20 or 15 years ago, I was a fan of VOA when I was still a teenager, however,

the hard reality, especially after I stayed 6 years abroad in US and Europe, which changed my view toward most western media dramatically. Actually, when something happened in China, I can well anticipate how they will react and what they will report.

to Jimmie,

What happened in Lahsa IS very similar to what happened in LA. In fact, the deeper reason for the riot: (let me say something maybe politically incorrect), some Tibetans are so used to the life receiving money from the government, and then donate most of them to monks. At the meanwhile, some of them are jealous to the hard working Han or Hui Chinese businessman but they won't do anything themselves.

By the way, some of my friends and classmates in China are Christians, I am pretty sure you can read the bible of your choice, though as a matter of fact, maybe you cannot find a church of your choice, if you mean a America methodist branch or Evangelical branch. However, you can find the localized version of the churches. But after all, do these small differences in Churches and Bibles really matter to you?

The losses include 100 million yuan suffered by shops, 9.05 million in financial services and the rest in damages done to government buildings, the latest tally suggested.

The eruption of violence damaged 422 shops, six hospitals, seven schools and 120 civilian residences. Eighty-four vehicles were torched.

Thirteen civilians were burned or stabbed to death. (3.21)

And today more five victims' corpses were found, including a five-month-old baby and her parents, they are all burnt to death by the rioters. the scene is too tragic to look at. we can see only some pieces of burnt arms and legs of them remained. anyone who sees this can't keep their tears. the brutality of the rioters makes us terrible!

I just wander whether the media like CNN give these reports? they just exaggerate the troops in Tibet, but do not report what the troops do there is to help the injured. it is just they have prejudice about the government of China.

It's true taht there exist all kinds of problems in China. but it is in the path of developing. Transformed directly from feudlism, it's young and has to learn from other developed countries to better itself, but it needs time, because it has to support the biggest population. for the cultural reason, the reality makes maintaining its stability the most important, or else 1.3 billion people would have a much worse life, suffering from poverty, diseases caused by poverty and unrests,etc. and so we must see its progress and those who have prejudice about this country really need reflect their simple-minded actions.

Having traveled to many other countries in the world. I'd take issue with at statement. We're about on Australia's level when it comes to freedom, and below New Zealand and most of Europe. Yes, we are more free than China, but that's not saying much,is it? And in the conservatives' most valued freedom, the freedom to pollute, China is actually way ahead of us. Of course, we're way ahead of most of the industrialized world in the freedom to pollute. Although some of us think that the freedom to pollute should actually be curtailed.

As for the rioters, their behavior has been appalling. And I say that as someone who supports Tibetan independence and has many Tibetan friends, all of whom have been made refugees by China's actions. His Holiness is right to criticize the violence of the Tibetans. The Tibetans deserve better treatment from China, but burning down Han businesses is not the answer. This is especially true given that the Han haven't exactly been treated well by the government either.

Say what you will about the United States, but we enjoy greater freedom here than any other country in the world. I'm sorry if that doesn't appeal to you.

I bet you're also glad your Mother wasn't one of the millions of Chnese women forced into abortions when she learned she was pregnant with you, a female. I'm also glad you feel so free to speak out against the American government here. If you spoke out against the Chinese government there, you'd be brutalized and imprisoned for a couple decades.