Dharamsala, May 13: Former U.S. first lady Laura Busha has called the exiled Tibetan leader his Holiness the Dalai Lama the symbol of “freedom in Tibet.”
Her reference to the Dalai Lama is contained in her new memoir, “Spoken from the Heart” that was released this month in the United States, a report on the official website of the Central Tibetan Administration said.
Describing the Tibetan leader as “a man who who has been denied his rights and his homeland since he was a boy”, Mrs Bush says the Dalai Lama “eloquently embodies the hopes for freedom in Tibet”
In the book, Mrs Bush in particular recalls the Dalai Lama’s second visit to the White House, which took place in 2005 during her husband’s presidential term, and says the Dalai Lama is “a dear and gentle man whose example is an inspiration.”
Calling President George Bush as “George”, Mrs. Bush says: “George believes that acknowledging the Dalai Lama is a special American responsibility. The world looks to the United States for leadership, and if we do not stand up for freedom, who will.”
While in power President Bush met the Dalai Lama again in October 2007 and presented the US Congressional Gold Medal to the Tibetan leader.
Following is the full text of Mrs. Bush reference to the Dalai Lama in her book:
“On November 9, the Dalai Lama visited George and me for the second time at the White House. The Dalai Lama is a dear and gentle man whose example is an inspiration, he eloquently embodies the hopes for freedom in Tibet. Once, at the White House, he tickled a ramrod-straight, stoic Marine guard under his chin, saying, “Smile.” The Marine did. But underneath his soft nature is a man who has been denied his rights and his homeland since he was a boy. He told us that he genuinely feared for Tibet, feared that its culture would be erased from memory as China settled vast numbers of its citizens inside Tibet’s mountainous, landlocked region. George believes that acknowledging the Dalai Lama is a special American responsibility. The world looks to the United States for leadership, and if we do not stand up for freedom, who will.”
