About ten days ago I saw a headline proclaiming that the Dalai Lama first kissed a young boy on the lips, and then asked the boy to suck the Dalai Lama’s tongue. This exchange was captured on video.

Given the goodwill that the Dalai Lama has accumulated over the years, I, along with many others, was crestfallen over the implications stemming from that headline. Was the Dalai Lama a pedophile? Is the world spinning out of control? When will another revered figure next disappoint us?

I saw very little follow-up by the media after the initial report, which was puzzling given the salacious nature of the story. I must admit, I didn’t give the story much further thought after a day or two passed.

This morning I headed to the Chinese Consulate, located at One Hundred West Erie, for an announced demonstration against the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Would the demonstrators be focused on potential PRC hostilities toward Taiwan, the PRC’s repression of its own people or the Uyghurs, the CRP’s support for Russia in the war between Russia and Ukraine, or the CRP’s hegemony in Asia and the developing world?

As I approached the consulate while walking along Erie, I saw colorful flags at the intersection of Clark and Erie. Coming closer, I saw white vans lining the street, along with 200 or so demonstrators gathered on street’s southside, facing what I believe to be the consulate. (Google maps lists two addresses for the consulate, so I am a bit confused whether the consulate is in two buildings, or just one.)

Signs were everywhere singing the praises of the Dalai Lama. Several demonstrators held Tibetan flags; many held placards with a photograph of the Dalai Lama surrounded by a maroon border; and still others held signs criticizing the media calumny against the Dalai Lama. Much to the organizers’ credit, the signs and banners had been professionally printed, thereby giving the demonstrators a neat and uniform look. Several demonstrators, however, elected DIY signage, providing some nuance to the overall look.

As I listened to the people who held bullhorns or used one of the hand-held microphones, I learned that Chicago’s Tibetan community does not believe for a second that the Dalai Lama is a pedophile, or that he did anything inappropriate. Several speakers asserted that the video had been doctored by the PRC as part of its propaganda campaign against Tibetan independence. They also pointed out that the young boy has since said how much he enjoyed meeting the Dalai Lama.

I have not found a definitive answer regarding the video’s authenticity. Nothing online offers forensic evidence. I did find articles stating that the PRC amplified the incident online in order to discredit the Dalai Lama. Given all the allegations about foreign interference in U.S. elections through the use of bots, any claim that the Chinese government electronically stacked the deck against the Dalai Lama is credible.

Of far greater significance are a number of online videos arguing that Tibetan norms differ from Western ones. In Tibet, the tongue and a woman’s breasts do not carry the sexual connotations that they do in the Western world. Moreover, many online reports indicated that the Dalai Lama is known for his almost childlike humor, which may be his way of setting the people he encounters at ease.

I am not qualified to take sides in this controversy. But after today’s demonstration, I am far less concerned about the salacious headlines Of particular note were the number of parents who brought children to the demonstration. Like all parents, those adults are particularly concerned with protecting their children from sexual predators and providing their children with positive role models. If the Dalai Lama’s defenders have satisfied any concerns held by those parents, I am willing to forget the incident.

One thing is for sure: The demonstrators were loud and passionate. Presumably those in the Chinese consulate got the message. Whether consulate officials care or will take corrective action is less clear.

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