don't know why I seem to be so insanely passionate about Tibet, it kind of symbolises the whole goddamn mess we're in.

Ah ha! And we get somewhere fast my friend. You have formed, using a country, a symbol which, for you, has some form of meaning that relates to your/our corporeal existence. That helps, in some way to you, describe our human failings...you've chosen Tibet for this. So, now in our conversation of my symbolizing of the United States you have waved your symbol of Tibet. The thing to keep in mind when I discuss stuff like the founding fathers of the United States is I am talking about the ideas and ideals that inspired them to something higher. Pretty much the same thing as you attempting to communicate the higher state of being you believe the Dalai Lama represents. You wish to push mankind toward some higher plane and so do I, but there is more than one path to communicate this and not everybody enjoys (or absorbs) a good koan. A good idea remains a good idea and has no borders. I enjoy Thich Nhat Hahn and Abe Lincoln but attach no value to judge one or the other as better or wiser. I don't attach a value to America or Tibet to judge which is better or wiser. Wisdom is an ocean, wisdom is a mountain, wisdom is three blind men and an elephant...choose as you see fit but wisdom remains the constant and you are none the better for your choice.  

China is turning it into a dumping ground and for me it symbolised the sacred union between body and spirit - something that is waning now as we head towards another oblivion.

The one thing that remains a constant across all of mankind is our certainty that we travel the path to oblivion...maybe because we understand so completely that we will most certainly at some point leave this life...or for you plane of being.

Anyway, in the body and spirit thing I would toss in intellect or mind to complete the triangle of what it is to be a human being. While the body (the flesh) has always symbolized the weak link...it is in a constant state of decay/aging...the intellect and spirit seem ever expanding with an infinity to travel. Perhaps why we envision them doing so once we...ahhhh...pass on to the next level. But again I would say you are discussing countries and symbols and how can we assign a value to judge them...at least how can we without entering our own prejudices into the already corrupted equation.

And so here we are now discussing America and you have put me again in the position where if anyone reads this mess they're gonna think "Fuckin' Reg, he's so full of bullshit!"

We should be doing this over a pint in a pub where we can blame it all on the booze later...