As Tenzin hobbled up to the center of the sanctuary Jigme briefly described what he clearly had endured to date. Tenzin's face was trembling as he gingerly turned toward a gathering eager to learn more of this thing called the 'March For Tibet's Independence.' I heard a woman begin to sob as he stammered over his introduction, which took the form of an admonition of how he felt when he saw how blistered Jigme's feet had become during the course of the March. Ngawang broke down earlier when he told the room that he thought of Jigme as his 'Prince' when he saw his feet the morning prior, and Tenzin could not hold back his respect either. The tears flowed and his statement was nearly incoherent during the onslaught but eventually he was able to relay something that I have heard him say when I asked him why he was walking.

"The whole world gets to celebrate and explore their independence, all the world except Tibet. It is a birth rite that has been stripped of the Tibetan people, and when I think of all those little children running around without shoes or clothes, their filthy wind burnt skin and running noses, it makes me wonder why not Tibet too? What did we do to deserve this?"

I've studied Buddhism as a philosophy more so than a religion, but regardless of my experiences and understandings of the concepts of Karma and Reincarnation I am hard pressed to locate any salient reasoning for this genocide, this mass destruction of the only truly peaceful community on earth. They stood as an example to the rest of the world for generations as to what a society can achieve by the simple act of putting down the sword and the gun, but what did they get in return? Perhaps I am involved in this movement because I don¹t like the fact that I discovered a contradiction in this thing that makes perfect sense.

Ngwang Norbu, who had led a morning discussion on Buddhism with several High School students and their parents, talked about his fears for the days to come after His Holiness the Dalai Lama inevitably passes away. "If this thing is not resolved during his lifetime, I fear for the next generation of Tibetans, and for the Chinese who have tortured, raped, mutilated, and desecrated our culture. The younger Tibetans in the Exiled communities of Nepal, India, and the West, as well as those struggling through the illegal occupation inside Tibet are restless, frustrated, and angry. His Holiness' guidance and wisdom is keeping his entire people on a middle path of understanding, compassion, and compromise, but for how long? Just as someone once told me, ³I am not a Bodhissatva and so such a level of wisdom and patience does not reside within me. I am trying though, I am trying!" How much can one person take? How much could you take? Could you take someone entering into your home and raping your sister and beating your Grandfather? When is the last time you simply flared up at someone for cutting you off while driving? Is it truly in us to not resort to violence as a means to an end? His Holiness believes that it is and the Tibetan community is the only standing example of this belief that I have ever come across, but who really gets by all on their own?

The Tibetan people need your help and they need the help of our government. They need more than the advertised alliance of our elected officials, which amounts to nothing but empty promises. They need more than their leader receiving the Nobel Peace Prize; I mean come on! December 10, 2005 is the FIFTEENTH ANNIVERSARY of his award and TIBET IS STILL NOT FREE! What message is this country and the rest of the International community sending here? "Yes, you are a very wise man and your method is respected and we are better off for having known the benefits of generating compassion, even for our enemy, but it's really not a practical concept that we can work with and at the end of the day it¹s just too hard to free YOUR people, because well what can we do?" How many of you out there are tired of having to say SOUTH AFRICA! When is it going to be TIBET¹S TURN?

Ngawang made a statement that I am sure will be misinterpreted by those who want to destroy anything they do not understand. He said "A Terrorist is not born. A Terrorist is developed. Sometimes the water rises above your nose and you don't know what to do, so you do something desperate to stay alive. I fear seeing that in my own son's eyes when he says to me 'Why are you going to March? It's just a waste of time. Nothing can come of that.' He has anger inside, and I fear for him."

A car full of students cruised along side the Walkers and asked "What can we do to help?" Ngawang said "America always seems to get involved in things that they see a benefit in. However noble the cause may seem, if there isn't anything to gain then there isn't any involvement. "So maybe you don't always receive financial benefit but you can always receive good merit."

As individuals we need to motivate one another and teach each other not to be afraid of something simply because we don¹t know what it is. In the end we only fear our own ignorance of something and this can be eradicated very easily by simply extending our hearts and minds as opposed to closing others out.

Those that chose to attend the advertised events along this walk have done just that but unfortunately there are still those who believe the latter is the only solution. Every now and again someone does something stupid like swerve in our direction or lavish us with comments not fit to print. Although this has happened, almost everyday of this walk through Indiana, which inadvertently is home to the only Tibetan Cultural Center in the nation, there are the 'Dave Raymers' and the 'Cynthy Scruggs' and the congregations of Unitarian Universalists who open up their hearts, minds, doors, and wallets to express empathy and support. Without the promise of them coming up just around the corner it would be impossible to continue on the trails we blaze.

There's no question about it, everyone is tired, has issues with blisters, aching muscles, sore bones, and low energy but there are no complaints aired out in the evenings after thirty miles have disappeared into the shadows. The face of those children riding shotgun in the pickup with their Dad's flying down the highway is motivation enough. We have to figure out a way to ensure that when they are behind the wheel and something 'strange and foreign' comes marching by the window of their child's world that they have some answers for the ensuing barrage of questions. If we can't then we all should fear the future.

Douglas F. Herman
Tour Coordinator/Photographer