Reflections on an Island Peace Vigil
By Pete Shimazaki Doktor
BPF National Board Member and
BPF O'ahu Coordinator
Aloha Mai Kakou: Warm Greetings Everyone.
The BPF-O`ahu chapter coordinated a Peace Vigil for Burma & Tibet on April 27th on a Honolulu beach that was a microcosm of Hawai`i with a myriad of ethnicities and faiths. The program included a Hawaiian blessing and opening chant, as well as chants in Tibetan, Japanese and English, with participants from the Burmese and Tibetan communities as well as locals and transplants from places as far away as Afghanistan. Sadly, many Tibetan students decided not to come because of media attention they drew from an earlier event and understandably didn’t want to face repercussions back home. However, what was envisioned to be a simple community gathering wasn’t without some “rough waters.”
It was interesting that while the Interfaith Alliance-Hawai`i co-sponsored and had a non-Buddhist representative speak, as well as the Hawai`i Campaign for Burma, co-sponsorship was denied by the ecumenical Buddhist body in Hawai`i. While the diverse organization of mostly Sangha leaders and officials endorsed a vigil for Burma last October, the same organizational endorsement was not extended to this vigil that included Tibet. This reflects of the contentious nature of this particular issue, even amongst Buddhists and progressives. Nevertheless, several individual members of this organization participated in this peaceful event.
However, what really threw us for a loop was a strong reaction by Chinese nationalists, mostly Chinese foreign students. About a week before our vigil, a Tibetan lama was heckled by these same Chinese youth at a Tibetan film, as he spoke as a guest speaker after the film. I was leaked an email from these reactionaries from a sympathetic Chinese on their list that they were planning to similarly crash this vigil, armed with their numbers, Red flags, “One China” t-shirts, and Olympic pride for their homeland. After much contemplation, I was moved to be proactive and propose dialog with them- and went by myself (and a friend who stayed back as a witness) to calmly talk with them at their gathering place. Needless to say, they were quite shocked that a vigil organizer showed up to hear them out and clarify what our intentions were and weren’t.
Nevertheless, this gesture of transparency and openness didn’t deter their determination to be there, and we met again at the site of the vigil, where I welcomed them. While people gathered at the rally, tensions were high as the Chinese nationalists waved national flags and sang patriotic songs. However, many participants including myself threw the nationalists off by greeting them and engaging in respectful, reasonable dialog. The energy of the vigil soon elevated the space with compassion, that even most of the Chinese youth calmed down and observed, as they cautiously separated themselves from the vigil circle. I even invited them to the mic to ask a few pointed questions to Lama Wangchuck, and they were probably surprised that vigil participants agreed with some of their points and were not anti-Chinese.
It was truly beautiful to see such a diverse crowd come together in solidarity for peoples’ right to self-determination, peace and justice! Aside from some occasional disruption by the Chinese nationalists, it was refreshing to see such a spirit of respect and compassion during such a contentious issue, and most importantly, dialog taking place between such passionate peoples. The event could have easily become ugly without such peaceful attitudes by participants. Instead of a vigil about or for peace, it became a practice of peace.
Gassho,
pete
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