovereignty for decades. If a bunch of French-Canadians marched on federal buildings armed with pipes, rocks and knives, (like the Tibetans did) everyone would think they were crazy. Because that’s just fucked up. Keep that in mind.

    13. Ming Says:

      Fraser Ronald,

      You are a stand-up comedian for sure. I enjoyed reading your post.

      Still, I think the right response is not “free Tibet,” but “free China”! The Chinese government is not fucking up Tibet alone, it is fucking up the whole country of China. If Tibetans are treated as second-class citizens, then there is reason for them calling for independence. But the Han Chinese have equally few rights as the Tibetans.

    14. Darkness Says:

      Honestly, I think that any completely unbiased person (though I know of none) would view government in Tibet (Government, PERIOD) as fucked up.

      Really fucked up.

      Oh, and for the record, BY MY VIEW, China would be a terrible place to live in as opposed to the freedoms I have here in America.

    15. xu Says:

      Lier is against of human nature, please check your source of picture!!!

    16. The Captain of Outer Space Says:

      Just for the record, here in China the list of blocked web sites includes wikipedia.com (all of it), youtube.com (since the recent Tibet activities), and just about every political blog I’ve wanted to read since I got here last year. I have my friends email me screenshots of web pages just to keep up with the news (which was how I found out about the Tibetan protests) in case my email gets scanned. But it’s not just that Chinese don’t know history, it’s that they don’t care. To Chinese, there is only one important thing in the world: saving face. That’s why they won’t stand down on Tibet or Taiwan, and that’s why almost no Chinese (like Proud Chinese in the comments) will stand criticism of any kind without vehement argument. It’s not about being right or wrong, it’s about looking good. Like HerrBlod says, they’ve got a serious, nation-wide inferiority complex.

    17. Fraser Ronald Says:

      Holy (or unholy) fucking hypocrisy! Tibet was a feudal society with slaves! In the 1950s no less! And China offered glorious freedom to everyone and . . . oh, wait no it didn’t. How about that Great Leap Forward? How about that Cultural Revolution? Those just went swimmingly, eh?

      Well, that’s okay, because now China offers glorious freedom to everyone and . . . oh, wait, no it doesn’t. How about that Tiananmen Square protest? How about that Falun Gong? It’s all a big happy lovefest in China.

      If Chinese rule of Tibet is so awesome, how about a free and transparent referendum on Tibet independence? I’m not holding my breath.

      Oh, but wait, we aren’t allowed to say such things because no one can understand the pressures of governing China. I certainly can’t. I’ve never been forced to decide whether to stifle protest by running people over with tanks or sending them to concentration camps. Oh, the pressures of totalitarian governance are truly frightening!

    18. J-Force Says:

      The other issue that is seldom addressed is the legitimacy of the Dalai Lama as a leader of a country. First of all, it seems odd for Americans to support the head of a religious sect as the leader of a country. Whatever happened to separation of Church and State?

      Moreover, the Dalai Lama was the biggest slave owner in Tibet. He had 6,170 field serfs and 102 house slaves directly under his control. Billed as a non-materialistic man by the Free Tibet campaigns, not only was he the biggest slave owner, “the first time he fled to India in 1950, the Dalai Lama’s advisors sent several hundred mule-loads of gold and silver bars ahead to secure his comfort in exile. After the second time he fled, in 1959, Peking Review reported that his family left lots of gold and silver behind, plus 20,331 pieces of jewelry and 14,676 pieces of clothing” (Revolutionary Worker). And this is made even more salient because 95% of Tibet was starving and forced to do hard labor so that the Dalai Lama could accumulate this amount of wealth. Could this possibly be the Tibet that the Free Tibet activists are fantasizing about?

      This is apart from the fact that the Dalai Lama has no real experience in managing a country. But more importantly, historically “only three of the 14 Dalai Lamas actually ruled. Between 1751 and 1950, there was no adult Dalai Lama on the throne in Tibet 77 percent of the time. The most powerful abbots ruled as ‘regent’ advisors who trained, manipulated and even assassinated the child-king Dalai Lamas” (Revolutionary Worker). So in fact, it was the status quo to not have the Dalai Lama rule. Of course, then there is also the reincarnation issue which I will resist commenting upon. In conclusion however, the traditional political system of feudal exploitation in Tibet was in no sense democratic, or even remotely morally defensible.

    19. J-Force Says:

      From Nick Yee:

      “Before the Chinese occupation in 1950, Tibet was a feudal theocratic society. Close to 95% of the population were serfs working for a ruling aristocracy. Instead of calling them serfs, it is perhaps more accurate to call them slaves. The aristocracy and monastery masters owned these people, and all the children they gave birth to. These slaves were forced to perform hard labor, and they could not use the same seats, vocabulary or eating utensils as their masters. Touching a master’s belongings could result in a whipping.”

      So you still think that the Dali Lama is “Laid back ruler who stresses peaceful protest, universal oneness and wears flowing yellow robes all day”?

    20. Michael Swaim Says:

      He’d also inevitably have a weird father complex, feel constantly divided from within, and use the phrase “troop surge” whenever making love.

    21. kingmonkey +1 Says:

      Maybe someone could name their child Iraq to protest the war over there? Little Iraq Johnson would probably have few friends, though.

    22. Vigs Says:

      I think it’s an ok name, but then, I’ve decided that if I ever have children, I’ll be naming them in “1337″ so that they have a REALLY hard time filling out their names in scantrons when they take the SATs.

      It’s probably a good thing that I’m not having kids.

    23. kingmonkey +1 Says:

      Someone named their daughter Tibet? That’s stupider than any number of names I’ve seen on Maury. Like that girl named Epcot. Or Chandeleer. Or Spontaneeus. I wish I were joking.

    24. Vigs Says:

      I know a chick named Tibet. I always thought her parents named her that because it sounds cool, but apparently they were actually trying to protest China owning Tibet. Take that, China!

    25. Michael Swaim Says:

      Awesome. My ignorant idiocy drew in more ignorant idiocy, and it all resulted in some actual, intelligent argument. Mission accomplished!

    26. Andy Pants Says:

      That may be the first serious comment I’ve made on cracked, I’m very very sorry. I feel unclean.

    27. Andy Pants Says:

      Dear Proud Chine / Bazzer / Probable spambot

      Just for the record not everyone here is American. I don’t think I need to explain the hypocrisy in associated with your individual accusations of ignorance when combined with this ignorant statement, so how about I don’t and we just say I did?

      Now let’s jump to your second assumption, that no-one here has ever been to China. Just for the record, I have, multiple times. I used to teach there. And I think my exposure to both slightly biased Western Media and full-blown biased Chinese media, along with my political studies actually put’s me in a better position to understand these issues than you ever will. But I suppose in your mind that’s all just been ‘happy properganda’ invented by the Dalai Lama for some reason.

      So according to you, a Westerner can’t possibly understand the political pressures of a burgeoning population. Even when most of the Western world is facing the exact same problem. Give me a break, population increase is no excuse for imposing or suppourting the imposition of a totalitarian regime over an impoverished state.

      I’m wondering if someone bought up in China and exposed to the constant conditioning of Chinese properganda really has a subjective viewpoint on the subject. I for one live in a country *almost completely free of mass media censorship. Consider the state run media in your country and then think for a moment about where most of your information on this issue has come from. What possible reason would they have to be biased?

      C’mon now, it’s not hard to do… Give up? Because the state are actually parties in the conflict.

      Why don’t you learn a lesson from those monumental fuckups known as the Americans. The worst wars fought are ideaological wars, firstly because you can’t win them with force and secondly because (try as you might) you can’t control what people think.

      BOOBIES

      *almost

    28. orangemtl Says:

      HerrBlod: nicely put.
      Proud…Chinese: get a flipping LIFE. “Human right is not really the focus”? No, indeed: the Byzantine, insanely regressive—oh, and let’s not forget ethically corrupt—Chinese government’s absolute control and prevention of political dissent is the focus.
      I’ve no doubt that the monkery was…less than democratic. And let’s focus, here: what country WASN’T, a few hundred years back? That said: things change. Let’s not point to British colonialism, because they’ve given pretty much everything back—-including Hong Kong. They could’ve told the Chinese to F themselves, but they did the ‘right thing’. Fat lot of good THAT did for HKong, and the rest of the world for that matter.
      If you’re going to keep a country that you’ve stolen, at least have the balls to admit it. Why do I have a nice parcel of land here in Illinois? Because we came here, slaughtered EVERYONE with disease and rifles, and stole it: fair and square. Love to give it back, but—whoops, they’re all dead now. To slime the monks with sundry nefarious terms and motives: c’mon, just say “It’s ours, and any time you’d like to kick our ass, you can have it back”. At least it’s honest, even if it shows the Chinese to be the slippery dictatorial motherf—-ers that we know them to be.
      Have a nice day, won’t you?

    29. Michael Swaim Says:

      Halfway through our hiking trip, I told the people I was with about this post, and they all told me I was a moron and explained patiently about the burning monk being Vietnam-related. It’s taken me two days to get back to a computer, but I want to thank Chris anyway for adding more fact to my post…which I think is still largely valid, for the record.

    30. is this what western people think of chinese?wth` - Page 4 - StopTazmo Manga Community! Says:

      [...] Kind of on topic [...]

    31. Bazzer Says:

      This article is typical of the kind of nonsense you hear from Westerners who know nothing about the history of Tibet and have swallowed the propaganda of the Dalai Lama whole. Tibet hasn’t been an independent country for many centuries, although the Chinese did allow them autonomy until the 1950s. The Dalai Lama (who says homosexuals will go to Buddhist hell and should be punished, by the way) and his monk buddies were slave owners who ran a shockingly brutal regime based on the idea that they deserved to be wealthy and powerful because they were wealthy and powerful (thanks, karma!). If a Tibetan peasant dared to speak out against the Lamas in the autonomous days, they’d tear out his tongue or worse. “Free Tibet”? What, you mean hand it back to the dictators who used to run it? The Chinese are far from perfect, but the average lifespan of a Tibetan has gone from about 37 to over 65 since they re-asserted control over Tibet, an autonomous region that China already legally owned before they chased the Dalai Lama out.

      The CIA pays the Dalai Lama and his government-in-exile friends over a million dollars a year. Why would you believe anything he says? Stop being such gullible ‘tards. Stop blindly accepting the propaganda that makes you happy while denouncing the propaganda that makes you sad.

    32. illbeatz2g Says:

      Sambuca. That sets people on fire too. Stupid people, granted, but no-one ever accused my dad of being a genius - look how I turned out…

    33. Carrot Says:

      China: “Got one million problems but a bitch ain’t on. Hit me!”

    34. Proud Chinese Says:

      It seems ppl like to talk about stuff they don’t really know.
      Did anyone of you go to China before? Do you really understand the pressure the Chinese government needs to face from the huge population? (I don’t mean the government doesn’t have issues. It has millions of problems, but can you really imagine the damage would be made by people even only a small portion in China become rebellious? CAN YOU?
      If there would be coflicts between Chinese government and ppl, I am sure the “world police” will intervene. Then I think your government will be really happy that they can actually have some “righteous” reason to invade China just like they did to the middle east country.)
      You talk like you understand and you talk like you guys don’t have the similar issue of human right in your own countries.
      I’d say Tibet is not the point. Human right is not really the focus. It’s all about superstructure of China’s government.
      So cut all the bullshit. Tibetans haven’t been forced to change their culture. The only voice you really pay attention is from DaLai. Not like some western countries ruined the Native’s cultures and then turned their ugly face to laugh at others who haven’t and never decide to do the same job.

    35. kingmonkey +1 Says:

      Sure, it could be “dedication to a noble cause” that inclined this fellow to light himself on fire. You know what else sometimes makes people light themselves on fire? Schizophrenia. I’m just sayin’.

    36. Chris Says:

      Yeah, this was a good article and I’m sure if “Burning Man” had survived, he’d be lighting up again just now in protest at China.

      It does seem likely however that all the coverage western media is giving the events in tibet are unlikely to change anything.

      ….. however…. with the huge unpopularity of china, and the hundreds of thousands of extra people that will be in beijing for the olympics, there might be a lot of protests or controversy. The olympics this year will definitely be worth watching as much for the sports as for the ’side events’.

    37. Martin Says:

      Black metal is pretty awesome. I agree.

    38. HerrBlod Says:

      Unfortunately no… I’m a former black metal enthusiast from the Middle East.

      That explains the nickname (black metal), and the fatalist attitude(Middle East).

    39. Martin Says:

      Hehehehe, nicely written, HerrBlod. Do you happen to be norwegian, with a nickname like that?

    40. SRHCFC Says:

      Gotta agree with smcole45. Blow those fuckers up. It’s the only way.

      Have you heard anything about Burma since Rambo came out? No? That’s cause he fucking stopped it.

    41. HerrBlod Says:

      Unfortunately, no matter how many people you rally over the cause of freeing Tibet, as righteous as it may be, it won’t change dick.
      As China’s economic power grows, they are slowly losing whatever (little) concerns they had for western public opinion, comedy bloggers included. “But they’re hosting the Olympics!” you may say, well so did Hitler.
      China, much like 1933’s Germany, was shoved naked into the girls’ locker room time after time by the west throughout its history (opium wars, boxer rebellion, the Japanese occupation, to name a few), and now it’s all grown up and ready to go to the high school reunion with nunchucks and whole lot of attitude, just to beat the shit out of the guys who gave it an atomic wedgie during 11′th grade in front of their wives. Yes. China is THAT guy. You think they’re going to free Tibet? Well fuck what you think. They’re going to keep Tibet even if all Tibetan monks light themselves up in a pentagram in a totally wicked homage to Satan. And freedom.
      I’m not making a prediction, by the way, it may very well be that China frees Tibet at some point in the future, I’m just saying it won’t happen because of YOU.

    42. fragg Says:

      *skims comments, skims comments, skim comments*

      Ah, something I understand. BOOBIES!

    43. Joel Morris Says:

      Say what you will about China being a horrible wreck of a nation, ignoring basic human rights (like we never did… in the past… mostly), but a possible shot at The Golden Child? Come on. The last funny Eddie Murphy movie needs to be treasured like the titular god-boy. “I just want some chips,” indeed.

    44. ferky Says:

      Clearly, a strategic area where most of Asia gets its water from, most trade is conducted from Asia to Europe, and is in the more egalitarian situation, compared to traditional Tibetan practices is a great thing to leave to the Dalai Lama - look him up for some gruesome facts.

      Not to say that China’s the best country in the world, but it always surprises me that most people who are for intervention in Tibet, Sudan, and other places, will ignore much more serious problems in Africa, while railing against an interventionist stance on Iraq.

      … boobies.

    45. a Says:

      For an interesting look at the Chinese perspective, see this article: http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/99feb/tibet.htm

    46. Martin Says:

      Nice work, Chris.

      Anyway, good post. The Chinese government are insane. On the construction of the Olympic stadium in Beijing, there has been several deaths and severe accidents, but the government is lying and covering it up as it happens.

      I hope the European Union decides to boycott the Olympics this year. Kudos to Steven Spielberg for resigning as advisor for the Olympics, even though that was for the Chinese government ignoring the genocide in Darfur, Sudan. The Chinese government are totally crazy.

    47. smcole45 Says:

      I like the “Free Tibet” link at the bottom. Urging you to join to help the noble cause. Their suggested actions to free Tibet? Boycott Google. Write letter. Sign a petition.

      Uhhhhh………..

      If you really, I mean REALLY want to free Tibet, why not grab a gun and go there and start shooting (preferably the Chinese oppressors, but you know, whatever)? I’m all for peaceful protests, but it’s clear that the letter writing/boycotting/petitioning ain’t working after 20 years, and even the people of Tibet are starting to get violent. But if you don’t really want to help by going over there, at least chip in to send a squad of mercenaries or maybe a Chuck Norris/Steven Seagal team to kick some ass.

      But no, they’ll keep letter writing. What would you expect from a UK based group? Pansies. (Just kidding, love the UK)

    48. CrazyCooter Says:

      Nice work Chris. It’s not like I read Cracked for its accuracy in the telling of historical events, but a little fact checking wouldn’t kill anyone.

    49. Panzer-Stier Ross Says:

      As long as we’re on a serious subject, does anyone maybe think Tibet would be different today if it were colonised by the British during the unsuccessful military campaign that they attempted whilest colonising India (very little known fact about the British colonisation of India) or else colonised by India themselves if they supposedly crossed their side of the Himilayas?

      I’m guessing either country could probably have defended Tibet better if China had once again decided to invade in the 1950s-60s (assuming we’ve gone back in time and Tibet belongs to either Britain or India). Britain had troops stationed in Malaysia, Korea and Thailand around this time, if they were the colonial rulers (or at least commonwealth partners) they could have dispatched a platoon easily.

      It’s all ifs and buts really.

    50. Chris Says:

      “Burning Man” (if you will) was actually protesting at the South Vietnamese government

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thich_Quang_Duc

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