Issue link: http://bluemagazine.uberflip.com/i/25120
disappear. It will take a long time, but it will happen one day_ " -Tsering, Tibetan cadre "The govermuent has a long range plan: first, to de-emphasize Tibetan in the schools, then to destroy the deeper levels of Tibetan culture. They call Tibetan cul ture "superstition." Tibetan culture has over 5,000 years of history. Buddhist philos ophy is highly evolved. One day, only a few will understand the deeper levels of Tibetan culture, and after one generation they will die. Less and less people will be able to read Tibetan and only a few will be able to read the books and newspapers in Tibetan. Then there will only be the spolten language and this too will gradually As I approached, a group of young monks emergea nom the crowd; they were carrying Tibetan flags-demonstrating for inde pendence. Immediately, I understood the implications of their actions and knew that they were either going to be shot dead in the street or imprisoned. I was moved by their selflessness, by their decision to stand up for their beliefs and give up their lives for the greater benefit of Tibetan society. It was clear that they wanted me to photograph the demonstration and I reacted. There was no hesitation-witnessing those young monks sacrificing their lives was very powerful and I felt an obligation to do what I could. I documented the demonstration and ensured that the story reached the outside world. I realized that trying to find an untouched culture was naive, a romantic myth. What was important in Tibet was the people's active struggle to maintain their identity-to survive the political repression and the process of assimilation. 67